Twenty-two members of the Valley of the Sun Pontiacs club rolled into Globe on Saturday morning, parking their classic cars in front of the 1916 Train Depot to deliver something even more meaningful than horsepower: help for four local automotive shops still recovering from the September flood.
The club — more than 200 members strong and affiliated with the Pontiac Oakland Club International (POCI) — drew donations from members in the Phoenix metro area. The club is the second largest in POCI and has members as far away as Wisconsin, Minnesota and Canada.
Their purpose, said club president Paul Albinger, is simple: “to promote classic cars, the automotive community, and preserve the classic car brand — a huge part of U.S. history.”
When members saw the devastation in Globe-Miami, they decided they didn’t want to “just talk about it.” They wanted to act.
Working with Blue and Lisa Saiz, who helped identify affected businesses, club members personally contributed to a relief fund that the club then matched — bringing the total to $8,000. Their sister club in Tucson also joined the effort.
“Without the help of Blue and Lisa, who spent hours helping us identify and connect with the local businesses,we couldn’t have done this,” Albinger said.
Four local shops received $2,000 each from the club.
As club member Alan Zangle said as he presented the check, "A lot of times when we’re driving cross-country and something breaks, it’s the small towns and the small shops that bail us out and get us back on the road, so just know we appreciate you.”
All of the recipients thanked the club and acknowledged the sense of community shared by each of them as many stepped up right after the flooding to lend a hand. Still, it’s a daily challenge. When asked how his shop was doing now, nearly four months later, Globe shop owner Al Nader joked, “We’re in a canoe, not a speedboat, but we’re moving.”
Al’s Automotive Repair – accepted by Al and Susie Nader,
Miami’s Finest Custom Auto Painting – accepted by Jerry Lopez,
Fuller Industries – accepted by Leland Fuller,
Highway 60 Motors – accepted by Don and Angela Earven.
Saturday’s gathering underscored a truth well-known here in Globe-Miami: when disaster strikes, community doesn’t stop at city limits. With their visit, the Valley of the Sun Pontiacs club bridged the distance between big-city hobbyists and small-town businesses fighting to get back on their feet — showing that the strength of the automotive world lies not just in its machines, but in the people willing to lift one another up.
CORRECTIONS: The print version of this story called the club Valley of the Suns Pontiac Club; the correct name is Valley of the Sun Pontiacs club. The print version of this story incorrectly attributed the quotes by Paul Albinger to the club's vice president Mark Neumann and misspelled Neumann's last name as Newman. The print version of this article also incorrectly named the national organization that the club is affiliated with. It is Pontiac Oakland Club International (POCI).
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