PRIME photos by Debbie and John Gardner
By Debbie Gardner
debbieg@thereminder.com
“There’s one every night of the week if you want to go out. They’re in all directions,” said Gary Francis as he watched another car roll into the North parking lot at Heritage Hall in Agawam.
It was noon on a Saturday, and the event had all the hallmarks of these popular meet-ups – meticulously maintained machines, oldies music and of course, burgers –where owners get to show off their special vehicles to the public and like-minded hobbyists.
That particular day Francis was at the helm of the second annual Cruise for Alzheimer’s, a fundraiser on the grounds of the Heritage Hall continuum of care and rehab complex. He was registering the cars and filling the dual role of announcer and DJ. Last year, Frances said a threatening sky kept the number of show cars down to about 25. This year, he was hoping for 50.
“These are their pride and joys. They don’t take them out in the rain,” Francis said as he looked out over the field of vintage Chevys, Buicks, Oldsmobiles, Dodges and Fords, hoods popped to reveal chrome-gilt air cleaners and impossibly clean engines.
“It’s an affordable way to go out with the cars,” Francis added as more vehicles rolled up the drive. Like most cruises, he wasn’t charging owners to show their cars, relying on a 50-50 raffle and food sales to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research. “It’s a way [for car owners] to swap stories and swap ideas,” he said.
For Heritage Hall residents, some who watched from the windows, others who came out in wheelchairs, the cruise was a chance to reminisce about their younger days.
For the average Joe walking the tarmac, it was a chance to drool over the ride that could have been.
The cars at the Alzheimer’s cruise – some beauties like a maroon-and white 1952 Buick Roadmaster and a 1975 Oldsmobile Starfire that once belonged to Funny Car race star Tony Stewart – were just a sampling of the kind of road candy on display throughout the Valley during the summer.
At the Moose Family Center in Chicopee, Lodge Administrator Bob Hupfer said their decade-old Thursday night cruise regularly draws four times that number of gleaming machines.
“On a good night we’ll have around 250 cars,” Hupfer said. “They come from all over western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut – but it all depends on the weather.”
Music, food concessions, beer and wine and a flea market with car and non-car related vendors ensures the Moose Cruise draws a great crowd of exhibitors and viewers every week. A winner’s circle and three trophies conclude each weekly cruise.
Allan Curan, who has been organizing a Friday night cruise for the Valley Cruisers of Agawam for 17 years, said he has about 50 regulars who bring their machines on a weekly basis.
“We spent the first 11 [years] in the parking lot of McDonald’s on Route 75,” Curran said, explaining that his cruise had to relocate when that restaurant was remodeled. “I knew Dave Ratner of Dave’s Pet Food City and we were there for three and a half years,” he continued. When Ratner rented the vacant store next to his business and needed more parking lot space, Curan said he spoke with Father Steven C. Amo at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 1061 Springfield St. in Feeding Hills. The priest offered his parking lot to continue the events, which include music, a food vendor and two trophiess every week.
“Last year we had some nights when we had [more than] 80 cars,” Curran said. ”We haven’t quite hit 100 cars yet, but we’ve gotten close.”
Get your car fix
According to Francis, here’s where you can go to see that car you should have kept, wish you had bought, or dreamed of owning someday. Just choose your night:
Mondays:
Mark’s Classic Cruise Nights – Mark’s Auto Parts, East Granby, Conn.
For more info visit www.markscruisenight.com
“He bills himself out as the largest cruise in the Northeast,” Francis said, adding that this cruise has drawn as many as 600 cars on a Monday night.
Young Men’s Club – 138 East St., Hadley, Mass. 5 to 8 p.m.
Tuesdays:
Elk’s Lodge, 69 Chapin St., Ludlow, Mass., 6 to 8:30 p.m. for more info call 413-583-2448.
Wednesdays
Red Rock Cruise – Summit View Pavilion, Route 5, Holyoke, 5 to 8:30 p.m. For more info: www.redrockcruisers.com.
Elder Council, 460 Granby Road, Chicopee, Mass., beginning at 6 p.m.
Ice Cream Shoppe, 493 Springfield St., Feeding Hills, Mass., 6 to 9 p.m. For more info call 413-786-5960.
Thursdays
Moose Family Center Cruise, Fuller Road, Chicopee Mass., 6 to 9 p.m.
Northampton Elks Lodge #997, 17 Spring St., Florence, Mass.
Fridays
Sacred Heart Church, 1061 Springfield St., Feeding Hills, Mass., 5 to 8 p.m.
Buttery Brook Park, 123 Willamanset St., South Hadley Mass, 5:30 p.m. to dusk.
For more info: http://butterybrookpark.org/cruise-nights/.
Saturdays
Forever Young Cruisers, 81 Pt. Grove Road, Southwick, Mass. Call Sherry at 413-569-6167 for details.
Saturday cruises also take place on these dates at the following locations:
July 3, Aug. 1, Sept. 5, Cindy’s Drive, Route 202 in Granby, Mass., 2 to 5 p.m.
July 11, 25, Aug. 8, 22 – Soldier’s Home, Holyoke, Mass., 4 to 7:30 p.m.
Sundays
Happy Days Family Fun Spot, 172 W State St., Granby, Mass., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
