Start your engines

Mom, Pop, all the kids and even the family dog checked out the classic car and music scene Saturday at the second annual Be-Boppin’ in the Park Vintage Car Show and Street Festival.

A steady crowd worked its way down Magnolia Boulevard from 3 to 9 p.m., taking in the pre-1972 vehicles parked from California to Hollywood Way that was closed to automobile traffic.

The event was presented by the Magnolia Park Partnership, a group dedicated to improving the Magnolia Park district.

The savory smell of popcorn, hot dogs and hamburgers from outdoor vendors enticed the palate while ears were tickled by happy music performed by country rock band Sardo Brothers, Steve Lucky & the Rumba Bums playing swing music and the Hot Rod Trio.

Several car clubs brought their prized pre-1972 vehicles, including Classic Chevy’s Southern California.

Jim and Nancy Stevens of Chatsworth parked their 1956 Chevy Bel Air next to fellow club members Benn and Joan Kelley of Van Nuys, who brought their 1956 Bel Air.

The Kelleys’ car, an eight-cylinder, is painted Sierra Gold on the bottom half of the car and Adobe Beige on the top.

The Stevens’ six-cylinder is painted Harbor White on top and Matador Red on the lower half of the car. The gas cap is in the same location, the left rear taillight.

Stevens has owned several Bel Airs over the years and keeps this one around for the memories, he said.

“We used to cruise through Bob’s Big Boy on Van Nuys Boulevard,” Jim Stevens said. “I got my first ticket for a U-turn at Bob’s in Toluca Lake.”

And there’s a lot of history that goes with the 1956 Chevy, he said.

“It represents the Valley,” Jim Stevens said. “It was made at the Chevy plant in Van Nuys. It’s an all-steel car.”

Kelley has customized the whole engine with polished aluminum or chrome parts, he said.

“These are all the little things you can do to make your car look different than everybody else’s,” Benn Kelley said.

Joan Kelley collects Betty Boop dolls, and they have incorporated her likeness in several parts of the car, Benn Kelley said. A neighbor embroidered Betty Boop onto the vinyl cover of the rear window shelf.

One of Joan Kelley’s dolls sits in the driver’s seat wearing a Playboy Bunny costume.

“My whole house is decorated with Betty Boop,” she said. “She actually is my alter ego. She’s me with darker hair, but I think we share the same personality.”

The car club is part social and part charity.

Members have a car show each May that supports Boys Town in Chatsworth, a residential facility for problem children.

Out in major force was Burbank’s own Road Kings, publicity chairman Don Baldaseroni said.

“It was a great city event, it really was,” he said. “There was a mix of antique cars and shops. We had over 30 cars from the Road Kings alone.”

Members brought everything from a 1955 Chevy to a 1929 T Roadster, he said.

The Road Kings have their annual show with proceeds going to the Burbank Mounted Police, Burbank High School’s Auto Shop Program, John Burroughs High School Jazz Band, and the Police and Fire Museum as well as others.

Longtime car enthusiast Freddy Fleck was scooting down the sidewalk aboard his shiny red motor-powered wheelchair. His favorite car at the show was the 1939 Willys in a color he called Sparkletts green.

The street festival had everything American, said Jaime Monroy of Westwood, who had his sister Maria Monroy’s dog Jack on the end of a leash.

“I’m an enthusiast for clean, all-American fun,” Monroy said. “You’ve got popcorn, music, mom and dad and a lot of great cars.”

His day was complete when he had his picture taken with Jay Leno.

“I opened for him 20 years ago during the 1984 Los Angeles Comedy Competition,” Monroy said. “I was one of the five finalists.”