The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Annual car show drives support for TCHS
Car enthusiasts came together to support local career and technical education students at thePickering Campus.
PHOENIXVILLE >> Neighbors, proud car owners, car enthusiasts, students and staff came together to support local career and technical education students during the Seventh Annual Car Show held at the Technical College High School (TCHS) Pickering Campus.
The event, held on on Saturday, Sept. 28, combined unique vehicles, food, music and raffles with all proceeds raised going to TCHS student scholarships.
“The car show is a community event that keeps growing bigger and better every year,” said TCHS Pickering Campus principal Joseph Fullerton. “The support for our students has been so strongly expressed today, from the cars that arrived hours early, the number of vehicles present, the 20 plus alumni that returned to campus to the current students and staff who volunteered their time and energy to ensure the event was a success,” he added.
In between directing traffic, assisting with registration and providing and serving food, TCHS Pickering students spent the day interacting with the community and learning from the car owners. Frequent car show participant, Tom Badman, was excited to have the opportunity to enter his 1931 Chevrolet 5 Window Coupe in a more local competition: “I live right down the street, so I’m thrilled to participate in an event I enjoy that also directly benefits my community. Unlike at other car shows, I’ve been able to meet fellow car enthusiasts from my neighborhood and share my automotive restoration experience with these exceptional students.”
The TCHS Car Show marked the first time that many of the partic
ipants and attendees visited the TCHS Pickering Campus. “We knew that the TCHS campuses work with the local school districts and had heard that the students here do amazing work in their programs, so we wanted to meet them, contribute to their success and see the school first-hand,” said Matthew and Barbara Boyle. “This has also been a great opportunity for me to connect with other classic car owners and see how they’ve maintained their vehicles, as I own a 1963 Panel Truck that I’ve been working on,” added Boyle.
As a young family in the Phoenixville community, John Hammond and his wife were also thrilled to attend an event where they could support a good cause and entertain their children. “This is our first time here,” said Mr. Hammond, “and it’s been such a fun day showing our kids the cars, enjoying good food and supporting our neighbors.” The Hammonds and other attendees enjoyed walking around the campus, admiring cars, such as: an antique Ford F100, a 1970 Dart Swinger, the TCHS Brandywine 2016 project car, a 72-78 Australian Ford Falcon Coupe, a Tesla Model 3 and so many more.
This year’s car show winners were a 2015 Dodge Challenger/owner Paul Boule, Best in Show; 1965 Ford Mustang 2+2/ owner Jon Chintalan, first place muscle car; 1996 Ford Bronco/owner Ken Rapp, first place diesel truck; 1943 International MQ4/owner Mark Serfass, first place military vehicle; 1957 Ford Thunderbird/owner Val Phillips, first place classic car; 2015 Dodge Challenger/owner Paul Boule, first place custom car; 1941 Chevy Pickup/owner Bruce Gilbert, first place antique car.
In addition to taking home the first place military vehicle trophy, Mark Serfass also enjoyed the opportunity to see former colleagues and experience the car show’s growth since he helped to start the event seven years ago. “I was the automotive collision instructor at the TCHS Brandywine Campus and with the CCIU for about 33 years. Now that I’m retired, I don’t see everyone as often, so today has been great for me to come back, talk to fellow instructors and current students and see how the car show has grown,” said Serfass. “The car show has already doubled in size since last year, and I’m looking forward to seeing it continue to progress and bring the community together,” he added.
The TCHS 7th Annual Car Show was sponsored by Applied Enterprises, Black Horse Auto Body, the Chester County Technical College High School, the Chester County Intermediate Unit and Paul R. Saville Concrete.
“I was the automotive collision instructor at the TCHS Brandywine Campus and with the CCIU for about 33 years. Now that I’m retired, I don’t see everyone as often, so today has been great for me to come back, talk to fellow instructors and current students and see how the car show has grown.”
— Mark Serfass