By Jared Curtis

Take a stroll to summer cruise nights and car shows around the metro

“I never want to part with her you see, this little car means a heck of a lot to me,” sang Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys in “This Car of Mine.”

That sentiment holds true today as hundreds of classic car owners throughout the metro gas up and hit the road on a weekly basis, attending numerous cruise nights.

The impromptu car shows not only attract car aficionados but also catch the eye of almost every person driving by. Custom paint jobs gleam and characters are aplenty at these local events, offering car owners a chance to show off their pride and joy, see other beautiful vehicles, chat with old friends and meet some new ones.

During the warmer months, car shows are peppered throughout — The Goodguys Heartland Nationals Car Show is less than a month away — but drivers need a few more options to show off their classics, which is why cruise nights have become so popular.

Even though the mother of cruise nights, Porky’s Diner, has long disappeared, other locations have picked up the slack, offering metro cruisers five locations on four nights to hit the town in style. They’re not just for members of the muscle car era anymore; the majority of cruise nights welcome anyone with something cool on four wheels. The car shows take up the weekend days, but the cruise events take over the nights — a perfect time to shine up that chrome, crank up the tunes and hit the pavement.

Classic vehicles line the parking lot at Bennigan’s during the weekly cruise night on Wednesday. Photo by Jared Curtis

Cruise events

Gathering on the Grounds

Iowa State Fairgrounds

Tuesday — 5 to 10 p.m.

June 19, July 10 and July 15 (the Sunday finale)

thegatheringonthegrounds.com

In only its second year, the Gathering on the Grounds has become the biggest car/bike night in town — as long as the weather holds up. The event came together in April 2011 when people were looking for a bigger cruise/bike night after Porky’s Diner shut down.

“Ever since Porky’s closed, people have been looking for that big event where they can come together and show off their bikes and cars,” said Tammie Palazzo, event coordinator. “A lot of people put in plenty of hard work to make this go smoothly, and I think it’s evolved into a great event.”

Although the location is key in displaying thousands of cars and bikes, the number of Gathering on the Grounds events the group can hold is limited.

“People love to come to the fairgrounds, and there is plenty of shade and benches to create a cozy atmosphere. It works out for us because there is enough space to park the cars on one side and bikes on the other,” Palazzo said. “But because the fairgrounds are so popular, we’re only allowed to book so many Tuesday nights. Last year we went through September, but this year our finale event will be on Sunday, July 15 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.”

The event is open to both cars and bikes, and there are no era restrictions.

“We don’t limit the years, and we get every type of vehicles from rat rods to kit cars. If you’ve done something cool to your vehicle and you think others will like it, then stop down,” Palazzo said. “I don’t know of any other place in Iowa that offers a car and bike night that brings in this many people. When the weather is nice, we’ll have 400 to 500 cars and 2,000 bikes, and that’s not counting spectators.”

Along with the rows of eye-catching vehicles, attendees can also get their fair food fix before August.

“We don’t have everything the fair offers, but we’ve got all the staples, including corndogs, and there is plenty of pop, water and adult beverages for everyone,” Palazzo said. “It’s a great mix of people because the car people like to see the bikes and the bike people love seeing the cars. And some people bring both.”

With only a few more Gathering on the Grounds events left for the summer, Palazzo encourages everyone to experience the sights and sounds.

“It’s a fun-filled night where you can meet up with friends and see some really cool vehicles,” she said. “Even if you don’t have a car or a bike, come down and enjoy the festivities.”

5 & Diner Cruise Night

5 & Diner, 5015 E. University Ave., Pleasant Hill

Tuesday — 5 to 8 p.m.

May through September

262-1711

The 21st annual Goodguys Heartland Nationals Car Show takes over the Iowa State Fairgrounds June 29 through July 1. Special to Cityview

Celebrating 10 years, the 5 & Diner has become a Pleasant Hill staple. For nine of those years, they’ve been a favorite of the cruise night community with their Tuesday night events. Owners Betty and Danny Thurman knew there was a need for the night, even though they didn’t own a classic… yet.

“We were always fans of classic cars, but we didn’t even own one until after we started the cruise nights,” Betty laughed. “The event has really grown into a weekly destination.”

While some popular cruise events have disappeared over the years, the 5 & Diner crowd has grown.

“Our first year we probably only had 20 or 25 cars on a weekly basis, and it’s grown over the years,” Danny said. “Now we usually have more than 75 cars each week. We have a lot of loyal customers that come back every week, but we also like seeing new faces and cars.”

As the crowds grew, the Thurmans were forced to expand the event.

“We used to have the show behind the building, but we ran out of room so we moved it to the front,” Betty said. “Being out front allows the cars a little more exposure and draws some people in.”

The event takes place every Tuesday night (weather permitting) and features live music and a free soda for anyone involved with the show. On July 28, the 5 & Diner will hold its annual car show as part of the Pleasant Hill’s Summerfest celebration. With its ’50s décor, the diner is an ideal place for a cruise night.

“Obviously the diner goes with the theme, but the baby boomer crowd loves the old cars as it brings back fond memories of when they were young,” Betty said. “We welcome everybody out to have some fun, see some beautiful cars and enjoy the evening.”

Bennigan’s Cruise Night

Bennigan’s, 4800 Merle Hay Road

Wednesday — 5 to 9 p.m.

May through September

276-7777

In only four years, the cruise night at Bennigan’s has become one of the most popular of the week. Cars line the parking lot and beyond, quickly filling up by 5:30 p.m. Once again, the closing of Porky’s was a reason for starting the night.

“When Porky’s closed, my uncle, who had a classic car, talked to me about having a cruise night here,” said Greg Fontanini, general manager. “Coincidently, a guy from the Pontiac Club had also approached me about having a cruise night. So I thought it would be a fun idea.”

Since then the event has taken off with more than a 100 cars showing up on a weekly basis.

“We average about 150 cars a week, but we had about 250 cars here on our best night,” Fontanini said.

Originally the night was geared more toward the older vehicles, but that changed the following year.

“When we started it was called ‘Classic Car Night,’ but we changed it the next year to ‘Cruise Night’ so anybody who has something cool to look at is welcome,” Fontanini said.

Fontanini strives to create a fun and family friendly environment for all ages to enjoy.

“We have a lot families who show, but the hotel guests also love it. It’s something fun to do on a Wednesday night,” he said.

The event officially starts at 5 p.m., but that doesn’t stop the cars from rolling in early.

“We say 5 p.m., but people start coming around 3 p.m.,” he laughs. “I think our big draw is the flat driveway and the close proximity to the Interstate. But I think a lot of people also like the fact that the cars are out front, so everyone driving by on Merle Hay Road can see them. There is a not a bad parking spot in the lot.”

Premiere Bowling/Strikers Sports Bar Cruise Night

Premiere Bowling and Entertainment, 655 N.E. 56th St., Pleasant Hill

Friday — 5 to 8 p.m.

May through July

263-1700

Three years ago, Betty and Danny Thurman were having great success with their weekly cruise nights at the 5 & Diner and decided to expand the event to another night and location.

“Since we had success here, we thought we’d try it at a different location,” Betty said. “We also did it on Friday night because there wasn’t a weekly cruise event on the weekends.”

Although the night doesn’t draw as many people as the 5 & Diner show, the vehicles are still rolling in.

“We didn’t get as many people as we thought when we first started,” Betty said. “But we’re getting 30 to 40 cars per week, with a lot of new people showing up.”

The event only runs through July as the calendar heats up in August.

“We decided to hold this one just through July because it seems like the crowds die down once the fair starts up,” Danny said. “Plus our bowling leagues start up in August, and that keeps everyone pretty busy around here.”

The event offers live music and draws a diverse mixture of young and old compared to the 5 & Diner cruise night.

“We get a wide variety of car owners from 20-year-olds to 80-year-olds,” Betty said. “We thought we’d bring a lot more people in with the fun bar atmosphere, and it’s paid off.”

Gill T’s Cruise Night

Gill T’s Bar & Grill, 918 E. Euclid Ave.

Saturday - 5 – 10 p.m.

May through September

266-1491

The newest cruise night is at one of the newest bars in town, Gill T’s Bar & Grill, which replaced Scooter & Babs earlier this year. The idea came about after relatives of the new owners, who are also members of the Concrete Cruizers Car Club, approached the Cruizers’ founder, Gary Pullen.

“The majority of the cruise nights and bike nights are during the week, but Porky’s used to have one on Wednesday and Saturday night,” Pullen said. “Nobody can match the nights at Porky’s, but we think Saturday is a great night for a cruise.”

As with most new things, it has taken time to build up the numbers.

“It’s always tough when you start something new because it’s basically word of mouth,” Pullen said. “We only have around a dozen cars or so, but the word is spreading and we expect more people to start showing up.”

Along with food and drink specials, participants who display their cars receive drink tickets. The event is open to any car.

“It’s a great mix of different people, and it’s open to anybody. It’s not a club thing,” Pullen said. “We have a nice range of vehicles from a 1923 Model T to a 2010 Mustang.”

Although it might be the newest and smallest cruise night in the metro, Pullen offers plenty of reasons to help it grow.

“They have a great patio and serve some excellent food, so it’s a great night to bring your old cars out and relax,” he said. “ It’s also a great chance to enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow car owners, while meeting some new people.”

The biggest show of all

Goodguys Heartland Nationals Car Show

Iowa State Fairgrounds

June 29 (8 a.m.-5 p.m.), June 30 (8 a.m.-8 p.m.), July 1 (8 a.m.-3 p.m.)

www.good-guys.com

The Fourth of July is one of the most celebrated and beloved holidays of the year. Every year, Americans plan parties, barbeques and vacations around the date. But the weekend around the Fourth has also become an important celebration in its own right for car lovers from all over, as the Goodguys Heartland Nationals Car Show comes to town, June 29-July 1.

Returning for its 21st year, Goodguys is the premiere car show event, featuring more than 3,500 hot rods, custom cars, classics, muscle cars and trucks. Taking over the entire Iowa State Fairgrounds, the event has continually grown over the years which doesn’t surprise organizers.

“Des Moines is in the center of the country and the heart of the Midwest. And there are a lot of custom car enthusiasts, so we love coming there,” said Betsy Bennett, who handles event advertising and public relations at the Goodguys Rod and Custom Association. “Not only is the fairgrounds a great facility, but it’s become a tradition for people to spend time at this event around the Fourth of July holiday.”

The Heartland Nationals is one of 20 events produced by Goodguys Rod and Custom Association, which originally started with only a few shows in the California area. Although past years had more events, Bennett says 20 is the perfect number.

“We started in the west coast and then began to branch out, starting events in New York and Des Moines,” she said. “It takes a lot of work to create these events, so we put our racing division on hiatus and just focused on 20.”

The event takes place June 29 through July 1. Admission is $18 and kids 7-12 are $6 (kids six and under are free). The show offers a wide variety of classic and custom vehicles prior to 1972. The show limits the years of the vehicles to keep the big car era in tact.

“We cut the date off at 1972 because that was the last year of the big V8. The gas crisis hit in 1973 and cars became more economical, so 1972 was the last year of the big car era,” Bennett said.

This year you can still attend even if your car was born after 1972, thanks to a new event on Sunday.

“We added the Super Sunday get-together event, which allows all years, makes and models of American-powered cars and trucks to come out on Sunday and get involved,” Bennett said. “We patterned it after the get-together events we had in California. It’s a lot of fun and allows the guys with the later models to be a part of the weekend.”

Along with the car show, attendees can enjoy a wide variety of entertainment including manufacturers’ exhibits, the Goodguys Autocross course (a 1,000-foot course featuring tight turns and rapid acceleration/deceleration testing the vehicles’ performance capabilities), the Super Sunday Get-together, the swap meet and car corral and numerous awards including the “Low Lid,” “Homebuilt Heaven” and the “Builder’s Choice” award.

“It’s a great festival atmosphere, and you don’t have to be a gearhead to enjoy all of it,” Bennett said. “Along with the car show, we have an arts and craft show, a model car show for the kids, live entertainment and plenty of food and drinks. We try to offer a fair atmosphere, so even if you don’t love cars it’s still a pretty amazing site to see. Personally, I love riding the sky ride over the grounds; it’s so cool and a great way to see everything going on.”

The Heartland National event is one of the biggest events in the country.

“We have about 6,000 vehicles at the Ohio event, so it’s the biggest, but Des Moines is close behind,” Bennett said. “It’s one of the most popular shows on our schedule, and there are cars from all over the country that attend.”

Although the majority of people attend the Heartland Nationals to gawk at all of the beautiful classic cars, Bennett says the event offers so much more.

“It’s affordable, family fun for all ages. Not only is it a great place to get ideas for your future projects, but you can also shop for parts or even find the car of your dreams,” Bennett said. “There are some places we go where we don’t see the culture as alive as it should be. But we don’t have that problem here. The car culture is alive and well in Des Moines, and we’re proud to have created an event that has become a destination around the Fourth of July for a lot of people.” CV

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Upcoming metro car shows

June 16 Johnston Green Days Classic Car Show — Johnston

June 16 Mid-Iowa Brit/Euro Car Classic — Johnston

June 16 Wayne Larson Roll — Ames

June 17 10th Annual Peace Classic Car Show — Southside Des Moines

June 21-23 2012 North Central VTCI Regional — Living History Farms

June 29-July 1 The Goodguys 21st Heartland Nationals Car Show — Iowa Fairgrounds

July 4 Kris Mandt Memorial Car Show — Urbandale

July 4-7 2012 Oldsmobile Club of America Car Show and Swap Meet — Iowa Event Center

July 13 Iowa Street Rod Association Collector Car Appreciation Day — Ames

July 20-21 Mecum Auto Auction — Iowa State Fairgrounds

July 21 Deery Brothers Chevrolet Car Show — Pleasant Hill

July 28 Pleasant Hill Summerfest Car Show — 5 & Diner

Aug. 10 Classic Chevy & Concrete Cruizers Iowa State Fair Display — Iowa State Fairgrounds

Aug. 11 Rising Sun Car Show — Rising Sun Church of Christ (Pleasant Hill)

Aug. 14 Eagles Annual Charity Car & Motorcycle Show — Eagles #109 (6567 Bloomfield Road)

Aug. 25 Altoona Palooza Car & Bike Show — Altoona

Aug. 26 Rollin’ Relics Cruise to the Carousel — Heritage Carousel

Sept. 1 Iowa Street Rod Association Car Show at the All American Weekend — Ames

Sept. 8 Heartland Driving Tour — The Salisbury House and Gardens

Sept. 16 2nd Annual Bad Boyz Mustang Club — Collectamania (3200 Delaware Ave.)