Auto Club Draws Friends, New And Old

By Dean Wright, The Bristol Press

August 7, 2021

The Bristol Auto Club and visitors gathered Saturday evening in the parking lot of 430 North Main St. to share stories, music and a love of vehicles.

“I bought it when I got out of the Army. This has not been restored,“ said Louis Urso of his original 1970 Nova SS. “When I got out of the service I had a lot of money from three years and playing minor league ball while I was in the Army. Being as young as I was in my early 20s, I wanted a muscle car and this was what I went shopping for.”

Urso said his first date was with his wife in the Nova and they took it on their honeymoon.

“There are beautiful cars here. It’s a beautiful night and the people are very friendly,” said visitor Steve Gintick. “It brings you back to a better time...This is all metal. It’s class. It’s got stainless steel. Chrome. They’ve got a variety here. You got 40s, 50s. You got rat rods.”

Bristol Auto Club Vice President Dave Champagne said he’s been the vice president of the club for over 12 years and the Saturday event was the first without rain for a while. He said there were close to over 80 vehicles present for the cruise-in.

“It’s every first and third Saturday of the month,” said Champagne. “We used to be every week. It’s getting hard to do. We’ve only got so many people in the club and a lot of our club members are getting older. With covid last year, we said let’s take it slow when we were getting back into it. Next year, I don’t know yet.”

Champagne said the cruises were a chance to get out and see beautiful cars, both antiques and newer cars. He made note of 2021 and 2022 corvettes.

“Sometimes you’ll see 1910 Model-As and Model-Ts,” said Champagne. “It’s family friendly fun and people are very proud of their cars. You just have to show up with what you have and what you’re proud of. We play some music and have a raffle and just enjoy being here.”

Champagne said in two weeks the club will be hosting an antique tractor and car show.

“You’ll see stuff there from the turn of the century as far as tractors go,” said Champagne. “It’s pretty interesting. We give trophies to the different tractors and cars and it’ll be here as well.”