Cleveland, OH (March 8, 2011) — Winners of the 13th Annual Classic Car Competition at the 2011 Cleveland Auto Show have been decided. Al and Don Nosse’s 1933 red Willys 77 Kracklin’ Rose has taken home “Best of Show” and a $1,000 cash prize courtesy of the event’s sponsor Ohio Technical College.
Al Nosse was on hand to receive the “Best of Show” award as well as a $50 gift certificate from Pennzoil and a special Pennzoil leather jacket. Five other classics also received cash prizes of $100 each and a $50 gift card from Pennzoil. Randy Vranesevic and Jim Waite of Ohio Technical College and James Patneau, Jr., President of Free Enterprises, Inc., a distributor of Pennzoil products, were there to help distribute the prizes.
This was the first year the Classic Car Competition awarded cash prizes.
“The Classic Car Competition is always one of the favorite displays at the Cleveland Auto Show,” said Bill Burke, of the Spitzer Auto Group and chairman of this year’s Cleveland Auto Show. “By offering cash prizes for the first time, we attracted an impressive collection of the very best restored classics.”
Winners of the $100 cash prize for being in the Top Five included: a 1956 Thunderbird, owned by Lou Morganti; a 1970 Plymouth Super Bird, owned by Dennis Musil; a 1969 Plymouth GTX, owned by Tim Friend; a 1969 Ford Boss 429, owned by Mike Vetalice, and a 1968 Chevy Camaro, owned by Richard Hatch.
“The judging this year was extremely close,” said Karen Ford, manager of the Classic Car Competition. “Every vehicle in the competition this year is a true classic in its own right. The owners of the six vehicles that took home prizes should be very proud. There were some vehicles that didn’t make the final six that were absolutely magnificent.”
The Classic Car Competition was only open to cars 25 years old or older. All vehicles in the competition competed for the prizes with judging based on body, paint, motor, chassis and interior.
About the Cleveland Auto Show
The Cleveland Auto Show, presented by AutoTrader.com, marks the start of the spring selling season in Northeast Ohio. Featuring concept, pre- production and production vehicles from the world’s auto manufacturers, the show is held annually at the I-X Center with nearly 1.2 million square feet of exhibits. The Show also features an array of entertainment including sports celebrity appearances from the Browns, Cavs and OSU and NASCAR. The Cleveland Auto Show is a consumer show and a favorite family tradition since 1903.
About the GCADA
The Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers' Association (GCADA) has served the retail-automobile industry and community with integrity and distinction since 1903. Today, located in Brecksville, Ohio, GCADA represents 240 franchised motor vehicle dealers, which includes new-car, truck, motorcycle and RV dealers in a 21-county region of northern Ohio along the Lake Erie shore and beyond. More information on the GCADA can be found at www.gcada.org.
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