Cops and Rodders a gas for hundreds involved
Annual car show raises funds for families of deceased police
BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer

Samantha Wilson and her daughters, Lauren (l-r), Dawn and Brianna, take a peek at Cypress, one of the dogs available for adoption through the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League. The 13th annual Cops and Rodders car show to benefit the North Brunswick Police Death, Retirement, Widows and Orphans Fund was held at DeVry University on Sunday.

The 13th annual Cops and Rodders car show was driven by great weather, high participation and all-around family fun at DeVry University in North Brunswick on Sunday.

More than 450 cars, trucks, motorcycles, emergency service and specialty vehicles were present for the event to benefit members of the North Brunswick Police Death, Retirement, Widows & Orphans Fund.

"The weather held out; we've never had such great weather for our shows. People who come here every year know that. I knew that this year would be special," Detective David Varga said of the event he has coordinated for the past seven years.

Wayne Scott of Piscataway has participated in the show for the past four years, showcasing his 1998 Corvette that was converted from a stock vehicle to a tribute to the events of Sept. 11. He bought the car two months before the World Trade Center attacks and then as he began working on the vehicle, decided to add more and more American ideals.

PHOTOSBY SCOTT FRIEDMAN

"I've been patriotic my whole life. I'm a Vietnam vet. I took my patriotism out on my car," he said.

The vehicle came out of the shop three weeks ago in its most recent form, after four years and $50,000 worth of modeling. There is the iconic picture of the three firefighters raising the flag on the hood, a picture of a bald eagle in front of a flag on the inside of the hood, and red and white striped seats with starred headrests on the interior.

"[People] love it. There's a lot of picture-taking because it's very patriotic. If there has ever been an award for the most photogenic, it would probably be my car because of all the airbrush work," he said.

Another vehicle created in tribute to an American icon is the 2003 Hummer H2 designed by Kevin and Lisa Storan of Kenilworth. After their car was referred to as a "big red monster," the couple decided to decorate their truck in honor of Mel Blanc and his cartoon character Gossamer. What started as a joke led to a test drive of the Hummer and eventually the purchase, because Lisa has a bad hip and realized the air suspension in the vehicle made for a comfortable ride. The pair was inspired three months after their purchase to show their car because they saw the diversity of vehicles at Cops and Rodders; two weeks after visiting the show in 2003, they began working on the graphics.

"We saw other cars that were not classics so we said, let's see if we can enter," said Lisa Storan, adding that in the past four years they've traveled to shows in New York and Pennsylvania, using the H2 as their everyday car. "This is kind of nostalgic because this is where it all started. It's a nice mix of people. You have your young crowd, you have your older crowd."

"Everybody loves it. Even people who hate Hummers will turn around and say, I hate Hummers but I love yours," Kevin Storan added.

Another longtime show participant is Robert O'Buck of Perth Amboy. Now 24, he remembers coming since the age of 15 with his father, who has loved cars since he first got his license. O'Buck's first personal showing was of a 1980 Chevy Malibu at age 17.

"There are a lot more newer cars, a lot more now with kids," he said of the changes over the last decade. "There are a lot more motorcycles; motorcycles have gotten pretty popular."

This year he brought along his 1995 Chevy Camaro which has a leather interior, remote-controlled doors in the absence of door handles and a full custom stereo and video system.

"It's just fun. It gets a really big turnout even if it's cloudy out … and it's one of the first ones of the year," he said.

There were also two DARE cars, tow trucks from George Logan Towing, equipment from the township first aid and fire company squads, a custom garbage truck and several custom 18-wheelers. There was even a jet-pack and members of the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League. A barbecue was provided by members of the police department and rides were available for young children.

The car show was originally organized by Mike Grasso and was taken over by Varga and Lt. Keith Buckley. It has grown from a cruise night at Linwood Middle School to one that attracts more than 500 vehicles each year. Proceeds are put toward the general fund for the retirement and widow organization in the event a member is killed or passes away. The Malouf Auto Group and local vendors sponsored the event.

For more information or to make a donation, contact Varga at copsandrodders2004@yahoo.com.