Photos by Scott McCloskey ABOVE: Participating in a car cruise with the GTO Association of Central Ohio are, from left, Brian D’Amico, vice president of the organization; Frank Fregiato, a Belmont County Common Pleas Court judge and vintage car enthusiast; and Butch Miller of Colerain, a retired auto dealer who invited the group to visit his extensive car collection in Martins Ferry.

ADENA — A tremendous appreciation of vintage cars attracted dozens of members of the GTO Association of Central Ohio to Adena and Martins Ferry on Saturday.

Under a sunny, blue sky, nearly two dozen classic cars — most with the Pontiac GTO logo on the front grill — pulled into the long driveway of the Farm Restaurant in Adena on Saturday afternoon. The drivers shared lunch with several local car club members before making their way east to visit a retired auto dealer’s car collection in Martins Ferry.

Brian D’Amico, vice president of the car club, said the nonprofit organization works in fellowship with communities throughout Ohio, donating to charitable causes and events. He added that after he purchased a car from longtime local car dealer Butch Miller several years ago, he had a chance to visit Miller’s “warehouse” of classic cars in Martins Ferry and to experience some of the sights and sounds of the local community. Subsequently, he thought it would be great to schedule a car cruise to Eastern Ohio and give other club members a chance to visit Miller’s car collection.

“I thought that was a really neat experience. … I loved it and thought it would be a really great idea for these spring cruises we do every year,” he said.

D’Amico also said he has loved classic cars since he was a child.

Miller said D’Amico expressed an interest in making the club’s spring cruise to Belmont County in hopes that they could meet for lunch and eventually visit his museum in Martins Ferry.

“I have a love of cars, and I’ve been around cars all my life and it’s just a fun thing to do,” Miller said. “I’ve been collecting cars for about 35 years. … We are going to spend a few hours back in Martins Ferry. We’re just looking to have a great time today.”

Miller said he asked Frank Fregiato, a Belmont County Common Pleas Court judge and vintage car enthusiast, to be the guest speaker for the car cruise luncheon at the Farm Restaurant. He added that they were expecting to have several local law enforcement agencies assist in escorting the cruising motorists from Adena to Martins Ferry.

Fregiato said he planned to talk about how “the average car guy and the average car gal” involved with car club organizations around the country are highly involved with helping charitable causes.

Fregiato said he also planned to speak to the Central Ohio GTO club members about the “drug-free concept” and the mission of the annual Belmont County Schools Staying Clean Car Bike, & Truck Show Festival, which is scheduled for Sept. 14 at the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville this year. Fregiato, a co-organizer of the festival, said the purpose of the fall event is to raise awareness and funds for local high school drug-free clubs and to continue to develop the drug-free concept in the grade schools. By doing so, he said that by the time students reach high school, “there’s no drug decision to be made.”

The festival raised $22,368 in 2017, $43,275 in 2018 and already has raised more than $63,700 in 2019, according to Fregiato. He said he is very excited about this festival becoming a major community event that will continue to make a positive impact with area students for years to come.