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Motorama Roars Into North Adams For Fourth Year

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Motorama's runs this Sunday; see pictures of last year's event here.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Motorama roars back into the downtown this Sunday from 9 to 3.

This is the fourth year of the car show and its expected to be bigger and better than ever.

"This show has really grown beyond our expectations," said Joseph Dean of Dean's Quality Auto, one of the organizers and a founder of the event. "We love hosting this here in North Adams and the event draws people from all over New England to the city."

While free and open to the public, those wishing to enter their classic, pimped out or hot-rodded vehicles into show can do so for $10. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. and closes at 11. Motorcycles, snowmobiles, tractors and more will also be exhibited.

The first 150 registrants will receive a "goody bag" with coupons, information and freebies from local businesses and sponsors.

Main, Holden and Eagle streets will be closed to traffic, along with a large section of the plaza parking lot and possibly a section Ashland Street, depending on the number of entrants.  

MotorHead Media, a division of Internet Brands, which owns and operates a group of online marketplaces serving motorsports enthusiasts, will have a funny car on display along with booths in front of BoxCarMedia, with which it shares offices.

One of its affiliates, OldRide.com, is sponsoring this year's winners jackets.


New this year is a car corral and live auction sponsored by Caridd Auto beginning at 10:30 in the plaza parking lot. One of the featured vehicles, a Pontiac Firebird, will be auctioned off by Cariddi to benefit the Northern Berkshire Youth Hockey League.

Separate events, such as a ride sponsored by Lick's Motorcycles from 10 to 11 and concession by the North Adams ROPES Camp, also will benefit various organizations and charities; the show donates a portion of its proceeds as well.

There will also be a chinese auction, 50/50 raffles, food vendors and more. Loose Change will be playing later in the morning and into the afternoon.

Some 250 vehicles were registered for last year's events and more are expected this time around, based on the amount of interested inquiries, said Debra Dean, of Dean's Autos, with advance registrations from as far as Saratoga, N.Y., and Boston.

The event is run through the city's Office of Tourism & Community Events with a small event committee. Other event organizers include Jeff Sylvester of McAndrews-King and Daryl Roy from Berkshire Valley Auto Works (NAPA) as well as a group of hardworking volunteers. The Berkshire County Night CruZers car club will lend a hand during the event by handling registration and the 50/50 raffles and announcements happening throughout the day.

A parking ban will be in effect in the following locations beginning at midnight the night before the event: Main Street and North Church Street, Center Street lot (from light poles in the middle of the lot to Route 2) and in the Steeple City Plaza parking lot (the row closest to TD Bank and All Saint's Church). Churchgoers will be allowed access to drop off parishioners for First Congregational Church and the First Baptist Church the day of the event.

Motorama is presented by local radio stations WNAW 1230-AM and WUPE 100.1-FM. Other major sponsors include Motorhead Media, Southside Sales & Service, Greylock Federal Credit Union and Berkshire Valley Auto Works (NAPA). Motorama extends a special thank you to all of the local businesses and organizations that have generously supported this event.

In the case of extreme inclement weather the rain date is Aug. 30.

 

 

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. 
 
Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor — just a few feet — means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. 
 
The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5
 
Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site.
 
"We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. 
 
"And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe."
 
Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him."
 
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