Gregg Freas walked hand-in-hand with his 4-year-old son, Samuel, and pointed out the shiniest engines he could find for his boy.
They peered into the chrome maze of a hot rod, nodded and smiled to each other. It was their first car show together.
The Gainesville Street Rod Club hosted its 30th annual Cruz-in, a car show and competition.
For the past 10 years, the group has attracted families, students and car enthusiasts from across the state to raise money for Stop! Children’s Cancer Inc.
Because of the car show, the club has donated about $67,000 to the pediatric cancer prevention and control charity over the past decade, said Tim Myers, president of Gainesville Street Rods.
Myers said 10 judges award 40 trophies to the top cars and 16 special trophies for the best Chevrolet, interior, paint and more. Car lovers raised money by charging a $20 fee to enter each car, truck or motorcycle in the judging.
High gas prices and other roadblocks have knocked a few of last year’s competitors out of the show, but 123 vehicles entered the competition Saturday, he said.
The show was open to all types of cars, from a 1962 Corvette to a brand-new Mustang and everything in between.
Larry Wilson, 64, sat behind his spectre-master green 1968 Chevrolet pro-street Chevelle with a 468-cubic-inch Reher-Morrison engine, which is made to look like a street-racer.
Wilson has competed with his car for five years, but it was his first year at this show.
He bought the car at a swap meet in Texas. Since then, he has spent about $70,000 on it.
On top of his engine was an “anti-theft device”: a couple sticks of fake dynamite attached to a fake alarm clock.
“This is a lot more fun than golf,” he said. “And chicks love cars.”
Contact Ben Brasch at bbrasch@alligator.org.
Scott Jarrell, 37, of Newberry, walks around with his son Will, 6, at the Slamfest Car and Truck Show on Saturday afternoon.
