Dayton Daily News

Second annual memorial poker run is May 10

The second annual John "Hollywood" Watts Memorial Poker Run will be held Saturday, May 10 starting at Jackass Flats, 6024 Rip Rap Road, Huber Heights. First bike out at

11 a.m., last bike out at 1 p.m., the last bike is in at 5 p.m. Any vehicle is welcome to ride the route. The event will include prizes for first, second and third place, door prizes, a 50/50 drawing and a live band, The Hathaways, from 7 to 11 p.m, Jackass Flats will provide discounts on food until 6 p.m. Entrance fee is $15 per person.

John "Hollywood" Watts was vice president of the Independent Riders Motorcycle Club of Enon. Watts passed away in December 2005 from pulmonary fibrosis. Last year's ride raised more than $2,000 for the American Lung Association. To donate to the association in Watt's name, contact Ed Rhoads at (937) 390-0606.

Museum walk, wine tasting are both on May 10

The Carl's Body Shop & Towing Taj Ma Garaj Museum Walk is Saturday, May 10 at the Taj Ma Garaj, 300 S. Perry St., Dayton, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The old Taj is opening the vaults, dragging out the good stuff. Significant Porsche road cars turned out of Stuttgart will be represented and on display. Magnificent 356's, heart-stopping 911's, jaw-dropping water pumpers and ... a tractor? Well, after all, this is Ohio.

The event will include Porsche automobilia: posters, art, sculpture, toys, tools and more. Preregistration is a $10 donation and includes a raffle ticket for a unique and authentic piece of car art done by Dayton's very own "The Egyptian."

The Taj will host the E&J Gallo Winery and Heidelberg Distributing Co. Wine Tasting, presented by Buckeye BMW Chapter, from 7 to 10 p.m. May 10. Preregistration is $20 for one adult or $25 per adult at the door. Space is limited. For more information on both of these events, go to www.kreuzers.com. These two events are part of Taj Kreuzers SpeedFest 2008, a series of automotive-related events held to raise funds and awareness for Daybreak, the Wellness Connection and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Miami Valley.

AMVETS Post 1789 hosts cruise-in May 16

AMVETS Post 1789 at 715 Market St., Brookville, will host a cruise-in for cars, trucks and motorcycles from 6 to 9 p.m. May 16 and the third Friday every month (June 20, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19). The event will include food and entertainment. Call John Cole Childers at (937) 833-5765.

Marine Corps car show is May 17

Marine Corps League Dayton Detachment No. 271 is sponsoring a car show on Saturday, May 17 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Waco Field in Troy. This is a rain or shine event. There will be five categories: sports/muscle car, historic/stock car, hot rod, import/tuner car and off-road/truck. Trophies, awarded by popular vote, will be given to the first three places in each category, and there will be a best of show trophy. Goodie bags and dash plaques will be given to the first 150 entries. The event will include food, music, a raffle, a 50/50 drawing and door prizes. The entry fee will be $20. Preregistration forms are available from OZ7322@aol.com. Proceeds will be used to refurbish the detachment float trailer used for parades and the Toys for Tots program.

British car meet is May 17

The fifth annual British Cars at the Market, with dozens of British vehicles, will be held May 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Second Street Public Market, 600 E. Second St. (corner of Second and Webster streets), Dayton. Open to all British cars and motorcycles, the event is sponsored by the British Museum of Transportation. E-mail britcarmuseum@aol.com or call Dick Smith at (937) 434-1750 for information. The Web site is www.britishcarmuseum.org.

Waffle House Cruise-in is May 17

A cruise-in is set from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 at the Waffle House on state Route 122 off Interstate 75, Exit 32, in Middletown. DJ Fast Eddie will play hits from the 1950s and '60s. The Waffle House will offer a discount on food. There will be door prizes, including a 27-inch color television, a 50/50 raffle and dash plaques to the first 100 vehicles. For information, call Mirl Back at (937) 746-4811.

Scooters meet up May 17

The Gem City Rollers, Dayton's only organized club for owners of new and vintage Vespa, Stella, Lambretta, Piaggio, Aprilia, Buddy, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and other motor scooters and step-through two-wheelers, will have its second cruise-in of 2008 at the National City Second Street Public Market on May 17. Scooter owners and riders are invited to meet with club members from 10 a.m. to noon and participate in a club ride, weather permitting. For information, log on to gemcityrollersscooterclub.com.

Dayton Daily News/Forgeline Wheels/P2O Hot Rod, Custom and Sports Car Show is May 25

On Sunday, May 25, the Dayton Daily News/Forgeline Wheels/P2O Hot Rod, Custom and Sports Car Show will be at Lincoln Park, near the Fraze Pavilion in Kettering from noon to 4 p.m.

Awards will be given to the top 25 cars, plus awards for the Car Most Likely to be Stolen and the Most Cosmetically Challenged.

If you register online, you can pay $10 and receive an event T-shirt, lunch and a dash plaque or register online and pay nothing, and still receive a dash plaque.

You can arrive day of the show, and you still get a parking place. All cars on site are eligible for awards, whether they have paid a fee or not. For information, go online to www.kreuzers.com. The car show is part of SpeedFest 2008, a series of auto-related events meant to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House of the Miami Valley, Daybreak and the Wellness Connection.

Dayton Daily News Kettering Mini Grand Prix will be held May 24; volunteers needed

On May 24, the Dayton Daily News and the City of Kettering will once again sponsor the free Dayton Daily News Kettering Mini Grand Prix, held on Lincoln Park Boulevard, surrounding the Fraze Pavilion. The entries are Indy-style go-karts capable of reaching speeds up to 20 mph. Qualifying races start at 10:05 a.m. The race karts, which are fiberglass-bodied Mini Indy 715s purchased from Manco Products, are powered by 5-horsepower gas engines. A limited number of race karts are available for purchase. E-mail George Thielen at gcthielen@earthlink.net or call him at (937) 671-0768.

Volunteers are needed for track set-up on May 23 and the race itself on May 24 and tear-down immediately following. Contact

volunteer co-chairs Missy Donovan, (937) 469-3104, and Christina Welsh, (937) 603-9690. They also can be reached online at www.tajmagaraj.com.

Three organizations benefit from the mini grand prix and all other events associated with the 2008 SpeedFest: Ronald McDonald Charities of the Miami Valley, Daybreak and the Wellness Connection.

Springfield Rotary Mini Grand Prix is May 17

The Springfield Rotary Club will transform the core block in downtown Springfield into a Mini Grand Prix Race Track. All the events are free and open to the public. There will be plenty of food and beverages on the plaza both Friday and Saturday. Bring your lawn chair. Events are:

- Friday, May 16: Track will be open for drivers' practice runs from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The tire change competition is from 6 to 8 p.m. along the east side of Limestone Street. Friday night's activities end with a parade of the Mini Grand Prix cars from downtown up North Fountain to Home Road and back starting at 8 p.m.

- Saturday's events start with qualifying heats at 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. followed by a celebrity race from 10:30 to noon. Clark State Performing Arts Center will be holding the 2008 Family Fun Fest both Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. There will be roaming entertainers, carriage rides, an activity tent, petting zoo, pony rides, COSI and more.

- Saturday will wrap up with the consolation finals (15 laps) begin at noon, followed by the Jeff Wyler Championship (15 laps). Jeff Wyler Chevrolet is the race sponsor and will have several vehicles displayed on the plaza. Grudge matches (2 laps) are from 2 to 2:45 p.m. and the 25-lap Australian Endurance Race will be at 3 p.m.

The two-day event is a fundraiser for the Rotary's Services to People with Disabilities Program, the Rotary Mentoring Program and Excellence in Teaching recognition program as well as the scholarship program.

Waite's Restoration to hold cruise-in on May 31

Waite's Restoration and Custom Cars, a division of Waite's Automotive, is holdings its first-ever cruise-in on Saturday, May 31 from 4 to 7 p.m. at its location, 5944 Executive Blvd., Huber Heights. All makes and models are welcome, from completed projects to works in progress. Food and beverages will be available. For information, call Nick at

(937) 235-5716.

30th annual Armco Park Car Show is June 1

ACE Car Club of Middletown will present the 30th annual Armco Park Car Show on Sunday, June 1. Gates open at 9 a.m. Registration closes at noon; judging is at 1 p.m. Awards are at 2:30 p.m. Dash plaques will be given to the first 100 vehicles. Car clubs are welcome.

Twenty-plus classes will include antique brass era through '50s and '60s, muscle cars, street rods and present-day customs. Cadillac and LaSalle collector cars are being showcased in their own class.

Registration costs $10 per vehicle. Auto-related vendor spaces are available at $15 each. Spectators will be charged $2 each. Show vehicle driver enters free. For information, call club director Charlie Pouster at (513) 594-3495 or Bob Andrews at (513) 777-4671.

American Legion Post 286 hosts open cruise-in starting June 6

American Legion Post 286 at 2251 N. Dayton-Lakeview Road, New Carlisle, will host a cruise-in for hot rods, street rods, tuners, trucks, muscle cars, early iron, rat rods and motorcycles from 5 to 10 p.m. starting June 6 and the following Fridays through the summer season. Open to the public, the event will include food and beverages for sale, a covered patio, horse shoe pits, cornhole toss, pool tables and live DJ "Purple Flames."

Brookville Corvette Club Cruise-In is June 7

The Brookville Corvette Club Inc. and Boose Chevrolet will host their 21st annual Cruise Into Summer cruise-in from 4 to 9 p.m. June 7, rain or shine.

The gate opens at 3 p.m. at Boose Chevrolet on Arlington Road, Interstate 70, Exit 21. The event is open to all rods, customs, antiques, street machines and Corvettes.

The event will include a live deejay spinning hits from the 1950s and '60s, dash plaques for the first 400 registered vehicles, door prizes, T-shirts, a flame thrower exhibition, street muffler rap cpntest (no open headers) and concessions.

For more information, call J.R. at (937) 833-2341, Bob at (937) 833-5061 or Boose Chevrolet at (800) 947-1413.

Bob Evans Cruise-in is June 7 in Springboro

A series of cruise-ins will be held at the Bob Evans restaurant, 40 Shartz Road, Springboro, on June 7, July 5, Aug. 2 and Sept. 6 from 4 to 9 p.m. The event is free and open to all makes and models of cars, trucks and motorcycles. Dash plaques will be awarded to the first 100 vehicles. There will be a deejay. For information, call Mervin Bair at

(937) 746-2247.

West Milton cruise-in starts up

Jim's Dairy Bar and Ohio Cruisers host Thursday night cruise-ins from 5 p.m. until dark. The Dairy Bar is located on state Route 48. The events include music, food, ice cream, door and food prizes and a 50/50 drawing. There is plenty of parking; bring a chair.

Senior community hosts event

Brookview Place Apartments, a 55-plus senior community, will host a monthly summerfest cruise-in on Fridays on June 27, July 25, Aug. 29 and Sept. 26 from noon to 2 p.m. at its location, 4032 N. Main St., Harrison Twp.

Cars, trucks, low-riders and motorcycles are welcome. Call (937) 276-3972 to register your vehicle or for more information.

AARP Driver Safety Program sets course dates

The AARP Driver Safety Program, designed especially for drivers age 50 and older, is holding classes. The course covers aging, the driving environment and how to develop defensive driving habits. Pre-registration is requested. There is a $10 per person fee. Call (937) 299-1376 for an updated schedule or further information.

- Tuesday, May 13 and Wednesday, May 14, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Centerville Police Department, 155 W. Spring Valley Road, Centerville. Call Julie at (937) 428-4750.

- Thursday, May 15 and Friday, May 16, 8 a.m. to noon, Preble County Senior Center, 800 East St. Clair St., Eaton. Call Tammy at (937) 456-4947.

Classes are being conducted in these areas, too:

- Hamilton: call Linda Mancel at (513) 867-1998 Ext. 349.

- Middletown: call David Voyles at (513) 423-1734.

- Wilmington: call Sue Caplinger at (937) 655-2157.

Cruise-in continues in Huber Heights on Tuesday evenings

A weekly cruise-in is being held Tuesday evenings starting at 5 p.m. at Marble Slab Creamery, Waynetowne Plaza, 7805 Waynetowne Blvd., Huber Heights. All rodders receive $1 off any ice cream purchase. For information, call Scott Stewart at

(937) 237-5665.

PT Cruiser BUS activities

The Springfield Chrysler PT Cruiser BUS (Bellefontaine, Urbana, Springfield) groups will present gatherings in Springfield, Yellow Springs and other Ohio locations.

- May 21: "One lap on Indy 500 track"

- May 24: Lunch at Ha Ha Pizza, 104 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs, noon

- May 25: Cookout at Old Man's Cave

- May 26: Cincinnati PT Cruisers Memorial Day Parade (Dayton-Bellevue, Ky).

Events are open to all Chrysler PT owners and enthusiasts. For information, go online to www.ptcruiserbus.com or e-mail Mike Peirano at peiranom@aol.com or call (937) 399-2479 or (937) 360-1551.

Kmart cruise-in revs up

The Friday night cruise-in at Kmart (across from The Greene in Beavercreek) continues every Friday evening (5 p.m. until sunset) through the end of October. The cruise-in is co-sponsored jointly by the Greene County Antique and Classic Car Club and the Miami Valley Chapter of National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS). For information, contact

www.greenecountyantiqueandclassiccarclub.com or www.ncrs.org/mvc.

Dayton Speedway Web site

Local racing fans are invited to go online to www.daytonspeedwaylives.com to learn about the Dayton Speedway, which closed in 1982. People are invited to contribute photos and news items.

AARP Driver Safety Program sets course dates

The AARP Driver Safety Program, designed especially for drivers age 50 and over, is holding classes. The course covers aging and the driving environment and how to develop defensive driving habits. Attendees learn about left-hand turns and right-of-way situations (the two major causes of crashes involving seniors) from course materials, trained instructors and videos. Some insurance companies give a multi-year discount upon completion of this course. Pre-registration is requested. Call the telephone number for the class you wish to attend and verify the time and date. There is a $10 per person fee. Call (937) 299-1376 for an updated schedule or further information.

- Tuesday, May 13 and Wednesday, May 14, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Centerville Police Department, 155 W. Spring Valley Road, Centerville. Call Julie at (937) 428-4750.

- Thursday, May 15 and Friday, May 16, 8 a.m. to noon, Preble County Senior Center, 800 East St. Clair St., Eaton. Call Tammy at (937) 456-4947.

- Thursday, May 22 and Friday, May 23, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., VA Medical Center, 4100 W. Third St., Dayton. Call Marcia Brownlee at (937) 262-3376.

- Thursday, May 29 and Friday, May 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Earl Heck Community Center, 201 N. Main St., Englewood. Call (937) 836-5929.

- Thursday, June 5 and Friday, June 6, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Enon Fire/EMS station, 260 E. Main St., Enon. Call Norma Knowlton at (937) 323-4948 or Dee Berry at (937) 845-2080.

- Thursday, June 12 and Friday, June 13, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Kettering Medical Center Years Ahead Program, 3535 Southern Blvd. Din. Room No. 1, Kettering. Call Brenda Ralston at (937) 384-4884.

- Saturday, July 12, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., City of Riverside, Council Chambers, 1791 Harshman Road. Call Rae at (937) 299-1376.

- Monday, July 21 and Tuesday, July 22, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Lathrem Senior Center, 2900 Glengarry Drive, Kettering. Call (937) 296-2480.

- Thursday, July 24 and Friday, July 25, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Yellow Springs Senior Center, 227 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs. Call Corinne Pelzl at (937) 767-5751.

- Thursday, Aug. 28 and Friday, Aug. 29, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., VA Medical Center, 4100 W. Third St., Dayton. Call Marcia Brownlee at (937) 262-3376.

- Tuesday, Sept. 9 and Wednesday, Sept. 10, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Samaritan North Hospital, 9600 N. Main St., Dayton. Call Carefinders at (866) 608-3463.

- Thursday, Sept. 11 and Friday, Sept. 12, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Kettering Medical Center Years Ahead Program, 3535 Southern Blvd. Din. Room No. 1, Kettering. Call Brenda Ralston at (937) 384-4884.

- Monday, Sept. 22 and Tuesday, Sept. 23, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Fairborn Senior Center, 325 N. Third St., Fairborn. Call Amy Barringer at (937) 878-4141.

- Tuesday, Oct. 7 and Wednesday, Oct. 8, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Hithergreen Senior Center, 5900 Hithergreen Drive, Centerville. Call Cynthia Fraley at (937) 435-2415.

- Thursday, Oct. 9 and Friday, Oct. 10, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Beavercreek Lofino Senior Center, 3868 Dayton-Xenia Road, Beavercreek. Call Krissi Fedkow at (937) 426-6166.

- Thursday, Oct. 23 and Friday, Oct. 24, 1 to 5 p.m., Lathrem Senior Center, 2900 Glengarry Drive, Kettering. Call (937) 296-2480.

- Monday, Oct. 27 and Tuesday, Oct. 28, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Greene Memorial Hospital – Herman N. Menapace Bldg., 1141 N. Monroe St., Xenia. Call Linda Richardson at (937) 352-2193.

Classes are being conducted in these areas, too:

- Hamilton: call Linda Mancel at (513) 867-1998 Ext. 349.

- Middletown: call David Voyles at (513) 423-1734.

- Wilmington: call Sue Caplinger at (937) 655-2157.

AARP Driver Safety Program sets course dates

The AARP Driver Safety Program, designed especially for drivers age 50 and older, is holding classes. The course covers aging, the driving environment and how to develop defensive driving habits. Pre-registration is requested. There is a $10 per person fee. Call (937) 299-1376 for an updated schedule or further information.

Classes are being conducted in these areas, too:

- Hamilton: call Linda Mancel at (513) 867-1998 Ext. 349.

- Middletown: call David Voyles at (513) 423-1734.

- Wilmington: call Sue Caplinger at (937) 655-2157.

Moler Raceway Park schedules 3 DARF dates

The members of the Dayton Auto Racing Fan Club (DARF) have been invited by Moler Raceway Park promoters Kevin and Kim Moler to visit their quarter-mile dirt track on three occasions in 2008.

The facility, which opened this year, has scheduled April 26, June 21 and Aug. 23 as DARF nights during which DARF members will receive half-price admission to the grandstand.

For up-to-date information on Moler Raceway Park, go online to www.molerracewaypark.com or contact the track.

A 12-month DARF membership includes Moler Raceway Park and a number of other tracks where members are admitted free or at reduced admission. Membership for the 2008 season is $15 for a single or $20 per couple. Send a check to DARF, PO Box 641, Dayton OH 45401 or contact membership secretary Linda Berry at (937) 698-2237.

British Car Meet At The Market is May 17

The fifth annual British Car Meet at the 2nd Street Public Market will be held Saturday, May 17. Registration time is from 8 to 11 a.m. The meet will run until 3 p.m. at 600 E. Second St. (corner of Second and Webster) in downtown Dayton.

Open to all British cars, the meet is sponsored by the British Museum of Transportation and the 2nd Street Public Market. Dash plaques will be provided to all entrants. Awards will be tallied from popular vote by the entrants.

Preregistration by May 10 costs $15. Registration the day of the meet will be $18. The event will include live music and food and drink from market vendors. Spectators are free.

A registration form and other information are available by calling Dick Smith at (937) 434-1750 or Pete Stroble at (937) 429-0871. The registration form is available online at www.britishcarmuseum.org.

Wheels is accepting information of automotive consumer or enthusiast nature for this column. Event announcements should be sent at least two weeks in advance to allow time for publication. Include the location and cost to attend, if any, and the name and telephone number of a person who can be contacted for additional information. Items will be run without charge on a space-available basis. Send information to: Wheels, Marketing Publications Department, Dayton Daily News, 1611 S. Main St., Dayton OH 45409. The fax number is (937) 225-2417; e-mail is arollins@coxohio.com.