Most car shows have a full array of vehicles ranging from modern to vintage classics — with their hoods popped wide open, rims sparkling, many rebuilt — and most of them owned by men.

That may be changing. Meet Rochelle “Harley” Hunter and her friends, Michelle Serrato and Stacey Mello, whose cars and motto are “Hers, Not His.” The three, who all boast car show awards lining their garages, recently showcased their modern cars at this fall’s Hot Rods for Paws car show fundraiser in Antioch’s Rivertown.

Hunter — a mom of three children ages 5, 6 and 20 — travels every summer throughout California with her modified Mopar (Chrysler-built), dark gray-and-striped 2018 Dodge Charger and her 1968 Plymouth Valiant with a BB440 engine. She has built, modified, maintained and showcased both cars throughout the Bay Area and beyond. The fact that most cars are built, owned and showcased by men is not lost on Hunter, but she’s beginning to see a gear-shift.

“It’s a very male-dominated field (car shows) and it’s always a struggle to prove our place to be there,” she said. “I have definitely seen a shift and more women coming onto the scene. Some women are just drivers, and many are builders as well, but we are all car girls at the end of the day.”

Hunter said she gets a mixed bag of reactions at car shows.

“Some men don’t believe me and try to say it’s my husband’s (car) and it must have been built for me, which I kindly let them know that’s not the case and secretly wish they didn’t just assume the husband — that I don’t have anyways — built my car,” said Hunter. “Other men are happily surprised and give me a lot of props and tell me how good it looks.

“Kids, and especially little girls, just absolutely love it and get so excited. I always let kids sit inside, take pictures and I have stickers for them.”

Hunter, who’s now in Gilroy after running an auto repair shop in Pleasant Hill until 2022, is a mechanic certified by ASE, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, who specializes in diesel repair.

“I grew up working on cars as a child and fell in love with it,” she said.

It seems the wrench doesn’t fall far from the toolbox, since her kids love it, too.

“My kids absolutely love cars. My daughter was helping me rebuild and take apart engines by the time she was 10, and my boys are always helping me,” said Hunter.

Mello of Tracy often shows her 2005 Chrysler 300c and 2023 Chrysler 300c Limited Edition at car shows in Antioch and other Bay Area locales.

She says her love of cars started in her teens.

“When I was in high school, most of my friends were guys who were really into cars. I saw the excitement they had working on and showing off their rides, and it all started with that,” she said. “My first car was a 1967 Camaro, which I had to learn how to work on in order to keep it running.”

She said she loves breaking stereotypes about car ownership at shows.

“Most people have a hard time believing that either of my cars are woman-owned,” said Mello, who attends about 10 shows a year. “Once I convince them of that, they’re impressed by my originality, enthusiasm and knowledge about cars.”

Over the years, she’s modified both of her cars aesthetically and mechanically, “because I want my cars to stand out from other cars of the same make and model,” she said, adding that “It’s a form of self-expression. I want to give each of them a signature look — I want them to be uniquely mine.

“Both of my cars have themes that I came up with and carried it throughout the exterior and interior of the car. Entering them in shows comes second to me, just enjoying the cars as I’ve customized them.”

Serrato, like Mello, says she fell in love with cars in her teens, when she got her first car, a 1988 Honda Accord.

“I started modifying it right away,” she said. “At that time, I was also attending lowrider car shows, which led to loving the car scene even more.”

Serrato said she’s seen a shift in women getting into the car scene in the last five to six years.

“Women have started getting more into cars,” she said. “It’s really a hobby, and that hobby can get expensive, but it’s also so much fun. It’s great seeing women out and about at these shows — and more and more at that.”

She said the reactions she gets at shows are great.

“It’s a man field, right, but women are definitely coming on board and about to take over,” she added. “I love it!”

Hunter said she loves sharing her passion at car shows and especially with the youth.

“I love meeting new people and having conversations with fellow car enthusiasts. We talk about cars in general — their build, my build, anything,” she said. “I love showing my personality in my displays and sharing my passion I have with others. My hands-down favorite part is inspiring kids and seeing them get excited — to try and inspire the next generation.”

Reach Charleen Earley, a freelance writer and journalism professor at Diablo Valley college, at charleenbearley@gmail .com or 925-383-3072.