Rain and a new location didn鈥檛 deter classic car enthusiasts from turning out for the 91原创 Good Times Cruise-In in Aldergrove Sept. 9.
Many things were exactly the same as in previous years 鈥� 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鈥檚 organizing committee.
鈥淔or a rainy day, that鈥檚 a great number,鈥� Watts said.
Barry Sinclair showed up to snap pictures of the chromed wing mirrors and headlights on some classic cars.
鈥淚鈥檓 a car nut,鈥� said the longtime Cruise-In fan.
鈥淭his is the biggest and the best car show in all of British Columbia,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd you get to see everyone鈥檚 toys.鈥�
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鈥檛 deter Bill Casey or Bryan Mendiola.
鈥淚鈥檝e been here nine years now,鈥� said Casey, who brought a 1926 pickup.
Although he lives in Brookswood now, Casey wasn鈥檛 worried about the change in venue to Aldergrove.
鈥淚鈥檝e been here since 1943,鈥� Casey said. 鈥淭his is my home town, Aldergrove.鈥�
Mendiola joked that his Corvair, tricked out with a surfboard, was a good contrast to Casey鈥檚 older classic.
鈥淚 just like the beach life,鈥� said Mendiola. 鈥淚 live in South Surrey, White Rock.鈥�
Some of the vehicles in the show had been put together at some expense. Not so Shane Kutzy鈥檚 鈥渞at bike,鈥� 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.
鈥淒IY is getting more popular because things are getting more expensive,鈥� 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.
鈥淏usiness seems busy and that鈥檚 a great thing for Aldergrove,鈥� said Rob Wilson, president of the Aldergrove Business Association. 鈥淲e鈥檙e certainly looking forward to next year.鈥�
The ABA and 91原创 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.
鈥淭here鈥檚 so many people here, and they鈥檙e all having a good time in spite of the rain,鈥� he said.
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