Classic-car cruising is the name of the game in northern Utah each July. The city of Logan, home to about 60,000 people and Utah State University, becomes a hot-spot of collector-car activity annually for the first week of July. Owners and enthusiasts converge in Cache Valley, about 90 miles north of Salt Lake City, for an annual “Cruise-In.”
The multi-day event is put on by the Cache Valley Cruising Association (CVCA) and has been going on for over 40 years. This year’s Cruise-In attracted hundreds of cars and thousands of people to the area. While the car show was the keystone event of the weekend, the event encompassed much more, including a swap meet, a Beach Boys concert, and a Main Street parade. A photo gallery from Robert K. Scott can be found at this link from Cache Valley Daily.
Spectator Tia Astle caught up with some of this year’s exhibitors. One was Randy Mills from Kaysville who showcased his 1966 Ford Fairlane two-door. “My wife and I have participated in the Cruise-In several times. We keep coming because there are a lot of vehicles. We’ll have about a thousand vehicles here today.”
Doug Warner showed his 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle two-door hardtop. “I’m from St. George, and I drove up,” he said. “I love the enthusiasm of the show, and the people are wonderful!”
The great thing about the Cache Valley Cruise-In was the diversity of cars and people. Many vehicles were completely original and preserved, while others had been heavily modified. Kim Tomlinson from Lindon was showing his custom 1949 Chevrolet five-window pickup. The most eye-catching aspect of Kim’s truck was its PPG paint job; the finish is a water-based product called “Vibrance,” and Kim named his truck the Rattlesnake.
Power for Kim’s truck originates from a “ZZ4” 350-cubic-inch V8 rated at 385 horsepower, and a 700R4 four-speed automatic transmission power to the rear wheels through a 3.88-geared limited-slip rear end. Features include a Heidts front end, Koa wood bed planks, Dakota digital gauges, an Alpine sound system, ostrich upholstery, and a powder-coated frame. Kim’s truck is a work of art, and it drew a crowd throughout the day at the fairgrounds.
All that walking through the Cache County fairgrounds can cause one to work up quite an appetite, but luckily there were plenty of food options available to curb the hunger. One of the vendors on-site during the car show was Honey Marie’s BBQ from Wellsville. Alicia Jenkins, the owner, shared, “I started this business five months ago because I wanted something to do with my children. Our kids work for us, and my husband works for me. The business was named for my grandparents.” The Honey Marie’s menu looked savory, including items such as pulled pork, smoked burgers, baked beans, coleslaw, and potato salad.” When asked how things were going, with the new business, she said, “It’s awesome – beyond our expectations.”
Finally, one of the highlights each year at the Cruise-In is seeing a car given away: every admission ticket doubles as a raffle entry. This year’s giveaway car was a custom 1973 Chevrolet Camaro hardtop. Finished in silver with black stripes, the car had been upgraded with special equipment, including:
- 400cid small-block V8 engine
- TH400 four-speed automatic transmission
- 3.73-geared limited-slip rear end
If you haven’t had the chance to visit The Cache Valley Cruise-In, it’s a vibrant way to spend a few days admiring the glistening chrome and sheetmetal of the Rocky Mountain region. (Not to mention, you’ll get the chance to win a classic car and sample some delicious concessions.) Mark your calendar for next summer’s event!
For more coverage on community automotive events, keep an eye on The ClassicCars.com Journal.
