According to the DEA, fentanyl remains the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 8 and 44, claiming roughly 200 lives across the country every day.

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - The local community gathered in strength on June 6 at the Holy Cross Parish to unite against a growing national crisis for the fourth annual “Fighting Fentanyl” awareness event. Combining a vibrant car and bike show with critical advocacy, the event featured local food, vendors, safety resources and guest speakers, all set to the sounds of DJ Casper from KDVS 90.3 FM. 

This event was in honor of 23-year-old Mason Brazil, who passed away in 2022 due to a fentanyl overdose. Nationwide, fentanyl poisonings remain the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 44, claiming roughly 200 lives every day, according to the DEA.

In Sacramento County, the crisis reached a peak in 2023, averaging more than one fatal overdose daily. While those numbers have since decreased, it is this persistent threat — and the reality that today's local numbers still heavily outpace pre-pandemic levels — that keeps regional advocates and families fighting to ensure no other households endure the grief of a preventable loss. Mason’s father, Ricky Brazil is the organizer of the annual “Fighting Fentanyl” event, where local bike and car clubs get together to present their vintage collections while also showing solidarity for those who have lost their lives to fentanyl. 

One of the participants showcasing a vehicle was Debbie Luna, an avid car collector. At the event, she presented her 1957 Thunderbird, a prized possession she has owned for 20 years. She noted that the best way to find vintage cars is through word of mouth. This event held profound significance for her, as it connected deeply with her own personal experiences.

“I have had friends and people close to me die from fentanyl,” she said. “It strikes close to home.”

Another vintage collector in attendance was Raul Rodriguez, who brought his 1950 Crosley, a rare find originally from Ohio. He has loved automobiles since childhood.

“When you’re a kid, you like toys, and when you grow up, you still like toys,” he said. “You’re always a little boy.”

It’s not just cars that Rodriguez enjoys collecting, but any sort of vintage gadget or historical item. From antique radios to classic refrigerators, his collection spans eras. He explained that the best places to source these items are estate sales, noting that when people inherit the belongings of an older relative who has passed, they tend to get rid of the older items rather than keep it. Rodriguez is drawn to any piece that serves as a relic of history, symbolic of another time.

“I like old stuff,” he said.

Rodriguez emphasized that events like this are especially important because fentanyl is far more dangerous than other substances. He compared it to alcohol, noting that a person can try alcohol once and decide whether it is or isn't for them without immediate addiction. Fentanyl, he warned, presents an entirely different danger.

“By the time you taste it,” he said, “you’re already gone.”

The oldest vehicle presented at the show was Angie Corsi’s 1947 Chevy Fleetmaster, a rare model with very few remaining examples on the road. She recounted traveling to Los Angeles to purchase the car, but when she brought it back to the Sacramento area and showed it to her friend, she discovered a remarkable coincidence: her friend was the one who originally touched it up and sold it in Los Angeles in the first place. That experience reminded her of how close-knit and small the low-rider community is.

Corsi and her husband are members of a low-rider car club, where the primary focus is to “ride low.” This specific style of vintage car is modified to hug the pavement, originating as a countercultural movement in the 1950s to oppose mainstream hot rod trends. Corsi noted that her Chevy Fleetmaster requires meticulous upkeep.

“There is always something going wrong with them,” she said. “You can never count on them to be dependable.”

Part of the challenge stems from the sheer age of the vehicle. Over the years, they’ve had to invest in a new paint job, install a new transmission, and replace the tires, alongside various other mechanical tune-ups.

Regarding the overarching fentanyl crisis, Corsi believes a more proactive approach is required.

“It’s very scary,” she said. “They should do more in schools and not be afraid to talk about it. It’s more than just drugs.”

In addition to the vehicle displays, local vendors lined the venue selling automotive-themed merchandise. Among the booths was a business called JB Custom License Plates. While the venture is run by Justin Brazil, his mother, Carrie Brazil, was steps away filling in for him. She shared that the best places to source vintage license plates are Facebook Marketplace and even the DMV itself. Carrie explained that she and Justin noticed a custom plate while on vacation in Hawaii and recognized it as a fun way to recycle. Justin collects license plates from various states and cuts up each letter to assemble entirely new words, creating a unique style of collage art. Their bestselling plates feature trendy phrases and references to Taylor Swift.

One of the largest organizations supporting the event was the Kingdom Riders, a Christian biker group that functions as a “motorcycle ministry.” Their mission is to spread the word of God on two wheels. Each leader within the group serves as a pastor at a different local church, allowing them to leverage a wide network and a variety of resources to refer individuals to the precise help they need, depending on their situation.

“We want to show people that church isn’t always boring,” said Kingdom Riders Vice President Ben Gaddis, who is also a pastor at Mosaic Life Church.

While everyone in the ministry shares a mutual passion for riding, owning a motorcycle is not a requirement for membership.

“You just have to be a giver and work with the community,” said Kingdom Riders President Raul Canales, who is also a pastor at Generations Church.

Gaddis emphasized that it is vital for a group like the Kingdom Riders to show up at community awareness events, noting that if anyone is feeling lost and might turn to drugs, the ministry wants to be there to point them in the right direction.

Ultimately, the “Fighting Fentanyl” event proved to be more than just a showcase of vintage steel and chrome; it stood as a powerful testament to a community’s resilience.