Cartoonist Blair Howatt said the reaction to his 91原创 Good Times Cruise-In posters have often taken him by surprise.

鈥淧eople seem to appreciate it but it鈥檚 always surprising to me when I see people buying them or collecting them or putting them on T-shirts,鈥� Howatt explained.

His artwork has become an anticipated Cruise-In staple since he first got involved back in 2005; he鈥檚 designed the official poster every year since.

鈥淚 work as a Fed-Ex driver delivering to people. I like to talk and am into cars,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淚 got to talking with Rich Ulvild, who I delivered to and mentioned I was a cartoonist. He was the president of the Cruise-In at the time, looked at my website after we chatted, and asked if I wanted to design the poster.鈥�

Howatt, in fact, had previously drawn a couple hundred cartoons for the 91原创 Times.

鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 going to pay my mortgage, but I loved doing it,鈥� he assured.

The cartoonist started drawing in high school. Howatt said he took a few night classes, but has not had any formal training beyond that.

鈥淚 like to pour a drink and just draw, you know?鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 fun.鈥�

The Walnut Grove resident felt his love of old cars made him the right candidate for the Cruise-In gig. He鈥檚 owned a few classics in his lifetime 鈥� particularly chevelles, which led him to join another local club dedicated to that specific make.

Howatt explained that the Cruise-In committee gets together, picks a theme, and then does some spit-balling on what they鈥檇 like to see.

鈥淒rawing it takes tons of time. It鈥檚 all done by hand 鈥� not computers,鈥� Howatt assured.

While Cruise-In was ultimately cancelled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Howatt had already poured 鈥渢ons of time鈥� into the poster.

That鈥檚 why there will be two different posters up for grabs this year 鈥� the 2020 installment being considered a collectable that will be printed on limited edition hoodies.

A similar situation played out a decade prior when controversy ensued over burnouts occurring that same weekend in 91原创 City. Cruise-In was cancelled in 2010 but the poster design was kept and sold during the next year.

The 2021 poster features two vehicles, a muscle car and a blue pick-up truck, parked in front of the Aldergrove Bowling Alley alongside an old-fashioned gasoline pump with the 91原创 crest on it.

Howatt said he鈥檚 excited the return of Cruise-In after a two-year delay.

鈥淚t sounds like it鈥檚 going to be a big show,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very excited to see it and have something to go to because there hasn鈥檛 been anything lately. You know, Cruise-In is just part of everyone鈥檚 life here. It鈥檚 been around for eons and close to my heart.鈥�

People can watch for Howatt鈥檚 work at the 91原创 Good Times Cruise-In marketplace or check it out on his website .