By Alice Huth-Derrah
Classic car enthusiasts, crafters, and anyone hungry for a hearty pancake breakfast were all welcomed to St. Elizabeth Seton on Saturday, September 16 for the first of its kind “Trifecta.” Thanks to the combined efforts of the Knights of Columbus, many volunteers, and the leadership of St. Elizabeth’s own Deacon Sal, the trifold events proved to be a successful, fun-filled three hours for the considerable number of attendees who showed up for the occasion. The Trifecta also brought in twenty box loads of canned food donations and funds for the parish.
The owners of classic or vintage cars are as diverse and unique as their spectacular automobiles. Some spend many happy hours lovingly restoring their cars while others work on modifications. For all of them, their car becomes more than a hobby; it is a passion. Whatever their leaning, they all seem to share in the pure delight of driving these beautiful machines and sharing their adventures with others who are like-minded or who show an interest. Around 134 of these men and women gathered in the east parking lot of the parish to do just that. Mustangs, Thunderbirds, VW’s, GTO’s, dune buggies, and even a 1956 Chevrolet fire truck that had been used in service back in the day, were just a few of the models represented. Row upon row of brilliantly painted autos ranging in color from sky blue, turquoise, “mellow yellow”, cherry red, midnight blue, and shimmery green, to a delicate lavender could be found among the vehicles, a veritable feast for the eyes!
Some of the car aficionados were interested in maintaining the authenticity of their cars. One of these was Miles, who owned a 1971 bright orange VW Bus. He smiled as he explained that he had completed “lots of restoration,” performing all the work himself “except the paint and transmission.” He did not even install air conditioning, explaining that it’s part of “keeping it original”, even though it means he usually doesn’t drive his bus during the hot summer months. Jack, the owner of a fabulous 1931 Ford Model A, said that he had “always been into old cars,” a passion that began as a kid with “model cars.” In order to acquire their 2007 blue Corvette, Ken, Lynn and their dog Ollie had to obtain a salvage title. Ken spent hours completing all the restoration himself. With a broad smile, he stated that their Corvette won the “Best Modified” award at the 2022 Prescott Corvette Car Show. Participants in the car show were also invited to the registration tent by volunteer DJ Rick Losey to share their “car” stories. Father David, St. Elizabeth Seton’s Parochial Administrator, was also on hand for a “blessing of the cars,” praying for safety for both drivers and their cars.
