Get ready as the Hot Rods, Street Rods, Classic Cars, Race Cars and Customs invade The Long Branch Beachfront for a 20^th Anniversary Celebration of the Annual “Cruise To The Jersey Shore”  Car Show.

For 19 years this annual Father’s Day event has been donating all of its proceeds to the Ronald McDonald House in Long Branch.  This year the car show will be celebrating  20 years of helping  the Ronald McDonald  organization make a difference for families whose children are being treated at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch for cancer or another illness.  The 2014 edition of the show on Sunday, June 15^thwill feature music from the Kruzin DJs, Lee Greenwood and Jay Newcomb,  a live afternoon concert on The Great Lawn Stage by “The Belmonts”  and a special appearance by Ronald McDonald himself! Other special guests and local celebrities may also be on hand  to join in the celebration.

The “Cruise To The Jersey Shore” car show was not always on Father’s Day. According to long time Long Branch resident and WRAT Radio DJ Lee Greenwood who founded the show along with his late friend Terry Browning the first show in 1994 had only about 10 classic cars on display.  One year the show, which was always held on a Sunday in June, fell on Father’s Day and city officials  told Lee he needed to move the show to another date for that year.  Lee responded that the people who generally bring their classic cars to the show are used to it being on the third Sunday of the month and since the time when this show was born several other car shows were now taking place in the tri-state area with shows the Sunday before and  the Sunday after the Long Branch show.  The City of Long Branch decided  not to chance the date and see what happens and the rest is history.  In recent years when Lee and his current partner Jay Newcomb of Deal promote the show they tell people to “Bring Your Dad to A Car Show.

Last year there were over 400 cars parked along the Long Branch beachfront each making a $10.00 donation that gets them a complementary souvenir dash plaque and a chance to win one of many trophies  and awards. Spectators are admitted free to the event which runs from 9 A.M. till 4 P.M.  Trophies are given out around 3 P.M.

Co-organizer  Jay Newcomb says they are still seeking sponsors to help cover the costs of the awards and souvenir tee shirts.  Anyone wishing to become a sponsor or supporter can contact Jay at 732-531-1159 or Lee at 732-693-5487.  In the event of rain the Car Show will be held on its rain date the following Sunday June 22^nd.

NJ Discover