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.
