BIG car show rolls into Lakewood Ranch

David Camire of Lakewood Ranch and David Poelke of Sarasota would never have met if it weren't for their mutual love of Dodge Vipers. 

The two Viper enthusiasts are members of the Viper Club of America and started seeing each other at events and local car shows. Now, they attend car shows together with their respective Vipers. They're going on their seventh or eighth show together — but they've lost count.

Camire and Poelke attend the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast’s annual “BIG” Car Show every year.

“It’s one of the nicest shows we go to,” they said.

The 4th annual BIG show was held for the first time on Lakewood Ranch Main Street Saturday, Feb. 13. Jennifer Craig, community resources director for Manatee County, and Craig Waters, a Big Brother and a Viper enthusiast, organized the event. About 115 cars lined Main Street.

“All the services we provide are free to the kids,” Craig said. “We rely on these events to fund those services.”