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Josh Heilbron Benefit Car and Cycle Show Lompoc, California October 21, 2006 Story And Photos By Nancy Rodrigue
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Not Just Another Car Show
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Lompoc, California. Coastal mountains. Flower fields. Wine tasting. Nitro methane fumes. Wall murals. Ocean breezes.
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Wait a minute. Something doesn’t fit… Mountains – check. Flowers – check. Ahh. Nitro methane fumes and the screaming whine of a top fuel dragster revving out. Not something normally heard in Lompoc, a quiet community of about 42,000.
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But, October 21, 2006 wasn’t a normal day for Lompoc.
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It was the day over 2000 local residents and visitors came for the Josh Heilbron Benefit Car and Cycle Show. Ryan Park was filled with 125 classic cars, hot rods and motorcycles, a top fuel dragster, an alcohol dragster, and nostalgia funny cars - all in support of local resident, mechanic, car and bike enthusiast Josh Heilbron. Josh, age 28, has been battling an aggressive cancer that spread throughout his body. His friends, and most of the business community, came out to give support and raise money to help him in his battle. The show sold over 1800 raffle tickets, 480 chicken dinners, and raised over $11,700 on Josh’s behalf.
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Ryan Park visitors got to examine up close and personal Choppers, Model A’s, T- Buckets, GTOs, T-Birds, Chevys, Woodies, Vickies, and Drag Boats. Some entrants drove 175 miles from Los Alamitos in Southern California. Others drove even further from Bakersfield in the Central Valley to be here.
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Ron and Sean were asked why they would come to a little town like Lompoc with their nationally known cars. Both men – and members of their teams – have had family or friends touched by cancer. They didn’t even hesitate when they were invited. They both said, “We’ll be there. What do you need?”
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first to sit behind the wheel of the dragster. However, that didn’t happen. He was a little too tired to do all of that, so Josh chose his step-mother to take his place in the Plaza Car. While she was sorry Josh wasn’t up to it, she was delighted for the opportunity. His 6-year old daughter Brianna helped with the raffle tickets.
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As he was being pushed around the park in his wheelchair, Josh was overwhelmed by the number of people who had come out in his support. There weren’t many dry eyes when he tried to thank everyone around him for all they had done.
The next day when Josh was speaking to one of the organizers of the event, he said, “Next year when we do the show for somebody else with cancer, I want to work with you guys.”
Yes, the money raised was wonderful, but the love, support and hope it gave Josh are the things that are important. No one can make the hurt go away, but each of us can give support and encouragement. Everyone was glad to be there. That’s what it was all about.
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