Alan Southwell, center, shows off his Mustang to Michael Dacey and Sean Burgess, who work for him at the hospital's security department.
Joe Leonardi, standing next to his '68 Mustang, shows off his replica of the badge and ID of the police inspector played by Steve McQueen in the movie Bullit.
Alan Piciocchi turned his Mustang into a tribute to the band Iron Maiden.
August 29, 2010
Why do people like to buy all-American muscle and classic cars, then spend hundreds of hours polishing individual engine pieces under the hood or searching for the perfect part that will make their dream vehicle complete?
It’s all about family, cars and community. That’s according to Alan Southwell, the organizer of this Sunday’s All American Muscle and Classic Car show held at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital off Laurel Avenu. Southwell, who drives his Vista Blue 2009 Mustang GT to work each day at the hospital, where he is the security supervisor, said the car enthusiasts like to get together, trade stories and show off the work they done on their cars.
Southwell and other members of the Mustang Club of Orange County get together each Saturday night at the Wallkill Plaza in Middletown and cruise around in their perfectly manicured cars. They listen to music, talk and have a good time.
Club members also use their time to raise money for local charities and Southwell said that last year he came up with the idea of holding a car show at the hospital to raise money for its new Littman Center for Cancer Care. On Sunday, at the first of what he hopes will be an annual event, dozens of people come to see the cars, have a some food and buy raffle tickets for items that have been donated to the cause. Visitors also get to vote on the cars taking part in the show.
Alan Piciocchi is one of the Mustang Club members who has devoted hours to creating what he calls the Iron Maiden. Once a basic white Mustang GT, the vehicle now features original artwork on the hood lining featuring Iron Maiden and custom striping all done by Piciocchi. Come Halloween, he plans to change the hoodliner to show the band Kiss and cruise in costume as one of the Kiss players. The changeover will be easy for Piciocchi – he’s already got shoulder-length black hair and tattoos, and plays bass in a rock ‘n roll band.
Joe Leonardi doesn’t have the showmanship of Piciocchi, but his ’68 Ford Mustang “Bullit” garnered a prize recently in a national show. The “Bullit” Mustang is the same model as the one driven by Steve McQueen in the movie of that name that is considered to be one of the first great car chases of the big screen. (Watch it below.) The squeaky clean “just like from the factory” engine must of impressed the judges, along with the replica of the police badge and ID card McQueen that carried in the movie.
Less than a hour at the car show and a visitor could begin to see why people like to share their passion for cars. Even SLCH chairman Allan Atzrott told the car lovers that he was “blown away” by the display.
“Sometimes we get a bad rap,” Southwell said of his fellow car enthusiasts, “but we really care about the community and hope that we can do this again for St. Luke’s.”
Watch Steve McQueen's "Bullit" car chase here in his Mustang GT.
