Cruisin’ into summer

“Look at this,” Gary Maddocks said excitedly. “We’re still a week away, and the curiosity-seekers are here tonight.”

Maddocks, who serves as president of the newly formed Johnston Street Machines, issued that statement Sunday night as car after car pulled into The Hartford Center on Route 6 to look at his Bumble Bee, a striking yellow 1969 Super Sport Camaro that’s nicely accented with black striping and features a shiny sterling silver-like engine.

Maddocks, who serves as chief of security for the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, told those passing by: “Be here on Thursday night, May 7 – you’ll see all kinds of antique and classic cars. It’ll be the first of many car cruises.”

But judging from Sunday’s meeting, the Johnston Street Machines will offer much, much more than an opportunity to check out classic cars.

“We’re launching Cruizin’ for a Cause,” Maddocks said. “We plan to make this venture the most unique event of its kind in Rhode Island. We’ll have everything from music, to trophies, to raffle prizes and much, much more.”

After months of discussion with his longtime friends George and Gina Arakelian and Anthony Ferranti, Maddocks and company met with Denny’s Restaurant manager Will Esposito and proposed their idea of having a car cruise every Thursday night beginning in May and running until September.

“Will really liked the idea,” Maddocks said. “He was especially impressed when we told him about our purpose of raising money each month for a different charity.”

So much so, in fact, Esposito told Maddocks and his friends that Denny’s will partner with the Johnston Street Machines and sponsor each night’s entertainment, which will be provided by noted entertainer and former schoolteacher DJ Car-Guy Rich George.

“It is our intent to raise money for four different charities in the coming months,” Maddocks said. “We also want to bring back to the town of Johnston the nostalgic history of cars and cruise nights that used to be prominent in the center of town at the old Burger Chef and Howard Johnson’s.”

The Johnston Street Machines’ goal, as Maddocks went on, is “to promote street rodding as well as contribute to charitable organizations and to encourage community involvement.”

“We think there’s a lot of interest in our concept,” Maddocks continued. “George and Gina are no strangers to car shows and cruises, and Anthony has his own event every year. He’s also been told to expect 30 or so cars from his close friends.”

Thus, it’s all systems go, and Cruizin’ for a Cause will make its historic debut next Thursday evening, May 7, in the Denny’s parking lot located in The Johnston Center off Route 6. Each cruise, in fact, will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and admission is only $5 per car.

“There will be raffles during all the cruises,” Maddocks said. “We’ll also have a bounce house, free for all the kids, and all proceeds donated from the entry fee of each vehicle that shows up will go directly to the month’s designated charity.”

The American Thyroid Association will receive all proceeds from the May cruises, and June’s charity is the award-winning Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence. Maddocks said July’s designee would be Cars for Breast Cancer, with the heart-warming Melissa Delmonico Scholarship Foundation benefiting from July’s events.

Maddocks, a one-time Johnston police officer, said the proceeds from the September cruises would benefit Johnston Police Explorer Post 405.

Cruizin’ for a Cause isn’t meant just for antique and classic cars.

“We welcome any street machine, hot rods, pro street rods, antiques, classics and even motorcycles and choppers,” Maddocks said. “The donation is only $5 per vehicle, and we’ll have raffles every week and trophies for best in the show the last Thursday of each month.”

Maddocks said that there will be “no show if it rains.”

While Maddocks will serve as president of the newly formed Johnston Street Machines, Arakelian will be the vice president and his wife Gina Sabitoni-Arakelian – a.k.a. Mrs. Rhode Island Italia – is treasurer. Anthony Ferranti is the sergeant at arms. He also owns and operates Anthony Auto Body in Johnston.

For more information about Cruizin’ for a Cause, please call Maddocks at 401-639-0841, or Arakelian, who owns and operates A Custom Car Stereo, at 401-946-0010.

The entire 2015 Cruizin’ for a Cause schedule is May 7, 14, 21 and 28; June 4, 11, 18 and 26; July 2, 9, 23 and 30; Aug. 6, 13, 20 and 27; and Sept. 3, 10, 17 and 23.