Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, July 12, 2019 ASKS | from page 1 A: We can probably see close to 200 cars. Q: So, how did this event get started? A: My family and I participated in the Wakefield Relay for Life, an overnight cancer walk. Some of the teams pull together fundraising events. One day we had an idea to do a car show. We had it on a Thursday night, and it did pretty good. We felt that maybe on a weekend it would do better, and it certainly did. It is something the community seems to look forward to. Q: How much did you raise during the first year of the event? A: Probably about $1,500. The first year there were about 107 cars. Fuddruckers donates 20 percent of the sale to the event. And the first year, it was around 700 people who showed up. Q: What was the highlight of the first year? Any rare cars? A: We had a lot of old cars, like a ’56 Cadillac, a D57 Chevy, a 1930 model. Q: Where do the participants come from? A: They come from all over $3.39 $2.45 GALLON GALLON We accept: MasterCard * Visa * & Discover Price Subject to Change without notice 100 Gal. Min. 24 Hr. Service 781-286-2602 * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation the North Shore, as far away as Methuen and Southern New Hampshire. There was a guy who was in a car show in New York, and he drove all the way to Saugus – Anthony Venuti of Lynnfield – he actually lived in Lynnfield, and we considered it a great honor that he drove all the way from New York to be in our car show. It was a ’41 Mercury Lead Sled. He actually called it the “ant crusher.” He told everybody that was the name of it because it was such a low rider; it maybe set just an inch and a half off the ground. Q: What color was it? A: Black with red flames. He’s been to a ton of shows; that is why he was in New York. In fact, his family still attends our show and plans to be here this year. Q: How much have you raised over the history of the event. A: $10,000 to $15,000. Last year was almost $5,000. Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 Lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net Q: You obviously have a deep passion for cars. A: I do. Q: Please tell me about that. A: It stems back to when I was 14 years old, working as a busboy at Full of Bull Restaurant, where the McDonald’s on the southbound side of Route 1 is right now. The owner of the restaurant took me to my first car show because he was a car enthusiast. Inside of the dining room, there was the front end of a ’55 Thunderbird. Aside from the food, it was well known for having hundreds of license plates hanging on the walls of the restaurant as well. The owner also had several antique cars, which is how I kind of got into it. Q: Where do most of the cars come from? A: Actually a lot of local people, hobbyists, who have them in their garage. They drive them on the weekends and go to different shows. A lot of people who have the cars like to support different causes, such as ours, for the American Cancer Society. Q: What is the most interesting car in the event? A: I would say the Batmobile. It was pretty interesting to see it roll into the parking lot last year. It was a kit that was a replica of the original Batmobile. He is actually a local. He lives in Billerica. Q: What is the furthest a car has come from? A: The Venutis driving from New York after a national show. There was actually a guy who came two years ago from Connecticut with a Monte Carlo. It was in a car trailer. He told me that it was, like, a three-hour drive. Q: It looks like this is becoming a big happening. A: It is … something people definitely look forward to in the community. Q: Have you had any famous participants? A: No, we haven’t had that yet, but give us time. Q: What would you estimate the crowd at? A: Probably 500 to 700 people during the course of the event. Q: How many people to help to organize the event? A: Actually a little tiny team of six people pulled this all together, my wife and I being the lead. Q: What would you say to somebody who has time on their hands on Sunday? A: If somebody is looking for something to do, it would actually be a great time. It’s a great family event. You get to see a lot of interesting cars, and where else are you going to go for the world’s greatest burger at Fuddruckers. And car enthusiasts like myself, we like to see the looks on these kids’ faces. There are a few owners like myself that like to let little kids experience sitting behind the wheel of an old car. We are thinking close to 200 cars will be there, and they kind of come and go during the four-hour period. For the most part, there will probably be 100 cars during the whole time of that four-hour window; a lot of the cars are in and out. All of the cars that are there qualify to win a prize. The people who come have ballot sheets and get to pick their favorite cars. There will be eight different trophies to be presented at the end of the night. There is the Best of Show and there is a Second and Third. There is also a trophy that we call Fuddruckers Pick, and the manager comes out and picks what he thinks is the nicest car. There is also a Kids’ Choice where the kids get to pick their favorite car. We also have a trophy for best motorcycle and best Mustang. Q: Anything else you would like to share? A: We’re really proud of what we started up there. I don’t really know that without Fuddruckers that we would be holding this event. Hats off to Jim Bolland, the owner of Fuddruckers in Saugus, Methuen, Reading and North Andover. He is just outstanding to work with. I don’t know if you could actually do an event like this anywhere else in Saugus. FudGet great deals now on advertising rates: Call Jim at 781-983-6187 Publishing free every week in Everett, Malden, Revere and Saugus druckers is right on the highway. We do a Touch-a-Truck there. It’s such a great spot and great people to work with. If you have a family of four, they will have dinner and walk around and look at the cars before leaving. Q: You are touched by this because of your mom. A: Yeah, my mom, Irene Comeau, passed away from esophageal cancer 10 years ago. That’s why I got involved for Relay for Life. Q: How did Fuddruckers get involved? A: Fuddruckers has the Thursday night car club there – a local club that meets there on Thursday nights – and that gave us the idea. They actually have a Wednesday night meeting in Methuen as well. That’s where the Luggnutz [Car Club] meet. These meets are usually from April to late October. Q: What is the crowd like? A: Definitely a mixed crowd: You get some old people; you get some kids there. It’s nice to see the younger crowd keep the hobby alive. Q You get some local Saugus pols? A: Yes we do. We get Peter Manoogian. He comes every year with his Cadillacs. Russell Tripp has a beautiful 1955 or ’56 Chevy nomad that he pretty much restored from the ground up. It’s a beautiful car. Selectman Scott Brazis actually had his Cadillac there before. They can make a donation out in the parking lot. If they eat in Fuddruckers, Fuddruckers is donating 20 percent, and they can also buy raffle tickets – 50/50 raffle.There will be numerous raffles – almost 30 different raffles and gift bags. Participating in the Wakefield Relay for Life is an awesome experience. It not only honors cancer survivors but also people who lost their lives to cancer. It is an outstanding event. As long as Relay for Life continues and Fuddruckers continues having us, we plan to continue this event for many years to come. It’s been very humbling to see this thing grow from year one to five years. We put together an event that the community looks for – pretty impressive. Editor’s Note: Mom’s Cancer Fighting Angel’s Fifth Annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life/Cruise Night Car Show is set Sunday, July 14, 4 to 8 p.m. at Fuddruckers, Route1 North, Saugus. This fundraising event includes cars, motorcycles, trucks, food, music, raffles and trophies. Rain date, Sunday, June 21. For more information, contact Guy Moley at 781640-1310.
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