KINGSTON — The usually brown, dusty Kennedy Industrial Park was transformed into a shining hot rod-lovers paradise Sunday. The sun glinted off polished chrome and a rainbow of paint jobs, drawing visitors in with the promise of stylish vehicles and friendly people, all in the name of ShareNet Food Bank.

For the fourth year in a row, the Just Because Show and Shine car show revved in almost double the greenbacks the previous year’s event to support the charity.

“The numbers are even bigger than we originally thought,” said car show organizer Dale Gerber. “We’re still taking in food and money. I think we’re up to about $44,000.”

ShareNet Executive Director Lisa Defayette estimated the money raised to be a touch over $43,000, with 2,350 pounds of food donated during the event.

“It’s just overwhelming,” she said. “What do you say to that? We just keep saying thank you. This couldn’t have happened without so many people helping.”

Gerber created the show four years ago when he decided the North End needed a good car spectacle, and ShareNet needed a fund raiser. The first year raised about $5,000, and the cash has been flowing each year since. This year almost doubled last year’s $22,000.

The money will primarily go to food stock, but Defayette added that ShareNet needs some new shelves. She also said the group was hoping to save some of the remaining money for a new building.

It’s no wonder the fund raiser was able to bring in so much money, this year’s show drew a crowd of at least 2,000 people, Gerber said, and about 400 vehicles of all makes, models, years and colors — the largest group yet.

“There were a lot of new, unique cars, cars I had not seen before,” he said. “This show is one of the few shows with such diverse cars and motorcycles.”

Anyone who wanted to show their vehicles could attend, Gerber said. It wasn’t a judged show, there were no prizes, and everything from Thunderbirds to Jeeps were driven in to show off their unique engines, rims and paint jobs.

“It’s a beautiful day,” said Hansville resident Amy Roberts. “There are a lot of nice cars. You can’t ask for more than that.”

“This is my first year,” said Bremerton resident and car enthusiast Myra Brochner.

“Mine too,” said fellow Bremerton resident and automobile lover Sharon Lillybridge. “This is a wonderful event.”

The daylong fund raiser also included entertainment from the band “Been There… Done That” and adrenaline tickling Jeep rides from Carl Jantz, who races and restores Jeeps for a living. There was also a silent auction and a table set up to promote a red 1966 Mustang that is being raffled off by the Kiwanis Sept. 3.

“We donated the Mustang,” said Kiwanis member Lori Hansen. “You can win this baby for $5.”

“It’s going really, really well,” added Fabienne Jorgensen-Finch, who represented the North Kitsap Boys & Girls Club at the event.

“I’ve been coming to (the show) for the last four years,” said Sequim resident Wayne Caldwell. “Not only is it a good cause, there’s lots of beautiful cars to look at.”

“There was a great bunch of people helping out this year,” Gerber said. “The sponsors came through with big dollars, the people came through with big dollars and the cars came through with big dollars. It was phenomenal.”