Roger Rohrdanz January 05, 2023 All Feature Vehicles
The 19th annual Cruisin’™ For A Cure (CFAC) is the largest single-day charity car show in the world. The huge show was held at the Orange County Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa, California.
The event is held every year in September which is “National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month”. The primary mission of this event is to donate proceeds to prostate cancer research and provide free prostate cancer screenings at the event, throughout the day. In fact 908 men were tested, of which 207 had elevated PSAs and were told to see their urologist, that’s 22% were at risk!. This was also the largest single day group in the world to be screened for prostate cancer! And it’s FREE! As of this year, Cruisin’™ For A Cure has saved over 4,300 lives!! This event saves lives, one could be yours!
At 4:30am, the gates opened to receive more than 3,300 amazing vehicles! Many from states outside California: North Carolina, Canada, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, and Montana. The 1.5 mile cruise route was full all day with some of the best hot rods in the country.
The opening ceremonies started at 9:00am with the raising of the American and California flags. Then the traditional “Parade of Fire Trucks” began with beautiful fire trucks from all over the country. The tradition began at the 2nd Cruisin’™ For A Cure, it was just 2 weeks after the 9-11 attack. President Debbie Baker needed to honor those first-responders and fireman for their gallant effort. With little time, she managed to get 20+ fire trucks including a truck from New York, to open the show! From that day on, the “Parade of Fire Trucks” have opened every Cruisin’™ For A Cure! This year Debbie and (bomber girl) Angie led the Fire Truck opening parade in Debbie’s “Very” decorated golf cart.
The Grand Marshal was Dave Kunz of ABC7 News. He was joined for autographs by Carson Lev, Larry Wood, Barry Meguiar, and Ed “Isky” Iskenderian. The “Meguiar’s Hangar” hosted 62 of the most delicious hot rod creations ever. The popular “For Sale” area included 80+ cars. It will be back again next year. Rex McMillan did a great job as the event announcer.
Year after year hundreds of vendors have contributed and provided information on their latest products: Meguiar’s, Automobile Club of So. Cal., Interstate Batteries, Firestone, Lucas Oil, Guaranty Chevrolet, Connell Chevrolet, Budnik, Southern Cal. Ford Dealers, Bomel Construction, Edelbrock, Magnuson, O’Reilly, JB Bostick Co., DandD Golf and ABC7. Several car clubs donated, Surf City Classics, Pickups Limited OC and LA Roadsters to mention just a few.
At the end of the day 90 deserving car show winners were presented awards. The “Meguiars Elite” awards went to cars in the Meguiars’ Hangar. The Best of Show winner was, Gary Kolloski’s V-12 powered ’55 Chevy 210 Bel Air.
Lots of new and exciting changes are coming for 2019. Check out the website at cruisinforacure.com See you all next year on September 28, 2019 (Always the 4th Saturday of September)
Thanks for the Show!!