Court Street Cruisers host 20th annual show and shine

Weiser’s City Park was turned into a parking lot with rows of classic cars and hot rods at the annual Court Street Cruise on Aug. 3.
 Event organizers could not have asked for better weather for the 20th anniversary of the car show. The day featured nothing but sunshine and not-too-hot early August temperatures.
 The cars started showing up at Weiser’s City Park early in the morning and trickled in until about noon. By 1 p.m. the number of registered entries stood at 81, which was down slightly from last year.
 Cars of every make and model came from all over the Treasure Valley, including Boise, Ontario, Ore., Fruitland, Payette and elsewhere. Members of the Rods of Idaho and Oregon, a vintage car club that has been around for 35 years, brought their show and shine specials.
 Marla Leedy, a member of the Court Street Cruisers, said the 20th anniversary of the car show and shine was high-octane fun for all who attended.
 “We thought the cruise was very successful. We were down a few cars, but everyone seemed to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, the music, and just a nice day in the park,” she said.
 The car show once again featured Billy and the Barn Kats and their authentic rockabilly sounds. The New Plymouth-based band plays a style of rockabilly that members described as a fusion of country and early rock and roll from the 1950s.
 Many of the car owners and visitors were older fans of cars that rolled off the assembly lines in Detroit from the 1950s through the 1970s. It was an era of cars with chrome bumpers, stylish tailfins and big-block V-8 engines that guzzled gasoline that sold for 40 cents a gallon.
 The Court Street Cruisers car club gave away door prizes all afternoon. There were awards presented to the best cars and trucks in a number of classes, including rodders’ choice and people’s choice, which allowed visitors to pick their favorite.
 The Mayor’s Choice award went to Jim and Patty Crotty, who brought their 1947 Ford Coupe.
 The band’s choice was Fruitland resident Doug Moscrip and his 1955 Ford Sunliner.
 The Best Rat Rod award went to Don Littlefield, of Eagle, who brought his 1940 Ford pickup.
 The Club Participation award went to the Rods of Idaho and Oregon. They had the most member and the most cars in attendance.
 The People’s Choice trophy went to Bob Cumming, who drove over from Boise in his 1969 Mercury Cougar XR7.
 The Rodders Choice was Jim Boyer, of Payette, and his 1917 Bethlehem.
 After the awards presentation, the cars lined up to “drag the gut” on a cruise around town. The parade of vintage cars cruised up to Weiser High School, through town and back to City Park. Four of the cruisers won $50 in a random drawing for participating.
 The drawing winners included Bruce Nyborg, of Melba, who drove a 1936 Chevy pickup. Jack Jones drove over from Payette in his 1969 Ford Mustang. Weiser resident Kim Chipman entered a 1958 Chevrolet DelRay and Lonnie Smith, also of Weiser, did the cruise in a 1970 Camaro.
 All the proceeds from the car show and shine go to pay for an automotive/tech scholarship to the College of Western Idaho.