Brian Elkin, with daughters Grace and Kate (right), shows his 1969 Chevrolet Custom 20 pickup during the #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise on July 6 in Bethel Park.
Harry Funk | TribLive
A portrait of Gary Carmen (1962-2023) is displayed during the #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise on July 6 in Bethel Park.
Harry Funk | TribLive
Sandy Jansante is pictured with her 1982 Ford Mustang during the #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise on July 6 in Bethel Park.
Harry Funk | TribLive
Lynn Weigl helps the cause by selling 50/50 tickets during the #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise on July 6 in Bethel Park.
Harry Funk | TribLive
Jim Gastgeb shows his “Smokey and the Bandit” 1977 Pontiac Trans Am during the #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise on July 6 in Bethel Park.
Harry Funk | TribLive
Asher Baker sits in his minicar, which was custom built by his grandfather, during the #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise on July 6 in Bethel Park.
Harry Funk | TribLive
Ruth Pollice and Shayla relax in the shade during the #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise on July 6 in Bethel Park.
Harry Funk | TribLive
Bob Pollice is the original owner of the 1967 Pontiac GTO he shows during the #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise on July 6 in Bethel Park.
Harry Funk | TribLive
Wearing their special shirts for the occasion are (from left) Sandy Jansante, Sharon Cardiges, Mary Jo Cassano, Kathy Fertig and Kyleigh Parks during the #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise on July 6 in Bethel Park.
Harry Funk | TribLive
Bill Mueller shows his 1965 Rambler Marlin during the #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise on July 6 in Bethel Park.
Harry Funk | TribLive
Kevin Hoffman shows his 1970 Dodge Challenger during the #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise on July 6 in Bethel Park.
Harry Funk | TribLive
Don Bele shows his 1957 Chrevrolet Bel Air during the #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise on July 6 in Bethel Park.
Harry Funk | TribLive
Paul Vasalech shows his 1992 Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan during the #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise on July 6 in Bethel Park.
Harry Funk | TribLive
A line of Chevrolet Corvettes is pictured during the #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise on July 6 in Bethel Park.
Harry Funk | TribLive
Hundreds of vehicles are on display during the #Garystrong Memorial Car Cruise on July 6 in Bethel Park.
The third time proved to be the charm for the #GaryStrong car cruise in Bethel Park.
In October, owners of classic and performance vehicles gathered to honor enthusiast Gary Carmen, a 1980 Bethel Park High School graduate.
“The first car show, the weather was really cold,” Sandy Jansante, his sister said, and the result was a relatively quiet turnout. “But we said we would continue it in his name.”
Carmen died Nov. 22 at age 61 following a fourth bout with sarcoma, a rare form of cancer he had been battling for four decades. And so the next event was renamed the #GaryStrong Memorial Car Cruise and scheduled for June 29.
Because of unfavorable weather forecasts, the cruise was postponed until the following Saturday, when more than 300 vehicles packed the back parking lot of AHN’s Bethel Park Health + Wellness Pavilion.
“It’s wonderful. You couldn’t ask for a better turnout,” Jansante said as she surveyed the day’s proceedings.
She works at Highpoint Fitness, located inside the pavilion. John Carberry, a Highpoint co-owner, was instrumental in making arrangements for the event, along with Jim Gastgeb, longtime organizer of the annual Rev ’Em Up for Kids cruise to benefit recreational opportunities in Bethel Park.
“They were just phenomenal helping us get this all together,” Jansante acknowledged.
Proceeds from the fall and summer #GaryStrong gatherings, at Carmen’s request, raised money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which provides free care for young cancer patients. The total from the July 6 event was $10,073.
“It was near and dear to his heart,” his sister said.
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