Our favorite Blast to the Past of all times is the article on the Westchester Street Rods 30th Anniversary with shots from way back when….
Before we get to this great story, we would like to thank Thomas McGinnity for great photos and Dave Worden for the commentary…. sharing with us… and you….. A very nostalgic look back at one of the countries oldest still active clubs…. A great bunch of guys whose love affair with cars has lasted a lifetime……..
| Westchester Street Rod Assoc.… 30 Great Years ! | ||
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Right from the start, the members were enthusiastic about doing whatever it took to make the club a success. Like all clubs and organizations, not everyone wanted to take on job responsibilities for some of the officer positions, but they all supported those that did. The club was really fortunate to have found a great bunch of members that could work together to reach a common goal. That goal was to be the best we could be in everything the club did. And that went for the street rods, also. Right from the start, the rods were among the finest examples of the time. |
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| Within the first year, the 18 charter members chose the club colors, the club logo was designed, and club shirts and a club banner were completed. The club joined NESRO (Northeast Street Rod Organization) built a club trailer and attended as many rod runs as possible. Membership in NSRA was also mandatory for all members. During those early years, the meetings were held in the member’s homes on a rotating basis. The wives or girl friends would attend as well. It was a great way to get to know everyone and their families. It was during those early meetings that the women volunteered to make new club shirts for all the members. They really did an outstanding job too ! Shirts were made for every member and their wives and kids. The shirt count had to have been well over 100 since everyone had more than one shirt. The club meetings also had some of the worlds greatest desserts at those meetings at the members homes. Eventually, membership became too large to fit everyone in the homes, so meetings were moved to it’s current location at the American Legion Lodge in Valhalla, New York. |
Larry Sementini’s ’32 3-Window & Thomas McgGinnity’s ’20 A Tudor at LISRA’s Montauk, Long Island, NY Run in 1973 ! |
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Fred DeSanto and his ’32 3-Window at the White Plains Auto Show in 1974. The car is not chopped and was running a 454 Chevy for Power ! |
One of the reasons the club became so well known in the Northeast was due in part to two of it’s members,. Thomas McGinnity and Larry Sementini, were members who were very active with the street rod magazines. … So many of the clubs activities were seen in Streetscene magazine that the other clubs in the Northeast jokingly referred to Streetscene as the “Westchester Newsletter” Thomas and Larry also submitted many of the member’s cars for features in the magazines. This dynamic duo also started an annual Fall Foliage Tour that still exists today. Over the years, the club has remained a very active, close knit group of friends. The club has hosted car shows at such places as the Kensico Dam, Lyndhurst Castle, and White Plains, NY. Members still gather evey Friday night at different member’s garages to work on existing projects and enjoy each other’s camaraderie. |
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| There is another tradition in the Westchester club that has become well known throughout the Northeast. Stop by to say hello and you will be offered a cold beer. Now, not just any beer, it will be a long neck Miller high life. Over the years this has become quite a running joke with club friends that may not have acquired a taste for Miller. Lets just say, when the Westchester members are invited to other club events, the host club knows to be sure to have some Miller on hand! Ask Ralph at ECI, he knows ! Today, Westchester Street Rod Association’s 40 active members and their street rods can be seen at many local and national street rod events. Many of the members street rods have been featured in national magazines. Several have been built by some of the top names in the industry. The members are very proud of their club image and it is reflected in each and every one of their street rods. In addition to the 40 active members there are at least another 40 “friends of Westchester” that are on their mailing list and frequently attend club functions. Some long time members have been transferred to other parts of the country by their jobs or retired and moved south, but are still almost as active as they were when they lived closer. Make no mistake; they are still members! Now, they provide stopover locations for members traveling to sunny Florida. Or, they are ambassadors of the club in their new communities. |
Taken from a page in Street Scene 1974. Herb Weiskopf and his son Paul deal a card to a participant in the clubs annual poker run/picnic, cosponsored by the Westchester County Police ! |
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A 1974 Photo of Thomas McGinnity with his relatives by his ’29 FordTudor, Jag Rear and All ! |
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John Varvaro’s Resto-Rod ’31 Chevy Coupe with the New York Skyline in the background. John’s ’32 has won many trophies for paint, people’s choice, ladies choice, you name it. Club members are looking forward to this nostalgic street rod hitting the streets again! |
The Westchester members and their families at the ’75 Northeast Rod Run in Kingston, NY. Even the kids had club shirts on ! |
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John & Shelly ’33 Ford and Dave & Irene Worden in Herb Weiskopf’s ’34 Plymouth “Rent A Rod” at the 1st Annual “Thomas and Lawrence” Fall Foliage Tour in 1975 ! |
WSRA will be celebrating their 30th anniversary later this year, and then setting goals for the next 30 years. If you are reading this then you already know this is more than a hobby, it’s a way of life. The members of Westchester Street Rods will be going at this as long as there are hot rods and fuel to put in them. The next time you see the Brown and Tan club shirts of the Westchester Street Rod Association, stop by and introduce yourself. I guarantee you will meet some great people, and you WILL be offered a Miller beer. Dave Worden |
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Lots more pictures to cruise through!.. Boy these will take you back to those good old days!.. Big Time!.
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Three Westchester members practicing a little Karaoke at the Clubs Picnic in 1975. |
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Herb Weiskopf’s ’35 Plymouth (Rent A Rod) towing the club trailer in front of the Kensico Dam, Valhalla, NY ! |
WSRA Sponsored a poker run at the ’76 Northeast Rod Run. 1st Place went to Mike Keegan of Staten Island, NY in his ’29 Roadster Pickup ! |
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Two of Dick Fiels Ford T’s at the same ’76 Northeast Rod Run. Dick, from Long Island, NY does some incredible work. |
Ed & Roslyn Flanagan, NJSRA arriving with the kids and provisions for the WSRA’s picnic in ’76. Bill “Rocket Man” White is handling the parking duties ! |
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Walt Williams, better known as Wonderful Willie, leads the club on a fall foliage tour. Willie succumbed to illness in ’89 but his ’36 Phaeton is still on the rodding scene. You should see it this year as the Manhattan Phaeton, out of Posies shop in Hummelstown, PA. Look for the dual cowl phaeton in black. |
Jay Monroe’s ’35 Ford pickup arriving late to the clubs picnic back in ’76. Jay is currently handling the body and paint work on an ARCA & Bush North race team in the Northeast |
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2nd Annual Fall Foliage Tour ’76. L. Sementini, R. Talbot, H. Thompson, D. Tolomer, H. Weiskopf, |
Larry Sementini ’32 Ford 3 Window on the 3rd Annual Fall Foliage Tour in Upstate NY. |
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In ’76 Don Tolomer, Doug Jones, Thomas McGinnity and Dave Worden went up to Albany, NY to help judge the Street Rod Class at the winter show! |
Four Club Officers during the early years of the club. |
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Fred DeSanto ’32 Ford 3 Window, Jimmy James |
The club has had it’s share of sedan delivery’s. This was Don Tolomer”s ’39 delivery parked in front of Thomas McGinnnity’s ’38 Delivery at the Long Island SRA’s Montauk, NY Rod Run! |
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In ’77 the Westchester club attended North Jersey’s diner dance with their own tea pot, club mugs and even club tea bags and earrings. Site gags like this went on for years between the two clubs. The topper was when North Jersey showed up at Westchester’s picnic with acaricature’s of the clubs shirts. (Wrustbucket Street Rot Assoc) complete with a picture of a ’34 Ford that had been wrecked. |
The club trailer back in ’78. Notice the Ignitors HotRod Plaque under the right taillight. Some of the Westchester members belonged to the Ignitors back in the ’50’s
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Club members getting into the act at North Jersey’s dinner dance in ’78 with the Flamingos |
John & Jackie Varavaro along with the kids leads the gang around the “Seven Lakes Drive” in the Harriman State Park, Harriman, NY in ’78 |
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For several years the Westchester members attended the Hershey, PA swap meet |
Fred DeSanto’s ’32 and John Roccati’s ’34 Back in ’79 at the “It’ll LEAVE you Breathless”, annual Fall Foliage Tour |
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“Rocket Man” Billy White’s blown, big block Chevy powered ’34 at the “Twin Tubies” run at Playland Park, Rye NY in ’79! |
A group photo of all those who attended Thomas and Lawrence’s Fall Foliage Tour in ’81 at Hunter Mountain, NY! |
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Some of the kids riding off in Al Bernard’s ’32 Vicky, at the Twin Tubies Run. Playland Park, Rye, NY in ’79! |
York, PA in ’82 L to R. Thomas McGinnity, Herb Weiskopf, Rupe Keil, Jim DeSanto, Larry Milton |
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Fred’s ’32 heading for the New York Mountains with MaryAnn and son Dominick, followed by Al & Eileen Bernard & daughter Bridgett in their ’32 Vicky |
For years the members met at NorthBroadway Texaco (owned by Varvaro and Weiskopf) to work on each others street rods. Shown is Duncan’s ’37, McGinnitys ’29, Lanza’s ’32 lowboy and Weiskopf’s ’36 4 door turned Phaeton. |
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The boys are taking a break at the ’83 York run. Herb W. Rick T, Rupe K, Walter P, Jimmy D and Charlie S |
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Herb Weiskopf checking out the tire to fender clearance with Jimmy James on Danny Hide’s ’36. Dan is discussing Deuce axles with Larry Milton |
Westchester Street Rod Assoc. members out for a Sunday Drive in the New York, Connecticut hills |
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Two of the hotter Westchester cars at the drage at Englishtown, NJ in ’83. Pat DiMattio’s ’32 Tudor turned 11.51 and Larry Sementini’s ’32 3-Window turned 12.62. These are street driven hot rods that were not trailered to the races |
1984 NSSRA Nats in Columbus, Ohio. That is Jimmy James DeSanto’s ’39 in the background |
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McGinnity’s V-8 Powered Corvair and Worden’s ’33 Dodge Delivery at the North Broadway, White Plains, NY hangout in ’85 |
10th Annual Fall Foliage “Leave Pepers” check out the 4 State view of New England States, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York |
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John & Shelly Roccati’s ’33 Ford is a home built ride, cruising in Manchester Vermont in 1987 |
A group photo in the wine country of New York when the Fall Foliage tours were 1-day affairs |
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Doug and Debbie Mauro on their way to Macedonia State Park, CT on the 13th “Thomas and Lawrence” Fall Foliage Tour in ’87 |
Camping at Hershey swap meet in ’85, the WSRA boys were ’32 Parts specialists back then |
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Herb Weiskopf holding metal working class at his garage back in ’85 on the now famous “Bonneville Baker” by Fred DeSanto |
Ed Delmonte bought Jim DeSanto’s ’39 and promptly chopped it and gave it a new paint job with flames. Ed’s street rod was featured in the SPINAP insurance calendar |
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The New York Boys at the NSRA Nats in York, PA in ’88 |
Polsers at Saratoga, NY in ’89 (15th annual Fall Foliage Tour) |
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An early photo around Skip Readio’s ’34 Hemi Powered sedan in Massachusetts |
Westchester club cars assemble at the Burke Foundation, White Plains, NY after the annual benefit show coordinated by Lon & Stephanie Lewis |
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Bill Pries and Herb Weiskopf attempting to remove Gary Dicso from Thomas’ Roadster rumble seat |
Weiskopf’s ’36 Phaeton at York in ’88 shot for RodAction mag by Steve Anderson.
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Several of the wives and daughters of the Westchester club. Some of the best dessert bakers around. Pretty talented club shirt makers, too |
Charlie Russo’s ’38 Chevy parked in front of Harold Thompson’s ’37 Chevy at the North Broadway Hangout |
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Larry Sementini and his son David talking to Mickey Lauria of Total Performance and Cool Flex at the clubs Lyndhurst Castle car show back in 1990. David Sementini is the sargeant-at-arms at Westchester club meetings |
Don Cheriko’s ’39 Chevy Coupe at the Lyndhurst Castle show, after Posies made a convertible out of it |
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Butch Martino’s ’34 3-Window was originally built by Boyd Coddington. The car was also on the cover of the Smithsonian magazine.
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Rupe Keils 350 Olds powered ’41 Olds is being driven by Rupe’s daughter Lisa while he checks out one of his Harley’s. Rupe has had Harley’s for years. Photo was staged for the SPINAP Calendar |
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Rich and JoAnn Lanza’s ’46 Ford and ’56 Chevy out enjoying the weather, while being photographed for the SPINAP Calendar |
Several members check out associate member Al LeGrow’s ’31 Model A Dump Truck. Al started with this project in 1970 and completed it last year. Al is a member of the Long Island SRA and long time friend of WSRA |
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This is the offical button given out at the Autumn Leaves 27th Annual Fall Foliage Tour. Designed and produced by Thomas McGinnity.
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Herb Weiskopf working on his latest project, a ’40 Ford convertible, with Jag XJ, IFS, 9″ Rear |
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Each year several members go to Spruce Head Maine for those famous Maine lobsters. This is a photo from Lobsterdo ’02 at Erika Pulvers house |
Thomas McGinnity in an early photo talking to Dennis O’Brien. Thomas is wearing one of the club shirts made by members wives |
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Dave Worden’s ’33 Dodge Sedan delivery, powered by a 340 Mopar in Newfane, Vermont |
Rocco Vigliotti’s ’38 Dodge coupe shown here at last years World Trade Center benefit show. New owner Doug Edwards made a trip around the US last year taking in as many rod runs as possible. No moss grows under this MOPAR |
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Ray Tomilowicz’ ’34 Chevy sedan pulling into the North Broadway hangout with several other member’s street rods after lunch on a warm Saturday afternoon |
The club’s belt buckle celebrating 20 years. Buckles are now being made to celebrate our 30th anniversary |
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Don Tolomer, long time club treasurer, recently relocated to Florida. The club presented Don with the plaque thanking him for his years of service |
Marshall Labow cruising to Macadonia State Park in Kent, CT on one of the Fall Foliage Tours in his Tom McMullen Highboy |
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The guys do sometimes get dressed up. This time for a wedding. L to R Fred Benedict (the clubs insurance man), Herb Weiskopf, Thomas McGinnity, Jim DeSanto, Rupe Keil and John Varvaro 1988 |
Bob Duncan’s ’33 Plymouth Cabriolet powered by a small block Chevy. Photo taken in front of the Kensico Dam, Valhalla, NY by GM Studios for the SPINAP Insurance Calendar |
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Les Madaus in period costume with his ’39 Chevy. Les, a Goodguys rep, has almost 200K in his ’39. Plans call for a new motor this spring |
Herb Weiskopf’s ’36 Phaeton cruising past St. Patricks Cathedral in New York City after the World Trade Center benefit car show for NYPD victims children of the 9/11 attack |
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These plaques are awarded to the top 25 winners at Westchester’s annual car show, held in White Plains, NY and cosponsored by Special Olympics / Soap Box Derby |
Thomas McGinnity finally got his ’48 Chevy (48CHUBBY) convertible finished a few years ago and has been driving the wheels off of it ever since. They don’t come much slicker than this one |
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The members always make it to the Goodguys run at Rhinebeck each year. The white beard on the left is Pete Bruno. Pete is an NSSRA rep attending his first GoodGuys event, but we won’t tell |
Ward Jones is the proud owner of this all homebuilt ’32 Highboy. Ward has quite a machine shop in his home garage. His wish is to have made at least one part on every member’s street rod |
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Butch Martino also owns this America Most Beautiful Roadster winner, built by Coddington. It is all aluminum |
Friday night still finds the membership at each others garage helping on members latest projects |
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Jim DeSanto also owns this famous Weslake powered ’32 originally built by Lil John Buttera |
Fred DeSanto has owned his ’32 3-Window since 1968. Originally a channeled car, then an unchanneled Resto-Rod, it’s now this slick chopped contemporary 454 Powered Street Rod |
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Another group shot at the Rhinebeck spring swap meet & Car show |
Tony Pisano is the proud owner of this Coddington built ’38 Zephyr. The car gives new meaning to the term slick. Orchard Beach, Bronx, NY |
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John Roccati always wanted a roadster. When the RoadStar came out John knew he had to have one. Picture was taken at the World Trade Center benefit show, Orchard Beach, Bronx, NY |
Harold Thompson’s ’37 out for a spin on a warm fall day. Photo by GM Studios Inc |
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Tony Pisano also owns this Coddington built ’32 3-Window. The photo was taken at Tonys shop during the last years WSRA Inspection day and NSRA Appreciation Day |
Pete Bruno bought his ’34 from “Rocket Man” Billy White and redid the car to suit his own taste. Car still makes thunder with a big block Chevy |
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Charlie Russo’s ’38 Coupe was turned into a cabriolet by Coddington and Foose. The one of a kind Chevy rides on an all tubular chassis w/Corvette suspension, front and rear |
Associate Member Al Legrow gave out these McGinnity produced buttons at the Boston World of Wheels show in January 2003 |
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Larry Milton enjoys traveling in his ’37 Ford Cabriolet, originally built by Posies. This car is credited with the current popularity of ’37 Ford Cabriolets. |
Members are seen stopping for breakfast at Fred Benedict’s Insurance office/garage. Fred has opened the garage under his insurance office for the members to use for construction projects. Fred started the successful SPINAP Insurance program for special interest and street rod collector automobiles |
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Some of the members and their cars outside Fred Benedict’s garage. That is Fred’s ’55 Ford Victoria, 5.0 EFI powered hardtop in the background. Except for the power train, the car is a duplicate of the one Fred drove in high school. |
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WOW – What a great trip down memory lane!.. I’m sure this story brings back many good memories to many of our visitors and we really appreciate Thomas McGinnity taking the time to send it in to us. We have really had a great time cruising through the years with the New York Boyz !
