Participants never 'tire' of coming to car show
Cops & Rodders celebrates 15th year in No. Brunswick
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer
In 1977, a new house cost $49,000, the average income was $15,000, a new car cost $4,700 and gasoline cost 65 cents a gallon.

SCOTT FRIEDMAN Brian Thompson, Kendall Park, checks out the taillights of his grandfather's 1963 Chevrolet Impala during the 15th annual North Brunswick Cops & Rodders car show on Sunday.

In 1977, taxicabs had jump seats and room for 10 passengers.

Michael Kornspan of East Brunswick brought his 1977 Checker A-11 extended version taxicab to the 15th annual North Brunswick Cops & Rodders car show at DeVry University in North Brunswick on Sunday.

Kornspan bought the cab from a Long Island official in Westhampton Beach 19 years ago because he said it reminded him of growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y.

"You come to car shows and see so many cars of the same make, I wanted something you don't see," he said.

Although he used to drive the cab around for weddings and proms, he now sticks more to car shows. He said when people walk by, he often hears them recall their own memories of seeing cabs while they grew up, and they appreciate the 10-passenger taxi that isn't in service anymore.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT FRIEDMAN Left: Richie "The Bean" Sattilaro, of North Brunswick, admires his dream car, a 1932 Ford, during the 15th annual North Brunswick Cops & Rodders car show on Sunday. Right: Eric Mendelowitz, of Dayton, checks out one of the many cars of the Chevy SSR Fanatic Club.

"To come back and see what's here, to see the turnout, it's very nice from what I remember from years ago," Kornspan said of Cops & Rodders.

The annual event benefits the general fund of the North Brunswick Police Death, Retirement, Widows & Orphans Fund. Organizer David Varga said over 430 vehicles were on display, and he felt a "great satisfaction" about the turnout.

"It's very rewarding to see everyone come out this year, seeing it's so hot and the economy is so bad. They're loyal," the North Brunswick police officer said.

He also appreciated the appearance by Donald and Sara Zerby, the parents of the late North Brunswick Lt. Christopher Zerby, who died last year in a motor vehicle accident. They chose a 2009 Corvette to present a memorial trophy to in their son's honor.

"I'm honored they were here. It meant a lot, not just because Chris is a fellow officer but because he was also a personal friend," Varga said.

Frank Morelli, of Kendall Park, and Paul Passero, from Piscataway, brought their three Corvettes to the show — Morelli's 1966 and 1999 and Passero's 2007.

"We brought them just for fun. We've basically always liked Corvettes," said Morelli's daughter and Passero's niece, Susanne.

"It's fun for us to come to these shows and meet other people who own Corvettes," she said, noting how her family drives the cars around town and through scenic back roads.

Another Chevrolet owner was Jack Schulz of Kendall Park, who showcased his 1956 Del Ray. He originally found the car in West Hempstead, Long Island, and despite the red and orange paint, he wanted the particular car because he always had 1956 models when he was younger, and has had 12 total throughout his lifetime.

So, Schulz said, he brought the car to his son's friend's body shop in Irvington. They took it down to the bare metal and made their own patch panels in the back by the rear taillight. He also chose to put new wheels on and give it a blue paint job based on the 1989 Ford Escort.

Although he has owned it for the past 13 years, he still has not changed the AM-FM radio and 8-track system.

And ever since he remodeled the car, Schulz has been attending the Cops & Rodders show. He said it's close to home, and as a retired law enforcement officer, he likes to support the cause.

"It's about camaraderie and meeting friends here," the vice president of the Wandering Cruisers club in Somerset said.

Another car show participant with an interesting story is Al Romao of Elizabeth. His 1980 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am Indianapolis 500 Pace Car is one of only 4,700 built in 1980.

A gift from his father when he graduated from high school, he has kept the vehicle in its original condition all these years. Romao said the car has its original 61,000 miles and all of its original parts except for the stereo, which he changed. It was shipped from Reno, Nevada, and cost $11,817.52 back then, and Romao has all of the paperwork to prove it. He has a binder containing the original dealer book from 1980; the car release form from Monday, Sept. 24, 1979; the specs from 1980; Hot Rod magazine from March 1980; Car and Driver magazine from October 1979; and Motor Trend magazine from November 1979.

He attended the North Brunswick show for the first time this year because his son, Thomas, recently saw the "Smokey and the Bandit" movie, which made the car popular, so he asked his father to showcase the vehicle. The elder Romao decided, along with his wife, Mirka, to reregister and insure the car so they could display it.

"Hopefully someday this will be his car," he said.

For more information on the car show, visit www.drwof.com.