WITH VIDEO and SLIDESHOW: Fast cars and wrestling a recipe for fun at 2nd Annual Fender Bender
Wrestling and fast cars brought adoring fans of all ages to the Onset Band Shell on Saturday, July 28.
Sinners and Saints Tattoo of Wareham hosted the 2nd annual Fender Bender, featuring classic cars and national and local wrestling stars.
"We do this for the love of it," said Sinners and Saints Tattoo owner Roger Chouinard. "To have fun. … This is a big birthday party, because everybody won't fit in my house," he added.
The big birthday party for the 6-year-old Sinners and Saints also featured World Wrestling Entertainment stars Tito Santana and Jimmy Hart. Fans lined up before the start of the matches to get pictures signed by the wrestling legends.
"I still enjoy doing all this," said Hart, a professional wrestling manager whose clients included Hulk Hogan and Bret "The Hitman" Hart. "I love talking with [fans] about 'Who's your favorite wrestler,' … they tell you everything about your career. I love it."
The feeling was mutual as far as Wareham resident Yolanda Butler was concerned.
"My son is a big wresting fan," she said as she and her daughter, Allia Rowle, waited for an autographed picture from Hart. "And [Allia] watches and wrestles with her brother, so we couldn't miss it," Butler said.
Fans filled the benches in front of the Band Shell as they eagerly awaited the wrestling matches. At 1 p.m., the matches started and wrestlers came onto the stage bare-chested and ready to win the crowd's affection.
"The wrestlers, they bring a good atmosphere to the ring. They put on a good show," said East Wareham resident Dave Grey, adding later that he liked the family atmosphere of the event.
"It's just the memories. This is good for the kids. They're going to remember this for the rest of their lives," he said.
While the sounds from the Band Shell alternated between cheers and boos, car enthusiasts milled around the neighboring parking lot, admiring hot rods from the 1900s up until present day.
Tyler DeAndrade, a 14-year-old Onset resident, gazed at a Chevrolet Belair sedan from the 1950s, painted bright red with white stripes, with his father Eddie DeAndrade.
"They just look really cool," said Tyler. "They are better than cars today. They have more detail."
Summer resident Paul Morin brought his bright yellow 2000 Plymouth Prowler to the show. He brought it in honor of good friend Walter Wentzell, a fellow summer resident and car lover who passed away in 2009.
"If he'd been around, he'd be here," said Morin, who was joined by members of Wentzell's family.
In addition to being the annual birthday party for Sinners and Saints, the free event was also a fundraiser, with proceeds from raffles benefitting 10-year-old John Dykeman of Sandwich.
Dykeman -- a friend of the shop, Chouinard explained -- suffers from muscular dystrophy, an incurable disease that causes the progressive loss of muscle strength.
John is losing his ability to walk, and Chouinard said he hopes the proceeds will help purchase a wheelchair for John.
Dozens of local businesses sponsored the event, and vendors were on-hand, selling various goods.
"Everyone just gets to come out here and have a good time. The vendors get to come out here and show their wares," said Grey. "There is just nothing better than this."