Classic-car show raises money for burn victims

By Liset Marquez on June 28, 2010 9:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - It was more than a stroll in the park for Betty Schwartz and Bob Sorrells. It was a trip down memory lane.

Holding hands, the Ontario couple weaved in and around the vintage cars parked at Red Hill Community Park on Sunday morning.

It marked the 13th year the Rancho Cucamonga Firefighters Association held its benefit car show. About 95 cars, including such famous cars as a '65 Ford Mustang and a '70 Chevrolet Nova, were on display.

This was the first time Schwartz and Sorrells attended the show.

"There's a lot of cars from the '50s. It reminds me of my first car and when I first started driving," said Sorrells, whose first car was a 1944 Ford coupe.

As people walked around the park, admiring the array of restored cars, they often stopped to talk to the owners or pose for a picture.

Among those showing off a vintage vehicle was Paul Powell of Upland.

Powell, who has been rebuilding cars since the 1960s, brought out his bright red 1954 Corvette.

Last year, Powell's car won Best in Show.

He bought the Corvette two years ago for $32,000. After spending $285,000 to restore the model to its original state, Powell hit the car show circuit.

Powell said he usually wouldn't enter a show like the one organized by the Fire Department because it is so small.

"I do it for the people, and I want to support the Fire Department. It's a nice show," he said.

Money raised from entry fees goes to the Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors and the Burn Institute at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton.

Event organizers said they hoped to raise about $3,000.