Local News - July 2003

Weekly classic car show shines for fans

By AMY WADSWORTH, Staff Writer

Denver was the place to be Thursday evening for car talk.

Fans lined their classic cars up in Rock Springs Shopping Center off of N.C. 16 for the weekly cruise-in.

“When you don’t smoke, drink, do drugs or chase women you have to have some sort of outing,” said Pat Nixon, host of the event. “This is what we do.”

The cruise-in has been going on for four to five years, Nixon said.

It started with some of Nixon’s friends who were interested. It grew from there.

It used to be held at the Burger King on the corner of N.C. 16 and N.C. 73, before it closed down.

They have been using the new location for eight weeks now. Russell Craig Jr., the owner of Cappy’s Café, a restaurant in the shopping plaza called on Nixon when he heard Burger King was closing.

“I knew that they used to meet there,” Craig said. “When I heard it went out of business, I knew they would need a new location.”

Craig said he is happy to host the cruise-in in front of his restaurant.

“I like old cars and old music,” he said. “I think it is neat.”

Audrey Benton, of Denver, was glad the cruise-in got moved to the Rock Springs Shopping Center.

She said there is a lot more space.

Thursday evening she was sporting her 1965 bright red corvette.

“I have had corvettes all my life,” she said. “I bought it new.”

It was Tim Shook’s first time at the new location. He came all the way from Morganton.

Shook was happy to show his blue 1954 Chevrolet Panel Wagon with orange flames and rebel flags down the side. He bought it in blue and then decorated it.

“I like the orange and blue combination,” Shook said. “I bought the car because it is different, there are not too many around and I like odd looking stuff.”

Drew Marcus, of Mooresville, drove in his green Cobra replica which was built in 1997.

“It is a replica of a 1965 Shelby Cobra,” he said. “I have always wanted an original but they go for $300,000 and the one I have is only $30,000.”

Although Marcus would love an original he said he has to settle for the replica.

“That is never going to happen,” he said. “It is $300,000 that I don’t have.”

Marcus loves coming to car shows because he has always been a car fan.

“I love looking at other people’s cars,” he said. “It gives me ideas.”

Tim Gilbert, of Charlotte was at the cruise-in with his two children, 10 month-old Ethan, and two-year-old, Ben.

It was Ethan’s first time at the cruise-in.

“He is a little sleepy,” Gilbert said. “I usually don’t bring him, but my oldest who I usually bring is at vacation bible school.”

Gilbert’s car, a burgundy 1977 Oldsmobile was parked at the other end of the parking lot.

“It is not a hot rod or anything,” he said. “That is why I park it over here, but I have had it since I was 16 when my daddy gave it to me.”

Gilbert loves the Denver Cruise-In because it is so relaxed.

“I can leave whenever I want,” he said. “That is good so that when the kids get tired, I can go and they can fall asleep on the way back.”

The cruise-in is held every Thursday night from 6-9 p.m.

“This is big for Lincoln County,” Nixon said. “Usually it is hard to find anything going on.”

—————

Staff Writer Amy Wadsworth can be reached be calling 704-735-3031 or by email at news@ltnews.com.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

Terms and Conditions