Let’s Get Ready To Rumble! Hays Hosts Cruise Night

STORY BY EMILY WOODYARD
PHOTOS BY KERISA BROWN

Revved engines! Cheering crowds! Cars, Trucks, and Cycles from old school to new-n’-cool were shown last night Friday, September 13th at the Thunder on the Plains Cruise Night. The event started by ACE Hardware, then through escort by local officials, cars headed down to Municipal Park. Once there the live band, Good Sam Club Band, started up some heart-felt tunes of classic country. Johnny’s Diner Truck served all vehicle owners and observers alike which made Cruise Night an after-work event worth enjoying.

Rows upon rows of old, new, and refurbished vehicular devices were displayed out in sight of Elm Street passers-by. Syliva Kinderknecht stated, “This is our first time at this car show, and we really enjoy all of the cars we get to see here.”; her husband beside on the bed of a beautiful re-designed red pick-up truck, exclaimed “I’ve owned this for 23 years now…  My son and I worked on it when he was in 7th grade. He’s 47 now.” 

Kinderknecht and his wife have taken several different makes and models of cars to the cruise night over the years. Their son enjoyed growing up with a hand’s on project to pass time with his dad after a full day’s work. This particular project took 6-8 months to restore completely.

Cruise Night is right before the annual car show on Saturday, September 14th. Where vehicles of all sizes and conditions are put on display for a panel of judges, from Best Custom, Best Antique, to People’s Choice. Everyone brought together all of their possible dream team of wheels to share the fun, and process of becoming an owner of one of their beauties. 

Rod Roy gave some thoughtful advice for whoever wanted to begin showing a specialty car of their own, 

“If you can buy one done, that’s the way to go,” Roy said in order to save on an investment of upgrades and just go with what you know.

In the back of Mr. Roy’s Ol’ timey updated truck, which he purchased in 2010 taking a full two years to restore, laid a 1951 Cushman Scooter and vintage soda-pop coolers. It took 2 months of part-time work to reconstruct the truck’s engine alone. The coca-cola coolers needed to get the dents knocked out and paint re-done. 

This was the fourth year Thunder On The Plains has been in action and it once again brought the best of Ellis County classics. 

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