4/26: Benefit car show and fun day at Phoenix church

Living on the streets is a struggle, doubly so when trying to recuperate from a hospital stay for injury or illness. It's a crisis situation, and nothing short of terrifying.

On Saturday, April 26, Living Streams Church in north-central Phoenix is hosting its fourth annual Family Fun Car Show and Bar-B-Que, which is intended to raise money for and awareness of its affiliate, Respite Shelter for Homeless Men of Phoenix.

"This will be our fourth annual event, and it's a unique car show with fun for the entire family," said Kurt Cotter, associated pastor at Living Streams.

Organizers also are turning to gearheads to donate non-perishable food for another church affiliate, the Living Streams Food Bank of Phoenix.

About 60 vehicles are expected at the show, which is open to all makes and models. All entrants will receive a goodie bag. Trophies will be awarded in 15 categories, including best in show and best custom vehicle.

A DJ will spin oldies and the lunch menu will include hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips and free snow cones for the kids, who also can jump on a bounce house and frolic on the church's playground.

Attendees are encouraged to donate at least one canned-food item to the Living Streams Food Bank.

Net proceeds from the show will benefit the non-profit shelter, which began in 1988. Run by paid staff and volunteers who coordinate with local social-service and government agencies, it serves 50 to 100 men each year, providing shelter and support for acquiring food, jobs and permanent places to live.

"The respite shelter is one of two shelters of its kind in Arizona," Cotter said, "and one of only a handful in the entire country. At the shelter, lives continue to be turned around; some have been able to avoid slipping into homelessness."

Angelo Cellura of Sun City has a 1988 Ford Saleen Mustang that he will showcase at the show.

"A friend of mine had it for sale and I always admired it," Cellura said. "And I couldn't pass it up."

Saleen is a Southern California manufacturer of high-performance specialty cars noted for their superb handling. Starting with Mustangs in 1984, Saleen has produced limited numbers of Mustangs, Camaros and Challengers. It recently released a Saleen Tesla.

The Mustang has many modifications including a 302-cubic-inch V-8 with GT40 cylinder heads, Crane camshaft and chrome engine package. Its 325 horsepower are transmitted through a five-speed manual box — controlled by a Hurst floor shifter — linked to a 3:73 rear end with a chrome driveshaft.

The red Mustang sports white racing stripes; the interior is gray cloth. Seventeen-inch chrome wheels are shod with BF Goodrich tires.

"I'm looking forward to meeting new car people at the show," Cellura said. "And sharing car stories."

Phoenix resident Charlie Lorance, who fancies collector cars, will enter his mechanically original 1985 Mercedes 380SL coupe.

"I've been interested in collector cars for over 40 years," he said. "I'd always liked the Mercedes SL series since I first saw them back in the early '70s."

About five years ago, circumstances made it possible for Lorance to begin his search to purchase an SL. After scouring the Internet, he found his Mercedes for sale from a private owner in Scottsdale and he bought it on the spot.

"The lady selling it told me it had never left Scottsdale since it was brand new," Lorance said.

The original warranty book and owner's manual was still in the glove compartment, which contained complete maintenance records from local Mercedes shops.

The base-model 380SL is powered by a 3.8-liter aluminum V-8 mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.

The tan-leather interior still features the factory stereo cassette-tape system. About the only thing not original is the paint, which was repainted the original factory Mercedes Signal Red by its previous owner.

"I'm very excited to take it to our church car show, because in previous years it's mostly been muscle cars there, and I'd like to show off my Mercedes," Lorance said.

Family Fun Car Show and Bar-b-que: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 26. Living Streams Church, 7000 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $20 to enter a vehicle; free for spectators. Donations of non-perishable food encouraged. 602-957-7500, livingstreams.org.