2nd annual New Year’s Day Cruise In stretches parking limits
By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
ROCKINGHAM — Ron Mayo helped guide a couple from near Charlotte into a parking space. He asked them to pull up a bit. After all, every spare inch was needed.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
“We’re runnin’ out of room,” said Mayo.
A total of 171 cars were a part of the second annual Richmond Cruisers New Year’s Day Cruise In, nearly a 20 percent increase from last year’s turnout of 144 vehicles — Corvettes to Dusters, Beetles to Studebakers.
Ronny and Vicenta Theroux, of Mint Hall, helped lure more than four dozen drivers and their classic cars to the show, which parks at Smithfield’s Chicken ‘n Bar-B-Q in Rockingham. The lot was quickly overwhelmed, and the owner of Sam’s Auction next door figured the best way was to let drivers use his land for overflow.
Vicenta Theroux said it’s the fourth year the Mint Hall group has had a New Year’s Day event and second in Rockingham. Drivers took the scenic route, picking up members of the Jewel City Cruisers en route to Wadesboro, Chesterfield, S.C., then Hamlet and down Highway 74 Business to Rockingham.
Keith Donahue, of Greensboro, won the 50/50 raffle.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
This painting by Jim Norris and won by John Dill was customized at Dill’s request.
Of all the vehicles in the lot, John Weatherford was particularly proud of one car that was only an image. The Cruisers president said the club netted approximately $1,800 from a raffle of a painting by Wallace (S.C.) resident Jim Norris.
The painting was customized for the winner — John Dill, of Mint Hill — to include a ’55 Chevy and the “Papa John’s” sign over the garage.
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