BUSTI - The rain held off Saturday afternoon for Busti's third annual tractor pull and car show.
The event was sponsored by the Busti Volunteer Fire Department and Southern Tier Classic Chevy Car Club. Happenings included a tractor pull competition, a cookout by the fire department, a craft show and a flea market that included numerous car-related vendors.
Joe Siperek, president of the Southern Tier Classic Chevy Car Club, said the venture was born of a desire to put the empty land to use.
Article Photos
The rain held off Saturday as many enjoyed the third annual Busti tractor pull and car show.
P-J photos by Nicholena Moon
"A few years back (the car club) had connected with the fire department and said, 'We've got all this beautiful land we're not doing anything with,' and we put our heads together and came up with a tractor pull and car show," he said. "It's a growing thing. Onward and upward."
The Classic Chevy Club has been in operation for over 20 years. They host four main events a year, including a car show at Celoron's Ribfest, a cruise around Chautauqua Lake, and a large event in October at Peek 'n Peak. Last year, 90 cars circled the lake and more than 650 cars attended the Peek 'n Peak event.
However, the annual show in Busti is in its infancy, and this is the first year they have included a flea market and craft show. As a result, the average attendance is unknown.
"We never know how many we are going to pull, because this is relatively new," said Siperek.
The show draws all sorts of vehicle lovers from the surrounding area.
"It is so diverse," said Siperek. "We've got the antique tractor enthusiasts, we've got the car people ... you're liable to find anything here. Our experience has been that it's a pretty good mix of people. We really enjoy it, we enjoy seeing them here."
The show recently expanded to include motorcycles, which were represented in a healthy way on Saturday.
"I'm just amazed, the cars just keep comin'," said Siperek.
There was a $7 cover fee to attend the event, and some of the profits will go to the volunteer fire department. The rest will be pooled with the Chevy Club's other profits from the year, which they donate to the Shriners Children's Hospital in Erie. The hospital provides orthopedic surgery to children at no cost. The Chevy Club has raised $1,500 per year for the last three years for the hospital.
"Because the car club raises so much money for the hospital, we feel that it's our obligation to support them in their endeavors," said Eugene Olofson, secretary for the Jamestown division of the Ismalia Shrine Club of Buffalo. "They do a really good job for us every year."
"We enjoy doing it, and we will do it for as long as we're able," added Siperek.