Western-Star

It was a perfect summer Saturday evening in Springboro, and the cruisers were out in force, as well over 200 cars jammed the parking lot for the monthly Bob Evans Cruise-in.

Master of ceremonies and local DJ Fast Eddie welcomed the cars on the PA system as they pulled in, since Mother Nature had been unkind, raining out the first two scheduled cruises.

"We're here the first Saturday of every month, from May to September, but we've been rained out, so this is really the first one of the year," Fast Eddie said. "And man, look at that crowd of cars."

Chuck Holland of Middletown brought his recently finished 1954 Buick Super two-door hardtop. "I bought it last year in the fall after I sold my '50 Ford, and I spent the whole winter working on it," Holland said. "It was pretty much a basket case."

No longer a basket case, the hardtop sports a two-tone blue-and-pearl paint job that Holland applied himself, along with a complete restoration. The side pipes were handmade of stainless steel by Holland, a retired auto mechanic.

"I worked on it every day this winter, and it came together real well, I think. I've only had it to three car shows so far, and I've won a first-place award each time, so I guess the crowd likes it too."

The Bob Evans cruise draws all types of vehicles, from classic restorations to hot rods, rat rods, tuners, muscle cars and current production cars.

On one end of the parking lot, a group of Ford T-buckets were all parked together.

"We get together and drive to lots of cruise-ins as a group," explained Larry McCulley of Kettering. "We hit at least one a week, usually two. But it has to be good weather because we don't have tops for these cars and they don't do so good in the rain."

McCulley bought his Viper Red '23 Ford T-bucket two years ago in Arizona.

"It was painted and all, but it was kinda rough. I've been working on it constantly for the last two years and right now, it's pretty much done," he said.

The next cruise-in is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 2, from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Bob Evans on Sharts Road in Springboro. The cruisers use the parking lot for Miami Jacobs Career College, which is right next to the Bob Evans.

For information, call Mervin Bair at (937) 746-2247.