By Mary Owen
Nothing starts a car lover’s heart thumping like a few classic autos!
“And we have plenty,” said Rick Ladbury, who stepped up with Dave and Lynn Schultz and Jeanette Hartwell to make this year’s Cruz-In at the Lake a reality.
Some of the area’s hottest vehicles will be on display from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the annual car/motorcycle/boat show in downtown Detroit Lake. As the last event of the summer season, organizers hope people will drop in and have some fun.
“The downtown is all closed off, except for foot traffic and an emergency vehicle lane,” Ladbury said.
The popular event is very visitor friendly and offers a safe place for car owners to show off their vehicles, he added.
“We also invite vendors and are foregoing the $50 fee to attract more, adding to the atmosphere,” he said.
Classic car buffs can view vehicles from the ‘30s to the present as well as motorcycles and boats at the popular one-day event, which draws up to 100 entrants from throughout the area.
“We’re doing every decade, starting with the ‘30s,” Ladbury said. “There’s something for everybody.”
Cruz-In at the Lake begins with registration and line up along the main street at 9 a.m., followed by judging at 1 p.m. and an awards presentation at 2:30 p.m. The grand finalé will be a parade thought town following the awards, which includes a special jacket for the winner of Best in Show, picked by the entrants themselves. The $10 entry fee includes a special dash plaque.
All vintages are welcome, and with 20 classes, there is room for every type of vehicle. The categories are: custom, original, custom pickup, original pickup, muscle, street rod, convertible, “Best of” every decade from the ‘30s to 2000 and above, Best Custom Paint, Best Interior, Best Foreign, Best in Progress, and, of course, Best in Show.
Motorcycles have four categories: custom, stock and Best in Show.
Boat categories include: Best Antique Boat and Best Classic Boat.
Trophies will be given in all categories, including those with “best” in the title. Also awarded will be a Judge’s Choice, chosen by the different business sponsors.
Major sponsors for this year’s event are: Consumer’s Power Inc., Willamette Valley Vineyards, and Santiam Towing & Recovery (STR). Other businesses sponsor the Cruz-In, which raises funds for the annual Fireworks Over the Lake show each Fourth of July, and to promote business and tourism at Detroit, Ladbury said.
The family-friendly show has something for everyone, including a drawing with a wide variety of prizes and music played throughout the day by Shake Down, a retro band from Salem, he added.
“There will be events going on during the day, like a hula hoop contest for the kids and other stuff,” he said.
For those who want to stay longer to explore some of Detroit Lake’s other amenities, Detroit Lake State Park or one of the various Forest Service campgrounds provides one option. Other overnight options are the Lodge at Detroit Lake and the All Seasons Motel or RV camping at local sites.
“We want everyone to come and have fun,” Ladbury invited. “They’ll be dancing in the streets!”
Further details and registration forms are online at www.detroitlakeoregon.org. Send forms with a $10 entry fee payable by check or money order and made out to DLRABA to P.O. Box 574, Detroit, OR 97342.
For more information, call Ladbury at 503-859-8901.
