Keeping the drive alive

When Janet Borden met her husband, Steve, decades ago as students at North Hollywood High School, he drove a 1956 Chevrolet.

On Saturday, the Bordens, who have been married for 39 years, sat by a different ’56 Chevy that Steve spent six years restoring.

“He’s always worked on cars, from the moment I met him until now,” she said.

Borden’s cream- and maroon-colored Chevy Nomad was one of hundreds of cars that filled a blocked-off Magnolia Way on Saturday for Burbank’s fourth annual vintage car show and street festival, “Be-Boppin’ in the Park.”

The event was sponsored by the Magnolia Park Partnership, a nonprofit aimed at improving the Magnolia Park district.

A regular car show participant, Steven Borden said they have made the Burbank event a tradition.

“It’s fun to see the cars and talk to people,” he said.

Car enthusiasts and more casual observers filled the street between Hollywood Way and California Street from the afternoon into the evening to check out the classic cars from a variety of eras and listen to retro tunes.

Later in the night, television personality and classic car collector Jay Leno presented an award for “funniest car.” Other awards included the Police Chief Award for the coolest car and the Fire Chief Award for the hottest car.

Burbank High School students Anahit Muradyan and Miriam Karunts said Saturday marked their first experience at a car show.

The high school juniors who were volunteering at the event said the cars were more fun to look at than the cars they see in their high school parking lot.

Van Nuys resident Paul Johnson brought his camera to the event to snap photos of his favorites. As an amateur photographer, Johnson said the bright colors and shiny surfaces made for great photos.

He added that he would someday love to own a classic car.

“It’s nice to dream,” he said.