GREENVILLE — A century of automotive technology — and style — was on display Saturday as the Rolling 50’s Classics Club welcomed hundreds of cars, trucks and hotrods to downtown Greenville for its 35th annual Fall Cruise-In.
Thousands of eventgoers walked the length of South Broadway from Martin Street to the Circle — not to mention the side streets — to see every available space jam packed with classic Chevys, Fords, and Dodges, as well as some older fare, such as Studebakers and Hudsons. Interspersed with the “oldies” were late model automotive offerings, such as Mustangs, Corvettes and Chargers.
American love for the automobile is not only nationwide and longstanding, but generational. Case-in-point is Sam Force of Gettysburg, who has displayed his black 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass at the show since 2001.
“My son Sam Jr. originally bought this in 1976 for $500,” he said, noting the car had traded hands between him, his son Sam, and his other son, Steve, before undergoing restoration in 2001. “At some point soon, I will sign it back over to one of them, and eventually one of the grandkids will get it.”
Event organizers estimated 400 to 450 vehicles would be registered before the day was finished. For a $10 fee, registrants received dash plaques and competed for trophies.
Rolling 50’s Classics Club President Dave Niley called working on classic cars a “labor of love.”
“It has to be,” he said. “It’s one of those things that you can work on, cuss it, get aggravated, walk away from it, leave it sit and then go back and start all over again.”
He credited the day’s perfect weather — clear, sunny skies and cooler-than-normal temps — for a great turnout.
“Last year we had rain and had 260-some cars,” Niley said. “We’ve already surpassed that quite a ways. We thank all the sponsors, all those who have come out. We want everybody to be safe here, and safe going home.”
Club Treasurer Kenny Erwin, who had his own 1946 Ford pickup truck on display at the show, expressed his appreciation for those who participated.
“Thanks for coming. We hope they’ve all had a good time and we hope to see them next year,” he said.
Proceeds from the event go to support the Shriner’s Children’s Hospitals and the Cancer Association of Darke County.
.neFileBlock {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
padding-bottom: 5px;
padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
font-size: 85%;
}
