On July 3rd, 2005, at around 2:00am, Eric J. Kalber was a passenger in a car going approximately 70 mph when the driver lost control of the vehicle. Eric did not survive the accident. He was 20 years old.
To honor Eric's memory, a scholarship was set up in his name at Xavier High School in Middletown, CT. In order to raise money for the Eric J. Kalber Memorial Scholarship, there is a yearly car show with all proceeds going directly to the scholarship fund.
Over the years his family have strived to make the day a celebration of Eric's love for anything with wheels. It’s a festive day where old friends, new friends and family come together for good food, good music, and good times.
Since the accident, Eric's aunt has been speaking to students about the dangers of drinking and driving and speeding at CC Driving School in Tolland, CT.
The Eric J. Kalber Memorial Scholarship
The past few years have seen the show grow tremendously. Tireless efforts each year have seen over $15,000 in academic scholarships given to eight Xavier High School students. The qualifications for a student to receive the honor of the Eric J. Kalber Memorial Scholarship are:
1 - Must be a junior.
2 - Must be an average student who works hard for his grades, much like Eric.
This year’s event was another success. While weather scares may have turned a few cars away, more than 100 cars and bikes were in attendance. Held in temperatures that were way hotter than this fair-skinned Englishman is used to, an interesting variety of vehicles honored Eric and his family. Among the standouts were several police cars, including a menacing black Dodge Charger Interceptor with 9/11 tribute artwork on the hood, a beautiful vintage Packard and a pair of Javelins. Sportscars were well represented by a Ferrari, a screaming yellow Lotus, a Dodge Viper and several Corvettes.
Cruisin’s Star Car
On a hot and sticky day you need something cool and our star car is so cool it should have ice on the roof!
East Hartford resident Tom has owned this 1963 Chevrolet Impala for 12 years. The ground –scraping beauty took seven years to get to its present condition. Tom takes up the story: “I worked at a body shop and a friend came in with someone who said that he wanted to paint the Impala white. I asked if he wanted to sell it. At the time he said no, but six months later he came back and asked me how much I would give him.
“After taking delivery of the then burgundy-colored ride, Tom removed the body, tore the whole thing apart and stripped it down to nothing. The Chevy now has disc brakes on all four corners and 13-inch rims. A 350ci motor with a four-barrel carb provides motive power, backed up by a Turbo 350 transmission.
“All the chrome was re-plated by New England Chrome in East Hartford (
www.newenglandchrome.com). The glowing paint is Chevrolet California Gold – a color from the 1989 color charts. Lou’s Upholstery in Manchester did the seats, the headliner and custom carpet. He also trimmed the trunk.”
The most striking feature of the Impala is the hydraulic suspension. With a huge smile Tom told us: “When I am driving down the street, it turns heads. When I hit the switches people go into a freeze as it moves up and down and from left to right. I try to drive it every weekend but it depends on the weather. I’m trying to do more car shows this year.”
Tom is a member of the Hard Hitt’n Lowz car club in New Britain (
www.myspace.com/hardhittnlowz). The club has nine members and is hosting its third annual car show on August 8th at New Britain High School. A definite date for Cruisin’ Photography’s calendar!
On Thursday, June 17th, my good friend Jeff Strong of Strong Keepsake Images invited me on a trip up to Foxboro, MA for the bi-weekly Mass Cruisers cruise night. We arrived in the Bass Pro Shops parking lot where the cruise is held just as it started to rain! Despite the weather there was still around 300 cars in attendance. A few of the people there told me that on a good day, weather wise, the cruise regularly attracts more than 1,000 vehicles. Definitely one to take in again methinks!
Sunday, June 20th saw soaring temperatures, high humidity and a great gathering of Ferraris at the 10th Annual FCA/NER Concorso Ferrari presented by the Ferrari Club of America/New England Region. Billed as New England’s largest Ferrari car show it featured around 100 current and vintage Ferraris at the State Capitol Building in Hartford. The morning began with 40 Ferraris travelling to Connecticut Children's Medical Center. The Ferraris arrived with a police escort and 40 (pre-selected) children then participated in a parade procession through Hartford back to the Capitol building. The patients and families were then treated to a private luncheon complete with a special gift for the patient.
the 2007 Dodge Daytona of the NEMC’s Tom D'Andrea,
