Steve Chronister remembers poring over automotive magazines as a young man the same way his peers might devour issues of Playboy.

“It’s been one of those passions I’ve had my whole life,” says Chronister, who for the last seven years has spearheaded the annual Rev it Up! Hot Rod Hullabaloo in South Park.

Hundreds of colorful rides, from newer imports and muscle cars to the “old-school” hot rods Chronister loves, will descend upon South Park starting at 8 a.m. Saturday. Live music, food vendors, a Free State Brewing Co. beer garden, and kids’ activities will also be on hand.

Expanding upon the event’s traditional selection of “hot dogs and hamburgers,” this year’s Rev it Up! will feature a variety of culinary options, including the Fine Thyme crepe cart, Sandbar Subs, Drasko’s food truck, La Familia, Juice Stop and Mass Street Sweet Shop.

The show, which lasts until 3 p.m. and also includes motorcycles, should bring in “a big variety this year,” Chronister says.

“We’re open to all makes, models and years,” he says, adding that he expects several entries to show up the day of the show. “We try to be inclusive and we invite anybody and everybody.”

It’s a labor of love for Chronister and his family, who originally started Rev it Up! as a fundraiser for GaDuGi SafeCenter. They’ve continued the trend of choosing a charity each year, and this year proceeds from registration fees (car owners and food vendors donate for a spot in the event) and T-shirt sales will be donated to the Ballard Community Center.

“We’re hot-rod people ourselves,” says Chronister, who hopes to raise about $10,000 this year. “That’s what makes it so fun — we’ve got five kids and everybody gets together to put on the show.”

Steve’s wife, Michelle, has long nurtured a love of cars, an interest that only grew after meeting her husband. Five years ago, she and Steve worked to restore a 1950s-era Buick with a rusted-out shell into a custom rat rod. Their daughter, a welder, helped out on that project, too.

The couple enjoys working together, especially on Rev it Up, Michelle says.

Organizing the annual show is a lot of work, to be sure, with a lot of Chronister’s money going into it, but Steve and Michelle won’t be putting the brakes on Rev it Up! any time soon.

“It would certainly be easier if we just wrote a big, fat check for some charity, but we really love community and we love Lawrence and we love putting on a party for the community,” Michelle says. “And we get to raise awareness for the charity we’re sponsoring at the same time.”

For more information, including how to register for the show, visit www.revitupcarshow.com.