Perhaps Ron Giorgio Jr. best described Sunday’s Hot Wheels Summer Charity Car, Truck & Bike Show held inside Johnston War Memorial Park.
Giorgio, who at only age 17 has become one of Rhode Island’s most promising singer-entertainers, stood on the walk-way with a hand-held microphone singing several of legendary Frank Sinatra’s songs and sounding more and more like Ol’ Blue Eyes with each verse.
One line, though, in particular, summed up the day’s success: “Let’s keep this party going …”
If people wanted food, Sunday’s super show had plenty of munchies with all the fixings. If people wanted family fun, Hot Wheels had it in form of 118 cars, 48 motorcycles and six trucks that caught the eyes of young and old alike. If people wanted to win some money, the park was the place to be as the 50/50 raffle collected a total of $828, $414 of which went to the day’s benefiting non-profit, the award-winning Meeting Street School. Billy Hutchinson won the other half.
For car, bike and truck owners, there was the awarding of over 60 trophies that Chairman George Arakelian Jr. assembled himself at his Johnston-based business, A Custom Car Stereo Center on Atwood Avenue.
Hutchinson, in fact, took home a huge gold-accented trophy for the Best Motorcycle in Sunday’s Show. The Providence Police officer, though, entered two bikes – a 1984 Softball and 1989 Softball Freedom – and that latter was judged best among the bikes and built out of parts from his friends.
Sunday’s show, which was the first of its kind, drew rave reviews and at one point during the afternoon portion of the 6½-hour free event, Arakelian Jr. had to forego his chairman duties and accept congratulations – and thank yous – from dozens of people for bringing such a fun and family-oriented event to Johnston.
“George, this is a special day,” said Bob Shore, who owns and operates Shore’s Market in Cranston and North Providence and won the A Custom Car Stereo Center Trophy for his white and blue accented 2017 Ford Mustang. “I’ve never seen so many vehicles at one place.”
That statement was commonplace and as many people told Arakelian Jr. and Co-Chairman Richard George, DJ the Car Guy, “this event is more like an old-fashioned family reunion held outdoors.”
Emilio “Emo” Sabitoni helped increase attendance with the presence of his Screamin’ Eagles motorcycle group that led the day’s Bike Run that traveled from Johnston to the Music Lady in Moosup, Connecticut, and back in time for the awards presentation and to help with the overflow crowd at the food concession.
“We started the day with over 300 hamburgers and before we could turn around, they were gone,” Arakelian Jr. mused. “So, we went out and bought another 300 burgers that also went quickly.”
Sunday’s show had everything from a police presence to children of all ages sporting characters and animals made from balloons to adults – as well as kids – admiring Gary Salzillo’s unique racing car that dressed in all kinds of body work including a human eye and can often be seen at his business, Northeast Auto Body that’s located off Hartford Avenue in Johnston.
Meanwhile, Car Judge Gina Calabro selected the Best Overall Car that went to Dave Bouver with his 1968 Chevelle and Best Overall Truck that went to Joe McGowan for his 1948 Ford F-1 Pick-up.
Steve Winter’s 1970 Chevy Nova SS won the Chief of Police Award while Bouver also took home the Meeting Street School Choice award with his ’68 Chevelle. Joe Terino’s 1939 Ford won DJ the Car Guy’s Award while David Kenaher’s ’68 Chevrolet Camaro took home the Motorhead Magazine Choice Award.
The Johnston Police Explorers Post 405, which was on hand for the entire show with advisors Major Tom Dolan and Lt. Steve Guilmette, as was Rhode Island State Trooper Charlie Bergeron and his K-Nine “Zeus” who presented their special trophy to David DeBrum for his 1991 Nissan Skyline.
People like Iyman and Jennifer Musa were among the winners of raffle prizes that ranged from gift certificates to gift baskets of all kinds, sizes and shapes as George read ticket-after-ticket during the mid-afternoon session.
“I’m so glad I came to this show,” said Joseph Corcoran, who drove his 1966 Valiant 200 especially for Sunday’s Hot Wheels event. “This is almost like my car; I found it in the junk yard, fixed it up and now it’s a treasure.”
A treasure, Arakelian Jr. will attest, that will reportedly result in a $3,000 donation for the highly-acclaimed for Meeting Street School.
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