The legacy of a Groton classic car club

When Rick Neville purchased his 1969 white Pontiac GTO convertible at the age of 15 in 1973, he was simply a young man who had saved up all the money he’d earned from doing farm work who wanted to be ready with a vehicle as soon as he was old enough to get his driver’s license. He certainly never dreamed then that he would one day become the president of a classic car club that his mother, Norma Neville, and a group of other Groton car enthusiasts founded in 1988 as the Groton Family Cruisers Car Club.

Many will remember Norma as the Groton Central School (GCS) cafeteria director for a number of years, and Rick’s father, Francis, who started Neville Farms and also worked in the Groton Post Office. Sadly, both parents are now deceased, but their legacies live on in numerous ways — including the car club. 

Rick and his siblings, Louann (Case), Jean (Wannall) and Christopher (Joe) all grew up helping on the farm. Today, Joe runs the farm and is the mayor of the village of Groton, Rick still works helping with the farm, and Jean is the coordinator of the Groton Community Cupboard.

Rick and his wife of 39 years, Cheryl, are proud of their family, which includes Rick Jr., Michael, Alisha, Sarah Yunger Sigler and Chris Patriarco.

As a 1976 alumnus of Groton High School, Rick Sr. also attended TST BOCES, from which he earned a business diploma in a unique way.

“Instead of attending classes, BOCES students could work at a job to gain that diploma back then,” Rick said. “I worked for Bill Beck at the Groton Agway to earn mine, and I worked there another eight years after that. When I left Agway, I was a heavy equipment operator for the Town of Groton Highway Department until I retired in 2014.”

Somehow, Rick Sr. still managed to play varsity basketball, was a member of Future Farmers of America, earned the rank of Eagle Scout and attended the National Philmont Boy Scout Ranch while in high school — and purchased that GTO!

“I paid $695 for that car from its original owner,” Rick said. “It was around Easter of 1973, and I turned 16 that September. My dad took me down to the Groton bank, and I got a loan for $700 so I could pay for tires and insurance. My payments were $13 a month, and I paid it all off!”

Rick Sr. is very proud to still own that car today, and he’s also proud that Rick Jr. painted it as his senior project when he was a BOCES student in 1997 — a paint job that is still original and has looked great since then. With few exceptions, Rick Sr. has driven it in the Groton Olde Home Days parade every year since owning it.

As an adult, Rick Sr. had been a member of a few different Groton organizations at different times — and most definitely a member of the Groton Family Cruisers Car Club. Currently, Rick is a 35-year member of the Groton Fire Department, a volunteer at the Groton Community Cupboard and president of the new rendition of the car club.

“The car club had slowly died out and disbanded because the people involved were either getting older or just too busy for it,” Rick said. “Then, in 2017, I and some friends went to a Father’s Day car show in Emerson Park and decided to reboot the club and get it going again. We shortened the name to Groton Cruisers Car Club (GCCC), but knew we still wanted to keep it family oriented, as it was intended to be.”

The GCCC holds a Mother’s Day weekend chicken barbecue and can and bottle drives to raise funds to give back to the community. The goal of the club is to be active and help entities in Groton such as the Groton American Legion, Groton school programs and senior class trips, the Family Dollar’s annual Valentine’s Day initiative for the Groton Nursing Home residents and more, as well as parking their classic cars at community events to help draw crowds.

“We are also into preserving Groton’s history by restoring vehicles that have meaning to Groton,” Rick said. “Between me and my brother, Joe, we have 12 to 13 cars like Model A’s and Model T’s, as well as three horse carriages that were made at the Groton Carriage Company. One of the Model T’s is from 1918 that belonged to Frank Vasilotti, who was a Groton school guidance counselor.”

In addition to Rick as president, the other officers of the GCCC are Tammy Hays and Brenda Conklin as co-vice presidents and Mary Ann VanDuser as secretary/treasurer. The club holds its meetings at 10 a.m. on the first Sunday of every month at Summerhill Brewing in Summerhill. There are currently 50 active members of all ages, and Groton residency is not a requirement for membership — all are welcome. The club holds an annual summer picnic and an annual family dinner for its members. Membership is $10 per year.

The GCCC’s biggest event of the year is its Groton Olde Home Days Classic Car Show on Conger Boulevard. This year’s show is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24. Registration fee is $10 per car, and random drawings for participants for $25 gas cards are held throughout the show.

Cheryl Neville moderates the club’s Facebook page, The Groton Cruisers Car Club, which anyone may join whether or not they are part of the club. Anyone may call Rick Sr. at 607-279-3442 for more information or to register for the car show.

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas toeditorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at 607-227-4922. 

In brief:

Groton Story Walk updated for summer 

The Groton Story Walk, located on the trail behind Groton Memorial Park, has been updated for summer with “Max and the Tag-Along Moon” by Floyd Cooper. It is a sweet story about the bond between grandfather and grandson, beautifully written and illustrated, and is a great book for families. Get outside this summer and check out this story!

Lifeguard-in-Training course

Groton Recreation offers its Lifeguard-in-Training course for students aged eight to 16 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. daily Aug. 19 through 22 at the Groton Memorial Pool on Sykes Street. Cost is $30.

Participants will gain a wide variety of skills, knowledge and valuable experience, building self-confidence and skills for life. Program topics include basic first aid, CPR, water rescue techniques, cooperation, competition techniques and lifesaving methods. Bring a towel, suit, goggles and sunscreen. All students must be able to pass a deep-end swimming test on the first day.

Help for Groton Community Cupboard

The Groton Community Cupboard, 122 Spring St., would like to remind the community that it collects cans and bottles at the pantry to help with its mission of feeding others. There is an outside enclosure for your convenience. If you have a lot of cans/bottles, coordinator Jean Wannall can arrange to have them picked up. Please private message her directly on the Groton Community Cupboard – GROTON NY Facebook page.

Also, if anyone has extra recycling grocery bags, they can use them. Please make sure they are clean. You can drop them off on the doorknob at 122 Spring St.