There’ll be a lot of ‘VROOMS” hanging in the air at Orchard Beach this month.
That’s when the 13th annual Orchard Beach Classic Car and Motorcycle Show is expected to again draw up to 2500 vehicles this year, giving Bronxites who have $10 to spare for a good cause the chance to look under the hood of some classic wheels in Orchard Beach’s colossal parking lot, hear live bands performing, and maybe even rub elbows with celebrities.
This year’s show is on Sunday, Sept. 15 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (the rain date is Sunday, September 22), with prizes going to the best entries. The cost to enter a vehicle is $20 and includes admission for two.
The event is a fundraiser for the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association’s Widow and Orphans Fund, including to families of cops who perished on 9/11, said event vice-president John Monsolino.
He and event president Joe Caldwell spent four-and-a half months on the “pile” sifting through the wreckage of the twin towers after 9/11, Monsolino said. They started the show as another way to give back.
“It was originally started two months after 9/11, that November, to raise money for the Widows and Orphan’s Fund,” said Monsolino “We were into cars and we figured that could be way to raise money. Since then, we have raised $500,000 for the Fund, and $52,000 for three children’s organizations.”
People attend the event every year because they know that it is for a good cause, he said.
The car show includes bands and visits from celebrities like Goumba Johnny, WCBS-FM personality Joe Causi, actor Vincent Pastore, actor Burt Young from “Rocky,” former boxer Jake LaMotta, actor Chuck Zito, actor Tom Wopat from “The Dukes of Hazzard,” and Larry Storch from “F Troop,” stars from reality series Carfellas, among others.
For complete information about the show, check out the website at orchardbeachcarshow.com.
In addition to classic cars and famous folks, there will be a motorcycle run with a police escort from Highway District 1 leaving the Orchard Beach parking lot to take a ride past the World Trade Center, he said. The donation for the motorcycle run is $10 extra.
“There are some people who come to see the cars, the stars, and some for the motorcycle run,” said Monsolino. “This is an all-day event and it is huge.”
This year’s show will also include celebrities from the 1983 car horror movie classic “Christine,” to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the flick about a possessed 1957 Plymouth Fury.
“We have members of the Christine Car Club flying in from all over the United States – and even one from Germany,” said Monsolino.
There will also be a raffle of a 1999 collector-owned Corvette for $100 per ticket, said Monsolino.
Bands performing should include Loose Moose and The Bada Bing Boys band, and more. The National Anthem will be sung by Yolanda Slocum.
For more information, or info becoming a vendor – who hawk everything from auto parts to food & beverages at the car show – please call or e-mail Monsolino at (646) 489-7199 or jmonsolino@aol.com.
