September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. “We figure having the guys here with their toys is the best way to get them tested, and the timing is perfect”, says event organizer Debbie Baker.
Cruisin’ For A Cure, the largest one-day charity car show in the nation. Over 3,500 vehicles will cruise through the Orange County fairgrounds for 1.5 miles and/or park and be on display. There’s no restriction on what make, model or year. An entry car can be – classics, muscle, trucks, exotics, customs, vintage, movie cars, and even new cars.
Cruisin’ For A Cure: the “SAVE YOUR LIFE CAR SHOW”, was started in 2000 by Debbie Baker whose husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Cruisin’ For A Cure is a registered non-profit California organization helping to raise money for the KSK Cancer Center of Irvine, CA. The logistics, marketing, and organization of the charity car show are handled by volunteers dedicated to the cause of “Saving Our Men” from prostate cancer. All proceeds and donations go directly to prostate cancer research to find a cure.
Men in attendance can take advantage of FREE prostate cancer screenings performed by the doctors and staff.
Men in attendance can take advantage of FREE prostate cancer screenings performed by the doctors and staff from the KSK Cancer Center of Irvine, CA. “The organizers of Cruisin’ For A Cure didn’t put this event together just to see an assemblage of interesting vehicles. They want to save lives,” said Dr. Kenneth Tokita, a Radiation Oncologist with KSK Cancer Center of Irvine.
At last year’s charity car show, 815 men were tested and 153 of them were advised to seek additional medical attention. “For most guys, the doctor’s office is not somewhere we’re particularly enthusiastic about, so integrating non-invasive, preventative medicine into an event that caters to the demographic of men who are the most at-risk for this disease is nothing short of brilliant”.
An entry car can be – classics, muscle, trucks, exotics, customs, vintage, movie cars, and even new cars.
Automotive industry movers and shakers Troy Ladd (America’s Most Beautiful Roadster), Chris Jacobs (Overhaulin’), Chip Foose (Foose Design), Larry Wood (Hot Wheels Designer), Carson Lev (Redphin Productions), and Barry Meguiar (Meguiar’s Inc.) will meet fans along with Dave McClelland (‘The Voice of the NHRA’) in The Hangar building from 11am until 1pm.
On the day of the show Debbie Baker drives around in her decorated golf cart checking men’s arms for cotton balls and tiny bandages so she sees they have had their blood test. She knows that Cruisin’ For A Cure could save their life. Debbie says they have tested well over 14,000 men over the years and have saved more than 3,000 men’s lives.
At last year’s show, 815 men were tested and 153 of them were advised to seek additional medical attention.
VISIT: www.cruisinforacure.com
or telephone (949) 353-7353.
WHEN: Saturday, September 23, 2017
6:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: OC Fair & Event Center
88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Editor’s Note: A version of this article first appeared in the September 2017 print issue of the Drive Magazine.
This 18th Annual Cruisin’™ For A Cure is the largest single day charity car show in the country. This show is held at the Orange County Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa, CA. At 4:00am, 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 2.5 mile cruise route was full all day with some of the best Hot Rods in the country. Live music played all day. The band next year will be “The Answer” !!
The event is held every year in September, “National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month”. The primary mission of this event is to fund prostate cancer research and provide free prostate cancer screenings.
In fact 864 men were tested, of which 167 had elevated PSA’s were and told to see their urologist. Debbie presented the KSK Cancer Center of Irvine with a check for $100,000.! 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!
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 2nd Cruisin’™ For A Cure 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 led the Fire Truck opening parade on the first CFAC float.
The Grand Marshal was Troy Ladd of Hollywood Hot Rods. He was joined for autographs by Chris Jacobs, Carson Lev, Larry Wood, Barry Meguiar, Isky, and Chip Foose. The “Meguiar’s Hangar” hosted 66 of the most delicious hot rod creations ever. The popular “For Sale” area included 80+ cars. It will be back again next year. This year Rex McMillan did a great job as the event announcer.
The primary mission of this event is to fund prostate cancer research and provide free prostate cancer screenings
Year after year hundreds of vendors have contributed and provided information on their latest products: Meguiars, Auto Club of Southern California (AAA), FIRESTONE, Magnuson, MagnaFlow, Connell Chevrolet, Guaranty Chevrolet, Budnik, Lucas Oil, Interstate Batteries, Mecum Auctions, Edelbrock, O’Reilly and recently added Ralphs/Food4Less, and Southern California Ford Dealers.
At the end of the day 66 deserving car show winners were presented awards. The “Meguiars Elite” awards went to cars in the Meguiars’ Hangar. The best of Show winner was, “The Imposter”, a ’65 Chevy Impala designed and built by Chip Foose, owned by Don and Ida Voth of Canada.
Lots of new and exciting changes are coming for 2018 check out the website at www.cruisinforacure.com. See you all next year on September 22, 2018 (Always the 4th Sat. of September)
Thanks for the Show!!
The “Meguiar’s Hangar” hosted 66 of the most delicious hot rod creations ever
Editor’s Note: A version of this article first appeared in the January 2018 print issue of the Drive Magazine.
After 17 years, Cruisin’ for a Cure has saved over 4,200 lives!! The event held every year in September, “National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month,” has raised over $1,500,000 for The Cure! This year CFAC presented KSK Cancer Center of Irvine a check in the amount of $110,000. KSK Cancer Center made a 10 year commitment to “The Cure”. Debbie Baker who started the show has made a 20 year commitment to “The Cure”. So this charitable event will be going for many more years. The success of it has spawned other similar shows in New York and Ontario, Canada.
At 4:00 am, the gates opened to receive more than 3200 cars for the 17th Annual Cruisin’ for a Cure, the largest single day charity car cruise and show in the country. At 6:00 am the Anaheim building opened for free prostate cancer screenings. They screened 1,100 men and found 200 with elevated results and suspicious lumps that no one would ever know about without the free screenings.
The opening ceremonies started at 9:00 am with the raising of the American and California flags. Then the traditional “Parade of Fire Trucks” began with Debbie Baker in the first of 16 beautiful red trucks from all over the country. The parade is in remembrance of “9/11”. The parade also included an Army Humvee and the Wienermobile.
Year after year hundreds of vendors have contributed and provided information on their latest products: Meguiars, Auto Club of Southern California (AAA), Firestone, Magnuson, MagnaFlow, Connell Chevrolet, Guaranty Chevrolet, Budnik, Lucas Oil, Interstate Batteries, B&M/Hurst/ Flowmaster, Mecum Auctions, Edelbrock, D&D Golf, Bound By Marketing, O’Reilly and the recently added Ralphs/ Food4Less, and Southern California Ford Dealers.
During the day, The Kelly Rae Band played their greatest hits. At the end of the day, awards were given to 60 deserving cars plus 15 “Meguiar’s Elite” awards to cars in the Meguiar’s Hangar. The popular “For Sale” area included 90+ cars. It will be back again next year. This year the unflappable Dave McClelland was the “Grand Marshall” and did a great job as the event announcer along with Rex McMillan.
Expect a lot of new and exciting changes for 2017. Check out Cruisinforacure.com for more info. Hope to see you all next year on September 23rd.
Editor’s Note: A version of this article first appeared in the January 2017 print issue of the Drive Magazine.
