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Classic car enthusiasts causing a scene in South Florida
Robert Hernandez, 41, always dreamed of owning a '64 Ford Mustang
similar to the one his father drove when he was growing up.
Ignacio Ingelmo, 60, compared every car to the '68 Chevrolet Camaro his
father-in-law gave him as a wedding gift until he bought his second one
a few years ago.
Carlos Rosa, 51, has been driving muscle cars since the 1970s and
wouldn't have it any other way. His latest beauty: a 1969 Charger RT.
The men might prefer different models and makes, but they have one
thing in common: They share a passion for classic cars.
In recent years, that passion for cars -- which hundreds more men and
women share -- has paved the way for a classic car show circuit that
only keeps growing with new car shows and cruise nights springing up
each year throughout South Florida.
``It's only getting bigger,'' said Rosa at the recent Wings Over Miami
car show in West Kendall. ``I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't mess
around. But I love muscle cars. And I love hanging out and talking
about them.''
November was a busy month for classic car enthusiasts like Rosa with
weekend competition car shows in Miami Lakes, Doral and West Kendall.
Dozens turned out for the events. Some showed their antiques. Others
came to reminisce as they laid eyes on makes models of all kinds from
decades past -- mostly from the 1960s and '70s. There were Corvettes,
GTOs and Impalas. Thunderbirds, Grand Nationals and Chevelles.
Aside from the annual car shows, there are weekly car meets called
cruise nights where classic car owners park their beauties and sit back
to watch people gawk in awe.
Those who are part of the circuit know the drill: The first Saturday of
every month is at Betty's -- formerly known as Fuddrucker's -- in
Kendall. The second Saturday of the month is at Shorty's Bar-B-Que in
Doral. A big one is TowerShoppes of Davie on Friday nights.
But it's not all about the shows. Enthusiasts enjoy the load of
mechanical and body work that goes into restoring antique cars so it
runs and looks nearly as good as new. What they might not enjoy as
much: the thousands of dollars it costs to fix these babies.
However hectic, costly and time consuming it is to own a classic car
and show it, classic car enthusiasts such as Carlos Heredia, 42,
welcome the work.
``It's kind of therapy for me to get away from the family the house and
the work week,'' said Heredia, who works for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and
has shown his '65 Ford Mustang at dozens of shows since he bought it
eight years ago. ``It's more about the camaraderie, trading notes,
socializing and making friends.''
Ingelmo, whose car was prominently displayed under the museum's
airplane hangar, agrees the shows and the work that goes into a car is
a great source of entertainment.
``It's so much better than staying at home and watching television,''
he said, lounging in beach chairs alongside his wife. ``We kill some
time, make friends and see some great-looking cars.''
For others, car shows are a sport like any other where judges rate cars
based on quality paint, interior and mechanical. The closer the car has
been restored to original specs, the better. To be considered antique,
the car must be at least 25 years old.
Rosa, who restores antiques, doesn't deny that he seeks to have the
best in class.
But for him, car shows are more than a competition, too. They're a
throwback to his adolescent years.
Only now, Rosa's playing with the big boys.
``The only difference between a man and a boy is the price of the
toy,'' he said.
Source: Miami
Herald
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