The Woodward News

Local News

September 14, 2012

Big Cruise and Car Show kicks off in Alva

Gary Engel CNHI

Woodward, Okla. — ALVA - The annual Big Cruise and Car Show is set for Sept. 14-16 in Alva.

This is the 12th year for the event held to provide an opportunity for owners to show off their classic cars, said Norville Ritter, one of the organizers.

"It's all free," Ritter said. "The activities will all be centered around the downtown square."

Festivities launch with pre-registration for cars and a  cookout from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 14.

Ritter said about 140 vehicles are in the show each year.

He said the first Big Cruise of entries, following a closed route of about 8 blocks and starting from the square, will go from 8 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

The evening ends with an after-party from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Nite Lite club, 1220 Lane St, just southeast of the square area.

Events are scheduled throughout the day on Saturday, Sept. 15

While a car art show is being held at the Graceful Art Gallery, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., prospective car show and Pinewood Derby participants will be able to complete registration from 9 a.m. to noon.

A car wrap demonstration will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Ritter said rather than using paint, the car wrappers will be applying vinyl.

"Many race cars are being done that way now," he said.

Visitors will be able to evaluate the quality of their vehicle's performance when they attach it to a chassis/engine dynamo from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There are 30 entries divided between a Little Miss and Junior Miss Cruise and Car Show contest at 1 p.m., with winners to be announced during a trophy presentation at 7:30 p.m.

Wooden car model makers will enjoy participation in a Boy Scouts-led Pinewood Derby from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., then an auto cross is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Ritter said the auto cross is a closed-course, timed event. Entrants will drive a vehicle to a starting line, then the driver and passenger will quickly trade places. Next, they head to the post office and mail a postcard, and then have to make their way back to the starting line through encounters with various obstacles placed in their driving lane.

The trophy presentation in the evening will also feature awards for the best car make, best model, the best engine, best paint and the top dynamo performance.

"Go and Whoa" is scheduled for 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Ritter said.

"This is a fun, timed event that families participate in," he said.

The participants have to pull their car to the starting line, then the driver and a passenger trade places for a run to a posted balloon, which the main passenger has to break.

Ritter said the always-popular burnout contest will run from 7:45 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the trophy presentation for it following at 9:15 p.m.

Also Saturday night, a jet car, owned by a native of nearby Kiowa, Kan., will be on display.

Street-legal vehicles only will then depart from Wal-Mart for an Alva boulevard cruise at 9:45 p.m.

A fireworks show is also planned before another evening of festivities at the Nite Lite from 10:45 p.m. to 2 a.m., they'll surely want to stay around the square for a fireworks show.

"This will be the only night we'll have one (fireworks show)," he said.

On Sunday, Sept. 15, a free breakfast is planned for 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. A chapel service and fellowship is slated for 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., and Ritter said it will be carried by the speaker system that will be set up at the square.

The car show is from 9 a.m. to noon, and a car stereo system sound-off and workshop is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon.

Ritter said street racing will run from 12:15 p.m. to 3 p.m., and there will be cash prizes in 3 divisions - cars with racing slick tires, cars with treaded street tires and motorcycles.

"It's been a fun and  learning experience," he said. "We get great support from Alva businesses and the Chamber of Commerce. We couldn't (do the car show) without the Chamber and the Visitor's Bureau."

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