The inaugural Cars for Heroes show presented by the Miami Lakes Public Safety Committee drew a crowd downtown on Oct. 11.
From shiny Corvettes to colorful Low Riders, there was something for every auto fan to admire. Kids got to see fire trucks and police cars, old and new, and a bomb squad robot, too.
Ninety-nine vehicles entered the competition that also featured 20 golf carts.
The winners were:
--Public Safety Committee Award to Chris Conte, 1930 Ford Model A
--Best of Show Award Jose Morales, 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air
--People’s Choice Award Jose Guasch, 1986 Buick Grand National
--Firefighter’s Choice Award Noez Varela, 2023 Chevrolet Corvette
--Sheriff’s Choice Award Manny Garcia, 1969 Shelby Cobra
Winners received 3D printed trophies that looked like pistons or cups topped with emergency lights that Vida Custom Designs created and donated.
A portion of the profits will be donated to the South Florida Police Benevolent Association’s Love Fund and Metro-Dade Firefighters Local 1403’s Resiliency Foundation, said Carlos Andres, chair of the Public Safety Committee.
Twenty vendors sold food and drink. Sponsors included Miami Lakes AutoMall; Palmetto 57 VW; Palmetto 57 Nissan; Headquarter Toyota; The Graham Companies; AutoNation Ford; MotorBreeze, Inc.; MD Body Shop, Inc.; Vida Custom Designs; Growing Days Childcare & Learning Center; Zen Canine Club; YRG Insurance Professionals/Allstate Insurance Agency; Major League Signs; VSRE Commercial Real Estate; The Florida Marketplace Group and Shred Force.