MACUNGIE, Pa – The roar of a race car engine echoed through Macungie Memorial Park as longtime racer Rick Karpeuk fired up the self-built race car that once carried him to championships.
“That’s the engine that we used to race,” Karpeuk said. “We just had it freshened up. My buddy down in North Carolina freshened it up for me, and we put it back in the car, and we’ve been playing with it.”
The race car, once a familiar sight on the track, has found a new audience at car shows after spending years tucked away in a garage.
“We haven’t used it in a long time,” Karpeuk said. “It sat in the garage. It was all dusty. We broke it out, cleaned it up and started taking it to shows.”
This year, the car carries even more significance as the 63rd annual Das Awkscht Fescht celebrates the history of race cars.
“There are neat things for people to bring back memories and bring back happiness,” said Amy Hillegass, manager of Macungie Memorial Park.
For decades, the festival has drawn thousands of visitors to Macungie to admire hundreds of classic vehicles, enjoy live entertainment and browse vendors from across the region.
The annual event also serves as one of the park’s largest fundraisers, with proceeds supporting the maintenance of Macungie Memorial Park.
The 63rd annual Das Awkscht Fescht continues through Sunday at Macungie Memorial Park, giving visitors a chance to experience the featured race cars and other classic vehicles on display.