STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — It was a prom entrance straight out of a Pixar movie — and a memory that will cruise on forever in the minds of a Tottenville family, their neighbors and friends.
Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School senior Angela Horan and her date, New Dorp senior Chris Ortado, never imagined they’d be pulling up to the red carpet in a full-size, custom-built Lightning McQueen for the Gaynor McCown 2025 senior prom Wednesday at the Hilton Garden Inn.
What started as a typical pre-prom sendoff — complete with balloon arches, music, and proud family — quickly became a scene-stealing moment of Disney magic when a red Chevy Camaro decked out as the beloved Cars character roared down the Tottenville street, according to Angela’s mom, Michele Vazzo.
The unmistakable yellow lightning bolts, the grinning grill, and the iconic “Rust-eze” logo made jaws drop. And the soundtrack? Rascal Flatts’ “Life Is a Highway,” of course.
The surprise, orchestrated in secret by Michele, was months in the making.
Angela and Chris, both varsity athletes who bonded over their love of sports, family, and all things Disney, had no clue what was coming. As the Camaro pulled up, neighbors cheered, and the couple lit up with disbelief.
THE BIG REVEAL
“They were in shock! They had no idea. They didn’t think it was for them,” Vazzo said. “Seeing Angela so happy and genuinely surprised brought tears to my eyes. As her mother, it meant everything to watch her feel special, confident, and truly loved.
“Moments like that stay with you forever. I always want all my children to feel that same kind of joy and support — to know how deeply they are loved and how proud I am of each of them.”
For Vazzo, a mother of a blended family of 10 children, the surprise had an even deeper meaning.
“My two oldest children (Angela and David) lost her father suddenly to cancer. My stepchildren lost their mother suddenly to cancer,” she explained. “For at least one day (or one hour), hopefully that sense of loss will be lessened — growing up in the COVID generation will be forgotten — and Angela will be able to live in the moment.”
ONE OF A KIND STYLE
As Lightning McQueen pulled up to their home en route to the Bloomfield ballroom, flashes popped, phones recorded, and Angela and Chris posed beside the one-of-a-kind ride before climbing in, still beaming.
What a moment it was!
“As this date approached, we thought it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to call upon our family friend and his custom Lightning McQueen car, to send Angela and Chris out in a one-of-a-kind style,” said Vazzo.
For Angela Horan, prom wasn’t just a milestone — it was a reminder that even after loss, joy can still come roaring back to life.
And thanks to one unforgettable Lightning McQUeen surprise, she didn’t just arrive in style — she stepped into a moment that is now a memory that will not be soon forgotten.
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