Words & Photos by Bob Sblendorio
“Absolutely thrilled” is how partners Ed Levine and Grazi Zazzara described the turnout for the inaugural Cavalcade of Cars held at the NY State Fairgrounds. The car show was held on March 22 & 23, 2025 in the Center of Progress building. They have doubled the attendance compared to a similar show last year, which is impressive considering it’s their first year. “Shocked’ was the reaction to the attendance and the positive feedback received by countless folks.
The Central New York area is fortunate to have a high-quality indoor car event, especially in the month of March, considering the typically cold and sometimes unpleasant weather in Upstate. About 125 cars were judged in 30 different categories, so the judges had their hands full all weekend. There are a lot of moving parts to execute a high-quality show like this one; and managing the personnel and all the logistics was hard-working Operations Manager, Brian Badger.
Zazzara is a car guy through-and-through, having attended the very popular Syracuse Nationals since the beginning 25 years ago. He, along with his partner Levine, purchased the Nationals a few years ago which is the largest car show in the Northeast. Zazzara acknowledged the founder Bob O’Conner, a well-know car enthusiast, as a “great man” for everything he accomplished in Central New York in what now has become a legendary car event.
The primary sponsor for both the Cavalcade and the Nationals is the Maguire Family, owner of 18 dealerships throughout New York State. Zazzara pointed out, “The partnership is great because they are huge car aficionados. Having a like-minded sponsor who shares the same enthusiasm is a winning combination.”
Recognizing that the future is in the hands of the younger generation, Levine explained how a lot of attention is spent on attracting families to both events. To that end, admission is now free for under 13. In addition, there are kid friendly activities throughout the show, like the Kid’s Choice Award—for which they picked a 1923 Ford T-Bucket owned by David Heimes. Good choice!
Zazzara and Levine are both business owners, (Paradise Companies & Galaxy Media respectively) and are passionate about leveraging their success by giving back to the community. They raised an incredible $80,000 in the last year for the Ronald McDonald House of CNY. All the money from the STRIPETACULAR—a venue of the area’s best pinstripers who were striping and lettering almost anything that was carried in—is donated to charity.
Both gentleman made the point that events like this go beyond just business, recognizing how cars are more than just a form of transportation. Cars can have an intrinsic value: “It brings people together in an enjoyable environment for conversation and camaraderie. Cars can have special meaning.” Zazzara continued by sharing his personal connection to his 1955 Ford Thunderbird. It honors his late sister with her name on the license plate making that senimental connection between siblings and lasting memories.
Over-the-Top!
John Cafarella’s mind-blowing 1100hp (dyno’d) 2020 Corvette is not your average C8. It has a completely rebuilt 6.2L engine, with two massive turbos providing 15psi of boost to achieve that insane level of performance. After purchasing the car brand new, he immediately sent it off to Cicio Performance for all the modifications. So you might be wondering why? Clearly John is a speed-junkie through-and-through who also owns motorcycles, speed boats, snowmobiles, ATVs… and the truck below!
What’s that phrase? — “The only difference between men and boys is the price of the toys” — is certainly apropos in this case.
Pumping on all cylinders!
Shellie Stewart’s automotive prowess seems to know no bounds. Her mechanical skills were ignited when she helped her dad as a teenager restore a 1965 Mustang for her brother. She’s come a long way now owning her own race car, the Norm Hutton Racing (NHR) ARCA #37 car. Also for NHR, she works as a Crew Chief, buys and sells race cars, as well as builds performance engines.
Her resume of accomplishments include being the first Car Chief in the history of NASCAR to work in the Truck, Xfinity and Cup series as an advisor, and Crew Chief when needed. Stewart has worked with many teams, including the more prominent ones like Richard Childress Racing and Hendrick Motorsports, with a focus on mentoring and guiding Crew Chiefs who are up-and-coming in the skill-sets needed to flourish.
Also on Stewart’s plate is the work she does as a Physical Therapist and mentor. She is committed to helping veterans that have returned from war dealing with their disabilities and how to re-adjust to civilian life. The mantra she emphasizes is that the “new normal” just means figuring-out new ways of how to do things. She exudes an aura of positivity that helps the vets manage and overcome their challenges and it’s work that instills a great deal of satisfaction.
This just scratches the surface of accomplishments for this mother of two—and there are no signs she is slowing down any time soon!
Very Rare Barn Find
Terry Blowers experienced the dream every car enthusiast has had—finding that very rare ride tucked away in an old rickety barn covered up with a shredded tarp. Well, for Blowers, that dream became a reality when he managed to find a motorcycle in a barn a few miles from his house. It’s a very rare 1954 Triumph Terrier T15 bike. And there was icing on the cake—it was in great condition, with only 508 original miles!
When asked if the bike had ever been ridden, “Heck no…it’s too valuable. It gets parked in the living room, right next to the fireplace,” quipped Blowers.
The bike has a single-cylinder 150cc engine, producing 8.3bhp, matched with an integral four-speed gearbox. The Terrier model was very popular when it was first introduced in 1952.
Also part of his collection is the custom 1934 Ford Coupe below.
Nationals – 25th Anniversary!
This summer will be the 25th anniversary of the Syracuse Nationals. There are many enhancements planned for the celebration, including a first-time exhibit of high-end super cars like Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, etc. There’s a lot more planned…stay tuned.
With the Nationals now in the capable hands of partners Levine and Zazzara—the legacy is insured to prosper well into the future. See you at the Fairgrounds this summer!
For more information, click below:
Syracuse Nationals
Cavalcade of Cars
