VIDALIA — When Ronnie Martin cruises around the streets of Vidalia and Natchez, he catches the attention of those around him.

Passengers wave, crowds often gather around him at gas stations and kids run alongside his cars in neighborhoods.

The fanfare can be attributed to Martin’s attention grabbing 1971 Plymouth Road Runner.

“That’s my pride and joy,” Martin said. “That’s my baby.”

When The Dart landed on Palm Street in Vidalia Tuesday, a shiny plum crazy purple car sat in Martin’s driveway, cooling down after an errand run.

“I went to Budget Build, and when I came out there was six people looking at it,” Martin said. “That’s what I like. I love when people come around and want to look at it.”

Displayed prominently on the back of Martin’s Plymouth were four words: River City Bad Boys.

Martin has been one of roughly 15 members for 12 years now, and four weeks have passed since the River City Bad Boys’ annual show on the Vidalia Riverfront in May.

Every year, Martin and other River City Bad Boy members host a car show and give the profits to charity.

The 64-year-old is semi retired, working part time for Durham School Services.

With the free time he’s inherited from his part-time work, he enjoys the camaraderie shared with other members of the car club by driving around and meeting fellow drivers at eating destinations. But most of all, he, like his friends, loves getting behind the wheel of a classic automobile.

“It makes me feel 17 again,” Martin said. “It brings back so many memories, but every time I step out the arthritis kicks back up and reminds me how old I am.”

Martin bought his Road Runner 12 years ago for nearly $1,000 less than the price he originally purchased the same car as a teenager.

But for the price of $2,400, Martin received his new Road Runner without part of a motor and a ruined transmission.

After Martin hired a mechanic to fix it up, he started bringing it to car shows and tried to drive it somewhere around the Miss-Lou at least once a day, drawing in constant compliments with his attention-grabbing Plymouth.

“I like to show it off,” Martin said. “It’s really cool, and I love talking to people about it.”