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By Lugene Hudson! The sign on Matt Cwynar�s garage makes it clear where his heart is ���Parking for race car fans only.� It�s only when you step inside to �the rooms� that you learn the true passion of this multi-faceted sports enthusiast and artist. Cwynar is not just a NASCAR fan. He is also a racer. But his collection of racing and Pittsburgh sports team items is a mini-museum of sorts. �Seeing is believing,� Matt said of his collection as I walked into the living room of the East Side home he shares with wife, Karen. �I love racing.� Matt races a stock car at Mercer Raceway Park. He bought a wrecked car from another owner and restored it to pristine condition. Karen�s brother helped with painting the car, and Karen attends every race. Matt�s number is 16, but another very important number is 24 � assigned to his favorite NASCAR driver, Jeff Gordon. Matt recalls the moment he bought his first piece, a Gordon miniature car, about 10 years ago. The purchase put him on track to a collection that now includes hundreds of items. It was time to see for myself. First, it was the all-Pittsburgh room that screams black and gold memorabilia. His paintings and drawings of Mario Lemieux, Jerome Bettis, Jon Kolb and Louis Lipps really stand out, and Matt has sold lithographs of some of those players and more. A huge follower of the 1979 World Series Champion Pirates, the Bucco wall has a team poster, a photo of Roberto Clemente and a Pirates towel. More Pittsburgh stuff emerges in cereal boxes, beer cans, helmets, footballs, hockey jerseys and ketchup bottles. But even though this room has mementos galore, it can�t compare to the attic and the home of NASCAR, New Castle style. �It�s full of stuff,� Matt assured me. He was right. The Cwynars have tightly packed in diecast cars, cut-out figures, cereal boxes and other collectibles. A prelude of coming attractions is a sign on the stairs � �Jeff Gordon Drive.� Without hesitating, Matt walked up to that very first Gordon item he acquired � a diecast car of the racer when he was Rookie of the Year in 1993. �If there�s anything with Jeff Gordon, I try to pick it up. I buy just about everything.� At last count, there were nearly 500 diecast and Matchbox cars � all in original boxes, and he has added more. Matt also admires Dave Blaney, Steve Kinser from the World of Outlaws and Richard Petty. Miniature cars of the latter racer and assorted items occupy one wall and blend into another. �We�re phasing in John Andretti,� Matt, 35, said, then turned proudly to the right and pointed. �Jeff Gordon starts here.� If the racer ever visits New Castle, he�ll be pleased to know he has a giant fan in Matt. The boxes of miniature cars are neatly stacked and mixed in with NASCAR/Gordon Legos, lighters, socks, toothpaste boxes, books and figurines. The collection also is arranged according to series and car numbers. Posters crawl across the ceiling, teaming up with NASCAR flags. An inflatable chair has tires as armrests and the curtains are checkered flag designs. �There�s a small space left for Jimmie Johnson and miscellaneous,� Matt said, noting slat walls will be added when more room is needed. Karen showed me a box of five Christmas ornaments of Gordon�s pit crew. A miniature soft drink machine opens up to display a tiny car and a framed certificate of authenticity shows Matt owns a one-inch-square-piece of one of Gordon�s cars. Yet if he could pick a favorite piece, it would be that sentimental first Gordon car. For this collector, racing is king and he�s not running out of speed. Add a comment  |
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