Piston Poppers celebrate fast, jazzy cars

By Deborah RawsonPrint Story | Email Story
Ron and Ellie Jones pose with their two toys at the Piston Poppers' Tuesday night Car Cruise in Lenox. (Photo by Deborah Rawson)
PITTSFIELD — What began in the 1950s with a group of Berkshire County hot-rodders getting together to show off their cool wheels and listen to some fab tunes on the radio continues to flourish and grow today, with over 40 members from all over Berkshire County and across the country. The Piston Poppers, a Pittsfield-based nonprofit organization, was chartered by the National Hot Rod Association in 1956 and is one of the oldest chartered car clubs in America. About 60 to 70 people bring their cars every other Tuesday to the Price Chopper plaza parking lot in Lenox for their bi-weekly car cruise, and the event is growing in members and participants. “It’s our second year here at this location,” said Popper President Bob Driscoll. “The Boston company that owns this property has been wonderful to us. We used to meet at the McDonald’s parking lot in Allendale, but there was just too much going on there. We like it much better here; it’s a lot less congested.” Unlike other car clubs that are restricted to certain types of cars, such as vintage cars or hot rod cars, there are very few restrictions as to what type of vehicle can come to cruises. “A lot of clubs aren’t interested in the young kids with their European cars, but we welcome everyone,” Driscoll said. “We want the young kids to come because they are the ones who we hope will carry on the tradition. They are our future.” According to Driscoll, the “cruise” part is actually when the drivers are bringing their cars to the lot, where they display them for all to see and inquire about, with some driving vehicles valued in excess of $70,000. “The only requirement for someone to enter their car is that is has to have something special or unique about it, something you wouldn’t see straight off the show room floor,” Driscoll said. One example of a vehicle not seen very often, even at car shows, is the 1950 Ford Panel delivery truck owned by Edmund “Fuzzy” Holcomb. “These are pretty scarce. I’ve only seen three other ones in the past three years,” Holcomb said. “I got it four years ago and commenced to completely dismantling it. I got it back together in about two years. My next big project on it is going to be to redo the whole front end.” The events are not just for car buffs. Annual dues are $25 per family and drivers can bring as many cars as they can manage to get there. With no admission fees or anything to pay for, it’s a great opportunity for people to get out with their whole families in a safe, appropriate setting, members said. “We have a lot of fun,” said member Dennis Hoag. “We really do encourage family participation.” Ronald and Ellen Jones of Hinsdale are evidence of just that, with both bringing a car to the cruise. Ellen Jones has been bringing her 1957 Ford Thunderbird, or “Mother’s T-bird” as the couple refers to it, to car shows since they bought it six years ago. But that wasn’t her first car. The T-bird replaced Mrs. Jones’ 1967 Ford Mustang convertible. The Jones’ used to have seven cars, all Fords of course, not including their 2003 Ford Explorer for everyday use, Ellen Jones said. “These are just toys.” Ronald Jones was driving his 1949 Ford F1 pickup truck, complete with a 1953 engine, three carburetors, bored and canned, which means the truck can go really fast. “It’s all for speed,” said Jones, who fondly remembers the bygone years. “It’s like you’d find in the 1950s; it’s all for fun. Back then people had no money, there was no such thing as drugs, and people just had fun; it’s not like that anymore.” In addition to the Tuesday night car cruise, several members of the group get together every Thursday night starting at the Sunrise Café in Lanesboro and cruise down to North Street in Pittsfield before parking their cars along the street as in the city’s heydays. “We usually have about 10 to 15 cars parked along North Street,” Driscoll said. In addition, every year on July 13 the group holds a memorial car cruise to honor one of their beloved friends and longtime club member and car enthusiast. The Henry Hebert Memorial Cruise draws about 60 to 70 cars, trucks and vintage bikes to the event that makes its way around Pittsfield. As well as his love for vehicles, Hebert’s love extended to the city in which he lived, where he ran unsuccessfully for mayor three times before his death. At each event money is raised for local charities through a 50/50 raffle, and there is plenty of music, food and other prizes. In addition to the car cruises, the group holds other social activities, including participation in Pittsfield’s Fourth of July parade, picnics and a Christmas party. There is no judging of the cars at these events, according to members; it is simply for fun and charity. The group is currently setting up a website, and will hold fundraising events for specific charities upon request. To reach the Piston Poppers, contact Hoag at 684-3200.
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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."
 
The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. 
 
The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday. 
 
The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season. 
 
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations. 
 
"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said  interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.  
 
"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."
 
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