Rain and a new location didn’t deter classic car enthusiasts from turning out for the Langley Good Times Cruise-In in Aldergrove Sept. 9.
Many things were exactly the same as in previous years – there were throngs of pedestrians viewing the cars, long lines for In & Out Burger, and 50-50 tickets for sale.
Almost 800 cars registered, according to Lori Watts of the Cruise-In’s organizing committee.
“For a rainy day, that’s a great number,” Watts said.
Barry Sinclair showed up to snap pictures of the chromed wing mirrors and headlights on some classic cars.
“I’m a car nut,” said the longtime Cruise-In fan.
“This is the biggest and the best car show in all of British Columbia,” he said. “And you get to see everyone’s toys.”
Despite the damp weather, the car viewers roamed under umbrellas, while the exhibitors put up tents to shield some convertibles from the rain.
The weather didn’t deter Bill Casey or Bryan Mendiola.
“I’ve been here nine years now,” said Casey, who brought a 1926 pickup.
Although he lives in Brookswood now, Casey wasn’t worried about the change in venue to Aldergrove.
“I’ve been here since 1943,” Casey said. “This is my home town, Aldergrove.”
Mendiola joked that his Corvair, tricked out with a surfboard, was a good contrast to Casey’s older classic.
“I just like the beach life,” said Mendiola. “I live in South Surrey, White Rock.”
Some of the vehicles in the show had been put together at some expense. Not so Shane Kutzy’s “rat bike,” a home-built motorcycle he estimated cost about $400 total.
He built the frame from scratch and used found scrap and tossed-away items, including the rear tire of a mountain bike for the front wheel.
“DIY is getting more popular because things are getting more expensive,” he said of his project, which took three years on and off to complete.
Many businesses on Fraser Highway were prepared to take advantage of the crowds that packed the area around 272nd Street.
“Business seems busy and that’s a great thing for Aldergrove,” said Rob Wilson, president of the Aldergrove Business Association. “We’re certainly looking forward to next year.”
The ABA and Langley Township will both be trying to measure the impact of the event on the local economy. The ABA will survey its members, and the Township is planning an economic impact study.
Mayor Jack Froese said things looked good for the first year in Aldergrove.
“There’s so many people here, and they’re all having a good time in spite of the rain,” he said.
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