Hundreds of gearheads and kit car enthusiasts from across the eastern U.S. made the pilgrimage to Wareham on Saturday for the 14th annual Factory Five Open House.

Over 50 people came in their custom-built Factory Five cars while others came just to take in the sights and sounds of the open house on Father's Day weekend.

"It's a great event. It's a homecoming and a great way to say thanks to all the people in the community," said Dave Smith, founder of Factory Five Racing Inc.

Factory Five, whose headquarters are located on Tow Road in Wareham, provides all the pieces of replica and originally designed cars to people who then build them on their own. The only things they don't provide are engines, transmissions, wheels and tires, and paint. It's basically a life-size working version of a model car.

"It's not a huge community, but if you need help, people will drop what they're doing to come and help you," said Bob Scocca of Lido Beach, NY.

Scocca made the drive up from New York in his his replica 427 Ford Cobra, one of Factory Five's most popular models, which he built over the course of nine months in 2009. Scocca said he uses it as a daily driver from June to November and takes a group trip up to Lake George every year with other Factory Five builders.

"My wife said it's time to get a new hobby," Scocca said, explaining how he got into kit cars after 25 years as an auto mechanic.

Scocca, who has been coming to the open house for four years, said his car has won awards at the event in years past, but this year's big winner was Ed Seagroatt of Sand Lake, NY, whose 1934 Ford Hot Rod won Most Innovative Design and Best in Show.

The Hot Rod was built by Fred Hemming of Nassau, NY over the course of three years.

"Ed came to me about building the car. He owns seven other Ford '34 models," Hemming said. "I agreed to help him, not thinking it would take three years. He just kept adding more stuff he wanted."

Hemming said the car was heavily modified from bumper to bumper and that it was nice to be recognized, "especially by this community," he said.