The roaring sound of rumbling engines echoed through Front Street, joined by plumes of grey smoke and smell of exhaust that wafted through downtown as procession of nearly 100 vintage and modern vehicles cut through downtown Thursday.

The second annual Open Header Cruise for the Cause returned to Dowagiac that evening — with more horsepower behind it than ever. Ninety-nine motorists joined in automobile ride this year, which spanned from Thomas J. Mosier Well Drilling on M-60 in Cassopolis to Depot Drive in downtown Dowagiac.

A vast array of vehicles across different eras of automobiles joined in the cruise, ranging from “mild” sports cars to “wild” muscle cars.

“Bikes, cars — it didn’t matter, so long as it made noise,” said Jim Kazlauskas, owner of Dowagiac’s Jim D’s Body Shop and the driver who led the procession of vehicles.

It took the drivers around 15 minutes from their starting point to reach Dowagiac, said Curt Rohdy, the owner of the drive who followed Kazlauskas in his 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS. Joining the drivers were members of the Dowagiac and Cassopolis police departments, deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and drivers with True’s Towing and Recovery.

“I told the officers who were escorting us, ‘if you’re not going at least 50 mph, we’re all gonna pass you,’” Rohdy said.

Dozens of people lined Front Street to greet the drivers as they made their way downtown. After arriving at their destination, the drivers were treated to hotdogs served by employees with Beeson Street Bar and Grill outside Beckwith Park.

Rohdy, the owner of John & Curt’s Brake & Alignment in Dowagiac, was elated by the number of participants, which was up compared to last year’s freshman drive, he said.

More importantly, though, was the amount of money they were able to raise to help support local men and women battling cancer. The local business owner said that, through registration fees and donations, the cruise had managed to raise $2,035 for Cass County Cancer Services, a local charity that supports county residents who are undergoing cancer treatment.

Thursday’s event was once again hosted in memory of Ed Kazlauskas, Jim’s father and longtime owner of Jim D’s, who died in February 2016 following a bout with cancer. Rohdy started the event last year in order to honor his longtime friend, who had talked about organizing an open header cruise before his death.

Ed’s sister, Janie Reifenberg, also pitched in to help with this year’s fundraiser. The manager of the local Honor Credit Union Office raised an additional $825 for the cancer support organization through her office.

“There is nothing better than a small town,” Rohdy said. “To see such great cooperation between so many different people, you can’t ask for anything better.”