MEXICO — Members of two River Valley classic auto clubs are holding the second annual Mexico Firefighters Relief Association Cruise-In on Thursday, May 30.

It will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. behind the Mexico Fire Station and Town Hall. Golden Oldies music will be provided by DJ Dan Richard, owner of Dan’s Automotive in Mexico. The rain date is for the same time on Friday, May 31.

The show is a fundraiser to help the Fire Department buy a six-wheel all-terrain vehicle for remote rescues. Its cost is estimated to be between $10,000 and $12,000.

The association launched its fundraising campaign for the rescue vehicle in May 2011.

Buoyed by the success of last year’s car show, organizers anticipate more than 100 vehicles, based on word-of-mouth communications, Frank Anastasio of Rumford said Friday morning at the Mexico Fire Station.

“The automobiles are going to be hot rods through classics,” Anastasio, of the Tired Iron Cruizers Car Club, said. “Anything more than 25 years old; hot rods, rat rods, classics, you name it. Anything’s welcome.”

There is no admission fee for cars in the show, which is billed as a night of socializing, food and music. The Mexico Firefighters Relief Association will provide a barbecue.

The other group helping with the show is the Western Maine Street Rods.

“They agreed to help with this because it’s too big for one or two people to do,” Anastasio said during a photo shoot of three cars parked in front of the Mexico Fire Station.

The cars were a 1967 Pontiac GTO owned by Tom and Janice Reed of Rumford, and a 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 and 1971 Ford Mustang convertible, both owned by Mike Philbrick of Rumford. 

Anastasio said that unlike last year, organizers will have people assigned in the parking lot to assist with parking the cars to get more vehicles into the same amount of space.

Car drivers will be eligible for door prizes, including the raffle of a large meat bundle donated by Naples Packing of Mexico. Drawings are one per car.

The first 100 cars to arrive for display will get 2-by-3-inch commemorative dash plaques.

Anastasio said Mexico fire Chief Gary Wentzell donated the money for 100 plaques, which has a picture of a fire station in the center. To the left of the station is an antique firetruck and to the right of the station is a caricature-like drawing of a 1957 Chevrolet. On top of the plaque are the words, “second annual Mexico Firefighters Relief Association Cruise Nite” and at the bottom, the date and year of the event.

“People who go to car shows collect these and display them as dash plaques,” Anastasio said.

Last year’s car show raised just over $800 for the relief association and drew 102 vehicles when only 60 to 70 were expected, Anastasio said.

“Hopefully, we’ll have more than we did last year and turn a better profit for the firefighters relief association,” Anastasio said. “We filled the parking lot.”

tkarkos@sunjournal.com