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HomeNewsCruisin' Downtown Car and Bike Show Part 1

Cruisin’ Downtown Car and Bike Show Part 1

This Saturday sees the ninth edition of Cruisin’ Downtown Car and Bike show in North Bay.  Jeff Serran, executive director of the Downtown Improvement Area, says the annual event has had a very interesting history from its humble beginnings.   Serran recalls the first time the event was held in 2009 and only one person had registered in advance.   That was the May 1st weekend and he told the organizing committee that “we’d have to cancel because we can’t have an event for just one car.”  However Craig Rodwell, one of the initial organizers, remained confident that car enthusiasts would show up with their vehicles at the designated time.  Sure enough that’s exactly what happened.  The owners of 22 unique vehicles showed up and they displayed their cars over one block on Main Street.  The event has grown over the years and now Main Street closes for Crusin’ Downtown from Sherbrooke to the parkette at Algonquin.  Three years ago well more than 200 owners showed up with their vehicles.   The participants come from across Ontario like Sarnia, Ottawa, Sudbury, New Liskeard and Sault Ste. Marie.

Jeff Serran

Serran says an economic benefit to the event is in some cases it puts people in local hotels so it serves as an economic driver.  Serran says onlookers can easily expect to see Chargers, Mustangs, Camaros, modified motorbikes and even an old firetruck or two.  What’s more, the public has a chance to learn something about these older vehicles, many of which will cover the muscle car era.  “They take a lot of pride and prestige in their ownership,” Serran said.  When Cruisin’ Downtown first started, it took place during early May.  But the weather was still unpredictable at that time, so several years ago the decision was made to let the event coincide with the American Memorial Day long weekend.  On Thursday, this story continues with Part 2 where we look at what may have caused the event to mushroom with more participants and the types of awards the car and bike owners win.

 

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