The Spring sun was beaming down, the music was pumping, and the crowds were already enjoying the show cars when we arrived. Judging by our watch, everyone was eager to get the party started.
Within minutes of arriving, it was plain to see that those who stopped by the event wanted to convey their sincere support for those battling cancer.
Far too many in the crowd had experienced or knew a family member who had fought this terrible disease.
Tears shed, heartfelt hugs exchanged, a knowing look given by those who had the first-hand experience of the physical and emotional battle.
This gathering around beautifully detailed cars was for them.
The local charity “Beyond the Ribbon” had show cars grouped according to cancer ribbon colors to promote greater awareness. The day started early with the 9 am check-in for show cars.
The well-organized festivities kicked off at 11:00 am, with judging ending at 1 pm, followed by the awards at 2 pm. Speaking of awards, they gave out Best in Show, Ironshield Choice, People’s Choice, Top 15, Kids Choice, and Survivors Choice.
A 50/50 raffle drawing, a silent auction, and live music rounded out the entertainment.
“Beyond the Ribbon”
For those not as familiar, the mission of “Beyond the Ribbon” is to assist cancer families in the Gwinnett community. To that end, they provide several crucial types of support for those diagnosed with cancer.
This charitable organization strives to provide help with rent/mortgage, utilities, gas, transportation, meals, prescriptions, medical supplies, and peer-to-peer support.
Many on the team of volunteers know first-hand that being diagnosed with cancer is hard enough. But, providing for your family during this time shouldn’t be.
“Beyond the Ribbon has several events throughout the year to raise awareness and accept donations.
Unique Corvettes of Atlanta
Showing their support for “Beyond the Ribbon” were members of the Unique Corvettes of Atlanta club. This active Atlanta-based club attends charity functions and car shows across the city.
One of the future events they are promoting is the Cultural Awareness Corvette Weekend (CACW), happening at the National Corvette Museum from August 18th – 22nd, 2022.
The CACW Motto is: “Galvanizing and Uniting the African American Corvette Community.” The final banquet event called the “Ring of Honor” recognizing selected movers and shakers that have positively influenced the Corvette Community.
You can reach the Unique Corvettes of Atlanta club through their website or their Facebook page.
Vader’s Fist Entertains
One of the big hits at this family-friendly event was the 501st Georgia Garrison. They entertained children, fans, and adults alike with their Star Wars movie-quality costumes.
It should come as no surprise that everyone was clamoring to get their photo taken with this fun group and their incredibly detailed costumes.
The 501st Legion is an international fan-based organization dedicated to constructing and wearing screen-accurate replica outfits of the Star Wars movie franchise.
It was formed in South Carolina by residents Albin Johnson and Tom Crews in August 1997. The all-volunteer Legion now has over 14,000 active members worldwide, with over 26,000 approved costumes.
The Legion, often referred to as Vader’s Fist, is active on six continents, with local units known as “Garrisons” and “Outposts” in over 60 countries.
ZR1 In The House
In a sea of attention-grabbing custom hot rods, some of the uninformed might nonchalantly walk by the 2011 Cyber Gray ZR1 at a car show.
Meet this supercharged V8 at a stoplight or a track day, and you’ll quickly learn what the ZR1 badge means.
Introduced in 2009, G.M. brought out the ZR1 badge for only the second time in the brand’s history. They resurrected this moniker with the sole intent of decimating that era’s competition and it did so handily.
Power? Sure, the LS9 6.2 liter supercharged V8 produces a serious 638 bhp and 604 lb-ft of torque. An 11-second standing quarter-mile and a 0 to 60 mph sprint in 3.4 seconds. Not enough? How about a top speed of 205 mph?
Not just a straight-line demon, the 2009 ZR1 laid down a Nürburgring official lap time of 7:26.4. For comparison, it was within a second of the Ferrari Enzo and two seconds faster than the Porsche Carrera GT.
Performance for the 806 ZR1’s produced in 2011 was jaw-dropping, but perhaps the ZR1’s most impressive component was its brakes.
15.5-inch carbon ceramic discs with 6-pot calipers up front bring the car from 60 mph to a halt in just 93 g force-inducing feet.
Ten years later, in a world of technology and horsepower, it still has plenty of punch to hang with many of today’s baddest cars.
A Community United
Throughout the event, IronShield Brewing at 457 N Chestnut St served as the hub for music, awards, fun, and of course, locally brewed ice-cold beer. This one-year-old brewery went above and beyond to keep the block party rolling.
Michael Sussman from Sussman Imaging was on hand to capture the moment through his lens. A bevy of ’50s styled pin-up girls added a nostalgic reminder to a bygone era.
For a brief respite of time, the Lawrenceville “Share Your Ride For The Ribbons” event brought a community together, united for a common cause.
The Spring sun may have warmed our face for a day, but the “Beyond the Ribbon” event warmed our soul for much longer.
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