George Arakelian Jr. was up at the crack of dawn Sunday. He awoke to a drizzling rain but had high hopes the sun would soon show itself. However, the sun never came out Sunday.

Thus, the Johnston Police Explorers Post 405 had its bike and car show fundraiser postponed for the second time since the original date of June 12 was also washed out.

“We are really disappointed that we have to postpone this again,” Arakelian said.

Likewise, Johnston Police Captain Marc A. Boisvert was also disappointed with the forced postponement. Boisvert coordinated the fundraiser with Arakelian and his wife, Gina Sabotini-Arakelian.

The trio met with Dan Mazzulla, Johnston’s recreation director at approximately 9:30 Sunday morning in hopes of booking a new date for the fundraiser that will benefit the Johnston Police Explorers Post 405.

But as Sabatoni-Arakelian and Boisvert quickly learned, dates at Johnston War Memorial Park are now at a premium with the fall season just around the corner.

The committee then agreed on the date of Saturday, Oct. 1, to hold the Johnston Police Explorers Post 405 Bike and Car Show.

“And it better not rain on that day,” said Arakelian, who owns A Custom Car Stereo Center in Johnston as well as MotorHead Magazine. “A lot of people put a lot or work into this show. I personally spent six and a half hours getting my Camaro ready.”

Oftentimes, antique car and bike owners are reluctant to bring them out in bad weather. Nevertheless, it will be all systems go on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Johnston War Memorial Park. The show will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We will honor the vendors who pledged their support to come here to help the Explorer Post,” Arakelian added.

The Oct. 1 bike and car show will have all the vendors and food items that last Sunday’s show would have had. Local DJ Gary Salzillo will again lend his talents to the cause.

There will also be several competitions, as both Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena and PD Chief Richard Tamburini will pick their favorite vehicle in the show. Members of the Explorers post will also select their favorite vehicle.

“We’ll still have that $1,500 raffle,” Arakelian said. “We’re hoping for good weather and a large turnout.”

The only challenge left Sunday was what to do with a cooler full of ice cream donated by Warwick Ice Cream.

The entry fee for the Oct. 1 event is $15 per vehicle plus a canned good that will be donated to the Community Food Bank.

There are currently more than 12 young people in the JPD’s Explorer Post 405. Those boys and girls are between the ages of 14 and 20 and perform 250 hours of community service as well as share an interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement.