Sherwood car club has a drive to help others

Thursday, January 03, 2008

ABBY HAIGHT

The Oregonian Staff
                                                 

SHERWOOD -- They were just some Sherwood guys who loved their cars.

Of course, their cars were not just any cars. Stan Stobie drove a 1963 Plymouth Fury. Scott Thiel's pride was a Ford F-1 pickup and a Ford Sedan Deluxe, both from 1951. And Bill States coddled his 1955 Chevy sedan and 1968 Chevy Camaro.

These were cars of a certain generation. They were painted and primped and buffed and if the rumble of their engines made the sidewalk tremble -- so much the better.

One day last year, the three car buffs decided to start the Sherwood Cruisers for other aficionados of classic and antique cars. After all, the Chamber of Commerce's  Cruisin' Sherwood  draws more than 700 such autos to Old Town on the second Saturday of June. Heading into its 18th year, the Cruisin' is wildly popular.

"There's lots of guys who have cars," said Stobie, the club president. "Plus, we thought it would be nice to have a club to show off their automobiles in the Cruisin'."

The club's initial aim was simple: Gather folks who enjoy restoring or collecting classics, meet for breakfast and go for a drive.

"It's like a poker run," Stobie said. "Get a map and see if you can get from point A to point B."

But the nonprofit club soon served a more critical role, giving its members a structure to help their community.

This winter, the Sherwood Cruisers gathered 1,000 pounds of food for the Helping Hands network. They passed the hat, raising more than $1,000.

The money provided presents and clothes for a Sherwood family down on its luck. It bought shoes for some needy children at Hopkins Elementary. And it will help the Sherwood High computer-aided design and manufacturing program.

"Being a partner in education is our way to help young people learn how they might be the next generation of car designers and builders," Stobie said. "That could be a turning point for a young person to become part of the future of the industry."

The high school program is close to the heart for many of the 38 club members. Like the shop class of their generation, CAD-CAM training often is aimed at youths who like to work with their hands, who are interested in taking things apart and putting them back together.

The high school computer generated design class has the equipment to digitally cut metal, but with a $500 donation from the car club can buy new equipment to make three-dimensional cuts.

The club's giving is on a roll. It has booked a theater at the Bridgeport Village cinema for a showing of the animated film "Cars" at 9 a.m. Feb. 23. Entry is free with two cans of food for the Helping Hands program.

"Cans of food to help others is pretty easy to do," Stobie said. "The reason we're able to provide fundraisers and canned food drives is we all think about what we can do to help the needy. And have fun while we're doing it."

Abby Haight: 503-294-5917; abbyhaight@news.oregonian.com