It was booked as the finale for Gene Pezzulli, and for some anxious moments early Sunday morning, it seemed that the last Autos of the World Car Show wasn’t going to happen.

The weather was iffy, and as Pezzulli knows, people who love their cars – especially the vintage classics – don’t like getting them caked with dirt and victim to rain.

“With the drizzle I thought I would be on this field all alone,” he said from Goddard Park Sunday afternoon. By then, the threat of rain had passed, and row upon row of cars dating back to 1910 and looking almost brand new filled the park. There were more than cars. There were trucks, fire apparatus and motorcycles.

Pezzulli was touched by the turnout. Even if the morning drizzle turned to rain, he had a feeling the cars and their owners would have shown up.

“It was the last one, it wasn’t going to fail,” he said.

Over the 17 years Pezzulli has run the show, relationships have been built along with an esprit de corps and loyalty. And perhaps, too, there was the feeling if they showed up Pezzulli might change his mind.

“They all want me to do it again,” he said, “but it’s too big and the young guys aren’t into cars and we’re getting too old.”

The reality is that Pezzulli and his family are the backbone of the show. His wife, Joyce, daughter Audra, and even his sister-in-law, Gloria Maione, who lives in Florida, work the show.

On the day of the event, as was the case this year, volunteers spring up to help park cars and direct vendors to where they should set up. Show proceeds go to charity, with this year’s beneficiary of the 50/50 raffle being A Wish Come True. Over the years, Pezzulli estimates $120,000 has been raised.

Pezzulli said the show starts with zero in its budget and ends with zero.

“We’re just giving it away, always,” he said.

Might Pezzulli reconsider and pull together the family and volunteers to keep the show going?

Pezzulli thought it over, reflecting on all that the show has meant to him.

“This was our Christmas in July,” he said.

And what about keeping the show going?

“Well, if somebody wants to step in, I’ll be glad to work with them,” he said.