RI Hot Wheels Club revs up the fun

The shiny black tires on John Tomasso’s 1931 Model A Ford Hot Rod weren’t the only hot wheels on display Sunday in the Smithfield Elks parking lot at 326 Farnum Pike in Smithfield.

“Emma,” a 1952 M37 Dodge Troop/Cargo Carrier owned by Master Sgt. Bruce Ferreira (retired) of Burrillville, was a huge hit with people who walked all around the Elks’ property admiring nearly six dozen classic cars. Lodge 2359’s main dining room was overflowing with people who took in The Rhode Island Hot Wheels Club 2nd Annual Toy Show.

“We are thrilled…absolutely thrilled with what is going on here today,” said Jim Lombari, who serves as the Hot Wheels Club president. “We’ve got five dozen or so classic cars outside and look at the people here, it’s fantastic.”

More impressively, perhaps, is that over 50 vendors, whose hobby is trading, selling and buying all kinds of toy cars, set up shop inside Lodge 2359 and along with 375 spectators helped raise a tidy sum of $1,272 for Meeting Street School.

Another way Sunday’s show filled its coffers for the highly-acclaimed charity was with the more than 70 raffle prizes that ranged from auto cleaning supplies to gift certificates.

“This was another great success for our club,” Lombari said of the non-profit RI Hot Wheels Club that was founded in 1995 by Robert Wilner and meets the second Tuesday of every month at the Kelley-Gazzerro VFW Post 2812 on Plainfield Pike. “Some of our table vendors had some very rare cars to offer and fellow collectors…everyone, in fact, came away happy with the day’s results.”

Sunday’s success story was due to the efforts of George Arakelian, the owner-operator of A Custom Car Stereo Center on Atwood Avenue in Johnston who donated the 40 trophies that vintage vehicle owners took home after the day’s judging.

“When it comes to putting on a classic car show, no one does it better than George [Arakelian],” Lombari said of his long-time friend. “We’re grateful for his donation of these beautiful trophies and the many raffle prizes he brought here today.”

Dominic Izzi, who took home the show’s top prize, entitled “Best of Show” for his spiffy 1970 Mercury Cougar, also heaped words of praise upon Arakelian after viewing the beautiful, custom designed trophies.

Likewise, people like Chris Brusso – who won the A Custom Car Stereo Trophy– said that “George always maker sure every award he give out is extra special.”

Annunciata won his trophy for his shiny black 1955 Chevrolet BelAir while Brusso’s captured his honor via his spiffy 2011 Ford Mustang. John Tomelleo won the trophy for Best Bike of the Show.