On August 12, hot rod enthusiasts of all ages gathered at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Newington for a Cruise-In to benefit The Birchtree Center's autism programs. Volunteers drove in from throughout northern New England to display their prize vehicles. Guests were able to get a close look at cars and trucks ranging from Fords of the 1930s, to Mustangs of the 1960s, to custom cars of today.
The Preston Wayne 4, a surf rock band from Worcester, Massachusetts, provided live entertainment. A fundraising raffle offered prizes donated by Advance Auto Parts, Bayside Distributing Company, Best Buy, Car-Tooner.com, Charlie Decker, Deuces Wild Web, Glass Etching by the Colonel, Grundy Worldwide, Pep Boys, Texas Roadhouse, and Water Country.
Several other businesses provided major donations in support of the event: Texas Roadhouse donated its facilities, Best Buy of Newington provided sound amplification, and Atlantic Parking Services of Portsmouth offered valet service. Artist Scott Fisk of Car-Tooner.com illustrated the event's poster, offered a signed print for the raffle, and drove all the way from Vermont to show his support. The poster was printed with help from Staples of Newington.
This entirely volunteer-run event was the brainchild of Robert Canney, otherwise known as Hot Rod Bob. Canney, a car restorer in Berwick, Maine, devoted countless hours to helping organize the Cruise-In.
