Promoters say auto show boost for local economy

By LARRY SHIELDS/Salem News staff writer

SALEM - Two area promotion companies feel that relocating the Steel Valley Nationals hot rod and custom car show to Quaker City Raceway next year will be a big boost for the local economy.
Corey Ward, of Core Promotions in Austintown, said, "I think it will be really big for Salem," while Dave Ehret, president of Dave and Ed's Auto Events, said it will be "a big boost to the local economy."

 Core Promotions, co-partnered by Brian Caiazza of New Castle, Pa., purchased the intellectual rights and trade name - Steel Valley Nationals - from Dave and Ed's and announced it will hold the event June 23-25 at the drag strip located three miles north of Salem on state Route 165.

 In 2003 and 2004, the Steel Valley Nationals were held at the Canfield Fairgrounds but was canceled for economic reasons this year.

 Ward said the show was going to be moved from the fairgrounds anyway.

Salem Mayor Larry DeJane said, "We'll work with them and do anything in our power to make them welcome."

 Asked if that involved blocking off a street, DeJane said it did.

 He expects the event to fill up local restaurants.

 Salem Area Chamber of Commence Executive Director Audrey Null said the event will be discussed during a board meeting today.

 "We want to do something. This will be a good thing," she said.

"We want to make sure business comes. We probably will do something."

 Null said the Steel Valley Nationals will be the week before the June 30 Salem Bicentennial and it could be a promotional opportunity to put the word out about that event.

Ehret's company promoted the Steel Valley Nationals for two years at the Canfield Fairgrounds after a 15-year run as the Hot Rod Super Nationals.

 He said if the event receives local government and business support it will boost the "local economy."

 Dave and Ed's will continue with its annual spring swap meet at the Canfield Fairgrounds.

 Ehret said one problem his company encountered was Boardman Township officials began discouraging the event.

 He explained that many show entrants, numbering as high as 1,300 and arriving from states as far away as Florida, liked to leave the fairgrounds and cruise U.S. Route 224 in Boardman.

 "They would come to the fairgrounds and at 4 p.m. they wanted to go and cruise.

 "If (Salem) business owners are smart they will promote things downtown because these guys love to show their cars," Ehret said and suggested even shutting down a street.

 "A lot of the people won't come to the show," Ehret said, "but they will come to Salem to see them."

 He said one Boardman Township trustee advised him the show was its largest tourist attraction.

 During the two years that Dave and Ed's promoted the show it drew 14,000 spectators the first year and 12,000 over a rainy Memorial Day weekend in 2004.

 Gate admission was five dollars for spectators over 12-years of age and free to anyone younger.

 He said the Hot Rod Super Nationals priced itself out of the market.

 "They raised the price to the point that spectators just refused to come," he said, explaining the fair board approached his company and they lowered the price of admission.

 Ward said his company, an integrated advertising and promotion business, has promoted the Superbowl of Sound, bikes nights, cars shows and wrestling events.

 He expects the 2006 Steel Valley Nationals to be a carbon copy of the Dave and Ed's shows with admission remaining at five dollars for adults and free for spectators under 12.

 "It's not going to change very much," he said, noting the show will be "embellished and enhanced" with a motorcycle segment.

 The drag strip will be used to test and tune while judges will determine show awards.

 "We're looking forward to coming to Salem," Ward said, adding that hopefully the merchants will support it.

 Ward said some entrants will drive into Salem at the end of the day but expected many will migrate back to the Boardman area where they have traditionally assembled for the past 17 years during the show.

 "I would hope some would linger in Salem," he said, adding he would like to set something up in the city but had no immediate or specific plans.

 Larry Shields can be reached at  lshields@salemnews.net