Knights of the Road

If you like cars – and America loves cars – there was a lot to like in the parking lot of San Marco Catholic Church on Saturday. The Knights of Columbus held their annual car show on a beautiful fall day, with an eclectic assortment of antique cars, muscle cars, one-offs, modified production models, and even a few motorcycles. 

Many of the 65 cars in the show live right on Marco Island, and most of the owners said they do drive their babies on a more or less regular basis, although they invariably have a “daily driver” as well to perform workhorse duties. That includes Craig Bamberg, whose 1986 Alfa Romeo Spider Quatrofoglio has been featured on the cover of the Alfa Romeo owners’ club magazine, and boasts a collection of trophies, and Rich Cowgill, who drove his metallic blue ’57 Chevrolet 150 all the way down from Chicago on the Dixie Highway. He lamented what has happened to the looks of cars since his Chevy was the latest thing.

“That’s the most beautiful front end ever put on a car,” he said of his tail-finned throwback. “Now you can’t tell ’em apart.” 

David O’Brien, who can be seen tooling around the island in his 1931 “Vicky,” a Ford Model A Victoria, is another car enthusiast who believes that, more than just being automotive artworks, cars were made to be driven. 

“Top end is around 60, but she purrs at around 40 to 45,” he said of his antique Ford, one of the last Model A’s produced. 

Some of the entries being shown seemed like too much car for quiet little Marco Island. Jack Keery’s silver 12-cylinder 1974 Jaguar E-Type is a type that has been clocked with a top speed of 150 miles per hour, and Greg Salvi’s 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat has been modified from its stock horsepower of “only” 720 to put out 925 HP. 

Best in Show winner Vincent Sparacino does live on Marco Island, but he is an exception to the “drive it” philosophy. His 2008 Mercedes McLarenSLR has “just over 1,000 miles” on it in 15 years, he said, which works out to about 67 miles per year. Maybe he’s onto something; the car took Best in Show. 

Additional winners included Joe Batte’s 1948 Buick, winner of Best Car 1950 and older; John Strobel’s 2019 Ford GT, Best Car 1952–2003; Charlie McDermott’s 1965 Ford Falcon, winner for Best Convertible; Christine Walker’s 1932 Ford Roadster, Best Hot Rod winner; Gary Smith’s 2012 Shelby for Best Mustang; Ron Schiechweg, Best Corvette 1954–1981; Tony Constantino, Best Corvette 1983–2022; and the People’s Choice Award winner, Ray Cappella’s 1969 Ford Bronco. 

The judges evaluating the cars for awards, with the exception of the People’s Choice prize, which every attendee could vote for, were Al Schettino, John Caltabiano, Bob Myslivec, and John Shewchuk. 

All funds raised Saturday went to the charitable endeavors of the Knights of Columbus, including Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, scholarships, the Marco Police Foundation, and Honor Flights for Veterans. K of C and Columbiette volunteers grilled up refreshments including cheeseburgers and dogs, in addition to Buffalo-style chicken wings. 

The K of C show was put together by John DeRosa, who is also the longtime organizer of the Kiwanis annual car show in February.