The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
STEERING STRAIGHT
Annual car show headed in direction of Swedeland Fire Company
UPPER MERION >> Ten-yearold boys like to play basketball and baseball. John Messantonio, on the other hand, liked to destroy vehicles.
“My favorite thing as a kid was to tear apart and rebuild mini bikes and go carts,” he recalled.
This was the age he became interested in cars. “I played with my Hot Wheels cars. I used to make the sound of an engine, and with my hands used to zoom it around my living room floor. Then, I got into building model cars,” said Messantonio.
The first real car that Messantonio acquired was a 1968 Chevy Malibu. “I got carried away and reckless with it. I exhausted four motors and the transmission. The second car I got was a 1976 Cadillac. I smoked the wheels out of that,” confessed Messantonio, who is president of Fast Track Motorsports, a car club of 30 members based in Upper Merion Township.
This Saturday, August 3rd, once again, Fast Track Motorsports will be partnering with Swedeland Volunteer Fire Company for their fourth annual car show, which will take place on the ground in front of the fire station at 609 A Street in Upper Merion Township.
“My car buddies and I were hanging around inside the Swedeland Volunteer Fire Company social hall one day, and we were introduced to the chief, Dennis Orangers. We told him about our car club, how many car shows we attend. And, in fact, quite a few take place at volunteer fire companies. I pointed out to the chief that in front of his station house “there is a good chunk of land that would be an appropriate location for a car show. Would he be interested? He said, ‘sure’,” recalled Messantonio.
He noted the volunteer fire CARS >> PAGE 5