Sound bite: car show contest gets noisy

POTSDAM — A group of people clustered around a massive black pickup truck, cheering and clapping as its owner revved the engine and a black cloud of exhaust rose from the tailpipe.

They moved from car to car in a parking lot behind Clarkson University's Cheel Arena, listening to exhaust systems and cheering for their favorites. Saturday was the first car show sponsored by the university's Sports Car Club, and about 50 cars were brought out to show off what they had under their hoods.

"We really wanted to do a burnout contest, where you spin your wheels and make as much noise as you can, but we didn't think Clarkson would like that," said Jacob E. Hansen, the club's adviser and a mechanical engineering graduate student. "We decided to do the exhaust sound-off instead."

Whichever car got the loudest cheer won the sound-off.

A few dozen people wandered around the show, which was held at the same time as the Really Big Show, a home, garden and business show sponsored by the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce.

"Some kid told us about it, so we came down to check it out," said SUNY Potsdam student Christopher Abele, Potsdam. "It's pretty cool. I'm a mechanic, so it's interesting."

All the money from the show, from car registration fees, an auction and a raffle, will be donated to the Potsdam Neighborhood Center. Club members also were accepting donations of nonperishable food.

"All the clubs on campus are doing things for the more popular charities, like the animal shelter," said club Secretary Angela J. Cosnor, a junior from Springville, Pa. "Not that those things aren't important, we just wanted to do something that wasn't as famous."

Several other Clarkson clubs came out to help the Sports Car Club get things going; the Photography Club was out taking pictures and the student radio station, 99.1 FM WTSE, was playing classic rock over the revving engines.

Cars of all ages and makes were on display in the parking lot, from a vintage Volkswagen Beetle and 1955 Chevrolet to more modern Hondas and Subarus. People came from as far away as Albany and Pennsylvania to support the students and donate money, according to Miss Cosnor.

"It's a summer day for up here. This was just a chance to get it out," said Roy Graves, Potsdam, owner of the bright orange 1955 Chevy. "There's a few little scratches on it, but you can't let that bother you."