Cruisin' on the Mountaintop: A Car Show and a Love Story

Owner Michael Risch stands beside his restored 1925 Fort T Bucket

By Max Oppen

Photos by Max Oppen and Michael Risch:

TANNERSVILLE – Fall was in the air on Sunday, September 21, as the rumble of vintage cars rolled down Main Street for the Village of Tannersville’s 13th annual Cruisin’ on the Mountaintop Fall Car Show.

The Village hosts two shows each year—one on Father’s Day in the spring and another in the fall. Both draw car enthusiasts, families, and curious tourists who often find themselves surprised by Main Street’s day-long closure.

Wendy's Ashes in a heart-shaped pendant hang on the rearview mirror

This year’s fall show was sponsored by Thorpe’s Pontiac, Lamont Engineers, and Pancho Villas, according to Village Clerk Robin Dumont.

Awards were handed out in mid-afternoon by Mayor Lee McGunnigle, though attempts to obtain the complete list of results went unanswered.

Among the standout stories of the day was that of Michael Risch, a regular contestant who entered a 1925 Ford T-Bucket with a small-block 350. The car carries deep personal meaning for him. His wife, Wendy, bought the truck on Memorial Day in 2015. She was only able to take three rides in it before passing away in August of that year after battling cancer. “She was 40,” Risch said.

Risch, 52, has been working on cars since he was 16 years old. He lives in South Cairo with his 28-year-old daughter and has entered every Tannersville car show for the past eight years, along with several others in the region.

For three years, Risch painstakingly rebuilt the truck in Wendy’s honor. He named it after her and even carries some of her ashes in a delicate, heart-shaped pendant that hangs from the rearview mirror. “My wife is always with me,” he explained.

Risch has showcased the truck at the Cairo Car Show, the Graveyarders Annual Summer Car Show in Schaghticoke, and a show hosted by Orange County Choppers. “The only one I haven’t made was the Adirondack Nationals,” he said. Over the years, he has earned multiple “Oldest Registered” awards in Tannersville. “All the rest have been top 10s, top 15s, etc.”

The truck itself has its quirks. Wendy originally spotted it in Athens, parked in front of a home. “He had it out in front of his house and we decided to buy it,” Risch recalled. Driving it up the mountain from South Cairo is no easy feat. “It’s like riding in a lumber wagon,” he said with a laugh. “It’s very loud.”

Due to its weight and design, Risch maintains a speed of under 60 mph. “It doesn’t have modern suspension, which is more true to the original truck,” he explained. The ride is often affected by wind and road conditions.

The T Bucket is a kit car, meaning its body is fiberglass rather than steel. “You buy it as a kit and you build it yourself,” Risch said.

Still, the car’s value has nothing to do with trophies or mechanics. For Risch, the truck is beyond measure. “It’s priceless,” he said, rebuilt as a living tribute to his late wife.