OCEAN CITY – For the first time in its history, the OC Car & Truck Show is partnering with a national charity to raise funds for rare kidney cancer research and awareness.
The 17th Annual OC Car & Truck Show, produced by Live Wire Media, will return to the Roland E. Powell Convention Center June 10-11 where car owners and enthusiasts alike can find some of the most unique custom cars in the country. In addition to its reoccurring events, this year’s show will debut new itinerary items, including a Car Culture Film Festival, a slam dunk competition, a 21-and-over DJ Showcase, a European car section and a Shoreline Showdown event.
“I really work every year to remake it and redo it,” Live Wire Media’s Brad Hoffman said. “If you do the same thing each year, you are going backward.”
In addition to the new features, Hoffman said the show is partnering with Driven to Cure, a nonprofit organization founded by Andrew Lee, to raise money for rare kidney cancer research.
Hoffman said he was introduced to Lee at last year’s OC Car & Truck Show, where Lee, who received the Heart of the Show award, was using his custom Nissan GTR to raise funds and awareness for rare kidney cancer.
Hoffman said Lee, who was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer called HLRCC in 2015, has since gone on to raise $200,000 for his charity in 2016 and is returning to Ocean City to double that number in 2017. Proceeds from this year’s outdoor show will benefit Driven to Cure.
“That’s where my passion is this year,” Hoffman said. “This is more than something cool, this is a cause.”
Lee’s GTR will be showcased in a booth outside the convention center, where he, his family and YouTuber TJ Hunt will be present.
“This is his car show,” Hoffman said. “Let’s see what we can do for Andrew.”
The OC Car & Truck Show will also host its first Car Culture Film Festival in the Performing Arts Center Saturday at 7 p.m., where films from CarShowz.com, Mischief TV, Crustless Media and Live Wire Media will be shown. Hoffman said proceeds from the festival will also benefit Driven to Cure.
“A lot of the kids that make these films are great filmmakers,” Hoffman said.
A 21-and-over DJ Showcase featuring DJ Aktive and DJ Envy will follow the film festival from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the convention center ballroom.
On Sunday, the OC Car & Truck Show will feature a variety of trucks including lower riders, 4×4 trucks and street trucks in a Shoreline Showdown, run by East Coast Minis. Inside the convention center the show will feature a Best of the Beach competition, where cash prizes will be awarded to winners and runner-ups.
“They build them for a couple of years, they work hard and then they show them off here,” Hoffman said.
In addition to the two-day car show, Hoffman said vendors and live music will be at the event. For example, Sound FX will offer 50-75 percent off its audio gear and Salisbury station 97.5 will sponsor live music from Wordsmith and Terretta Storm.
“There is something for everyone at this show,” he said.
Hoffman added that his show features a variety of muscle cars, hotrods, trucks and antique vehicles.
“We aren’t a tuner show,” he said. “We are a melting pot show.”
Hoffman said he proud to host a car event that is family-friendly and resident-approved.
“I bring it to the convention center and I maintain it here,” he said. “I pride myself on being an event that doesn’t cause turmoil for residents. I really pride myself on not putting on an event that can’t be contained, and I pride myself on giving back.”
The OC Car & Truck Show will take place Saturday starting at 10 a.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit occarshow.com.
“Bring your cars, bring your friends’ cars, bring you family’s cars,” Hoffman said. “Register your cars and support Driven to Cure.”
