(Article by Virginia Ransbottom: Used with permission from Allegan County News. Original publication date – July 21, 2016)
The inaugural Allegan County Cruise-In is revving up its engines to offer a car show that will be pulling into Allegan High School on Saturday, July 30, with registration starting at 8 a.m.
Dash plaques will be given to the first 250 automobiles. Spectators can get a good look at the street rods and cruisers until 1 p.m. when the school will be in the vehicles’ rearview mirrors.
“We’re hoping to get about 500,” said sponsor Dan Chilla of State Farm. “We’re giving it a 120 percent effort.”
Along with the insurance agent whose customers are also car enthusiasts, other sponsors include H&R Block, Allegan Federal Credit Union and Allegan U-Stor.
“There will be street rods, cruisers and anything from a Model A to a new car are welcome,” Chilla said. “That’s a car show by design.”
Motorcycles and tractors are welcome, too.
A kid’s carnival will be hosted in a separate area and include a bounce house, inflatable slide, and face painting. There will also be a giveaway for a new gas grill. To educate youthful drivers, a State Farm-sponsored Camaro driving simulator will teach safe driving behaviors and the dangers of distracted driving.
Registration for each vehicle is $10 with proceeds benefiting Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative. The program teaches life skills to local youth transitioning out of the foster care system.
As a mentor, Chilla said the funds will help foster children’s needs that are great. “Many of these youth feel they have no value but they are perfect and God doesn’t make a mistake,” he said. It is also hoped the car show will benefit the community.
“Vicksburg has a really nice show in the spring, the Gilmore Red Barns Spectacular is in August and Allegan needs to have a really awesome car show, too,” Chilla said. “We want to get people to come to Allegan who’ve never been here before and experience its beauty.”
Virginia Ransbottom can be contacted at vransbottom@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.
