Amanda M. Usher | The Valdosta Daily TimesCindy Kilgore and Mike 'Hot Rod' Rowan share a kiss after being announced husband and wife Saturday, Jan. 26, during their wedding at the Valdosta Yacht Club. 

LAKE PARK — The engines revved as about 20 custom-built cars arrived at the Valdosta Yacht Club for a “hot rod” wedding Saturday, Jan. 26. 

George Thorogood’s “Bad to the Bone” blared through the speakers as Cindy Kilgore walked to meet her groom, a smile on her face.

After one year of dating, Kilgore wed Mike “Hot Rod” Rowan in a reception area packed with family and friends at the yacht club.

She was given away by her son, Ben Stubbs. Her daughter, Kelly Stubbs, was the maid of honor.

The two met through Rowan’s daughter, and Kilgore said they were at home when Rowan proposed.

“He’s just a sweetheart,” Kilgore said. “We just clicked. It just seemed like it was right.”

The wedding came with a car show that featured classic, custom-built cars, 14 of which were from the South Georgia Classic Car Club, including a Batmobile.

Two of Rowan’s vehicles, a 1963 Volkswagen bus and a 1961 Volkswagen beetle, made an appearance. He built them both.

“Since he builds custom cars, and he knows all the guys who have them, it just seemed proper for us to do a hot rod wedding,” Kilgore said.

Dan Bremer, president of the classic car club, has known Rowan for at least 20 years.

“When I met Hot Rod, he was building some of the best cars in South Georgia; and he was building one of mine, did a good job on that,” Bremer said.

“Hot Rod builds different stuff than other people. That’s what I like about him. He can engineer anything.”

Rowan, who was born into a mechanical background, has a deep connection to cars.

“My dad was in the military, and we moved all over and every time we moved, I’d have to start making friends again,” he said. “The car thing was something I didn’t have to make friends with. It was always there.”

Rowan builds street cars that go about 200 miles per hour and owns Hot Rod’s Top Gun Motorsports in Lake Park.

He said his wife likes drag racing and likes to go fast.

Rowan believes Kilgore was a God-send after the passing of his wife of 17 years.

“Usually in a relationship, you have to build up to it,” he said. “We had an immediate attraction. … My wife passed away five years ago, and Cindy just picked up where Mary left off.”

Kilgore said Rowan brings her flowers just about every week. Rowan likes that Kilgore will sit with him while he works in the shop on nights he can’t sleep.

The Rev. Joseph Carter of Anointed Faith Believers Ministry in Lake Park officiated the wedding. Sonny’s BBQ catered. 

Amanda M. Usher is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1274.