MITCHELL – This morning the Cement City Cruise-In began at 9 a.m. in the Lehigh fields in Mitchell. Dozens of vehicular beauties, from trucks and cars, to motorcycles sit waiting to be admired.
Guests met LA-OR-MA Shrine Club members such as Ben “Biscuit” Miller, Rob German, Steve Bodkins, and Donald Mann, as they direct registered vehicles to park, and welcome sight-seers with genuine smiles and good humor.
The Shriner’s collection of mini-vehicles displayed in front of the Free Mason’s booth, with an assortment of varying models.
The show brings everything from Model T’s to newer, slicker cars into view for the public’s enjoyment, and if you know anything about cars, someone is willing to chat about it with you.
One of the many entries, a gorgeous green truck fondly called “Junebug”, features hand-painted sage pinstripes, and a gorgeous, pristine brown interior.
“Junebug” belongs to Dan and Carol Robins, a couple who travel from show to show throughout the year. The farthest they’ve driven in their perusal of car shows was to Pigeon Forge Tennessee for the Shades of the Past show.
The couple is knowledgeable and friendly, and they say they make friends wherever they go, a different group at each show.
Another noteworthy piece is Joe True’s 1957 Chevy. Joe is the original owner, having purchased the car on July 3rd of 1957, at Middleton Motors in Orleans, IN. Three years were spent restoring it, and it was finished in October 1999.
Joe has had the car (pictured left) for 66 years. He got it brand-new, and Joe said he “Traded a ’56 in for it, 700 dollar difference, but it was about $3,200.”
A plaque displayed in the back of the car boasts that he “courted wife in [the] car – kept both for 66 years.”
With many other vehicles waiting to be seen, visitors can trail from one end of the event to the other, never seeing two cars alike. A whole range of makes, models, and colors ranging from bright purples to yellows, and everything in between, there’s something for everyone.
The Cement City Cruise-In even had some of the antique variety registered, including several Model-Ts, both in sleek, polished form.
A deep red Chevy truck is parked just barely in the sunlight, polished and glistening.
For those less interested in cars, there were food vendors, a cotton candy booth, several shops set up in tents, and of course, Oldies playing over loudspeakers for the whole event.
The Cruise-In was worth the trip for the music alone!
