For most kids, a love of cars comes from playing with Matchbox and Hot Wheels mini toy treasures. But brothers Russ and Matt, owners of R&M Performance “Super Shop” in Cambridge, spent their childhoods surrounded by the real thing.

“I'm a third-generation car guy,” Matt said, who’s originally from Baltimore. “This is like our family’s business tradition.”

Eighteen years after starting out in their garage, the brothers’ impressive classic car restoration emporium now fills the sprawling 60,000-square-foot facility on Moose Lodge Road.

Classic Chassis enthusiasts from as far away as Fairbanks, Alaska, and around the world entrust to R&M a variety of vintage vehicles, from muscle cars to hot rods, and classic automobiles. The brothers’ skilled in-house technicians also specialize in turnkey race cars.

As the warm weather season rolls around, R&M also hits the road, heading to area car shows. May’s destination was Cruisin’ OC at Seacrets. From June 7-9 it's the Dover Speedway for the 1st Grundy Insurance Mid-Atlantic Nationals Presented by R & M Performance. (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and Saturday, June 7 & 8, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 9)

Three of their favorite classics will also make the trip: a 1959 Chevy Apache, 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 XL, and 1969 Ford Mustang.

Now, with a year-and-a-half old daughter to inspire him, Matt’s found a meaningful new way to share his lifelong passion for everything automotive with youngsters, along with a love of reading – Riders and Readers Storytime, in partnership with nonprofit Appleseeds Books of Easton, whose mission is to collect gently new and used books to distribute to children of all ages who lack access to reading materials.

After Matt and his wife brought their daughter to an Appleseeds Storytime event, they became inspired to offer to host one at R&M, and the date was set for Easter Monday.

As soon as they printed and distributed flyers announcing the program, people began calling to register, soon nearly filling all 25 allotted spots.

When the day arrived, so did families with youngsters ranging from 6 months to 11 years old, who got to sit on the carpet R&M rolls out for car shows, in front of a giant American flag.

Miss Marilou (Appleseed's assistant director Marilou Russ) read car-themed books and also had car pictures to color, plus puppets, crafts, songs and snacks.

Scheduled from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., a number of families with older kids stayed longer, getting to take a tour and view the 80 vintage cars inside up close.

In keeping with Appleseeds’ goal of gathering books to share, each youngster bringing a book to donate received a matchbox toy car.

Excited by the turnout, R&M was eager to schedule another event, Monday, June 18, 10:30 to 11:30, for a “Going on a Picnic” themed Riders and Readers Storytime. Along with provided snacks, Highland Ice Company will offer snow cones and freshly squeezed lemonade for purchase.

As before, youngsters will receive a gift in return for bringing a gently used children’s book to donate to Appleseeds.

Those wishing to donate books can stop by anytime to deposit them in the Appleseeds collection box in the R&M lobby.

This time, for each 50 books donated, R&M will match that number with 50 more, Matt said.

For more information, visit R&M Performance, 5455 Moose Lodge Road, Cambridge, or call 410-901-6003.

For information about Appleseeds Books, call 410-924-3895 or 443-251-4215.