Model As, carefully kept low-riders, vintage cars that looked like they once held Al Capone even a frilly pink T-Bird were among the hundreds of cars at Cruise Nite.Friday’s kickoff for the 9th Annual Cruise Nite season - April through October - offered entertainment from the Pastor Johnny Band and Wendell Dowling designed T-shirts depicting a Cruise Nite pre-1957 Cruise Nite participating car.The American Cancer Society’s Santa Paula Relay for Life was “painting the town purple,” with ribbons leading to the booth encouraging people to become involved in the April 28 and April 29 Relay with many stopping by said Diane Torrance.Nearby Agromin sponsored “Ratz Racers” were the center of attention by a group of happy kids enjoying the mini-race cars.The Santa Paula Police Officers Association - including organizers Dave Anderson and Henry Aguilar - and the Chamber of Commerce deserve a lot of Cruise Nite credit said Vice Mayor John Procter.“...this event really brings them in, even tonight” with less than perfect Cruise Nite weather, Procter noted.
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These two cars were just a sample of what turned out last Friday evening in Downtown Santa Paula. No spaces were available for pre 1975 cars from 8th Street to 10th Street and even the side streets. The next Cruise Night will be May 4th. Photos by Don Johnson |
First Cruise Nite big hit in Downtown Santa Paula
April 11, 2007
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesEven a chilly overcast evening couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm for the first of the season Cruise Nite, which brought a large forget-about-the-weather crowd to the downtown Friday evening.“Look at the participation...wow!” said Judy Ochoa as she looked at the cars vying for space on Mill Street where the vehicle overflow from Main Street - holding vintage vehicles from 8th to 10th streets - had parked.The Santa Paula Union High School Baseball team was doing a brisk business selling T-shirts and caps across from an electric magenta Dodge parked near two seemingly more modest twin black Monte Carlos.The Santa Paula Coffee Company was doing a brisk business: “I’m too busy to be interviewed,” joked Roslynn Turner whose husband Jon - the couple owns the shop - was also helping to fill orders that would help ward off the evening chill.“I was surprised with the weather and it being Good Friday” that as many cars and people came out for Cruise Nite opting for everything from hot coffee to dinner, noted Roslynn.“We’re just here babysitting my toy,” said Norm Wilkinson of his slicked out dune buggy, a prized possession for “37 years...37 and a half years. Do I still take it out? You bet!”The answer was the same for several vintage Covairs whose owners who had lifted the trunk lids - storage of a different kind for the circa 1960s Fords - to show off pristine engines.
