The Lakeland Cruisers played host to a Cruise In car show in downtown Princeton Saturday evening. The Cruisers pulled the crowds in town for the Pennington Festival down Main Street to the Court Square from about 4-8:30 p.m.
Cruisers spokesman Larry Roberts, who entered his own prized 1941 two-owner purchased from a "little old lady" in San Francisco, said that the show drew about 60 cars. He said that he had expected more to this early season event but the price of “gas is really killing our car shows."
Roberts said that about 40 of the cars in the show were guests with the rest belonging to Lakeland Cruisers members.
Princeton Mayor Gale Cherry presented the Mayor’s Choice award to a 1937 Packard owned by Dan and Rita Gray of Draffenville. Roberts said that the Grays purchased the car a couple of years ago after seeing it at a show in Evansville.
Criteria for the Mayor's Choice award just involved catching the Mayor's eye for the evening. She said that the decision was becoming more difficult as she viewed the cars including Roberts' classic black ride which had blue jewels in the head lamps.
Mayor Cherry and Lucy Perry were awed by the 1931 Ford Slant Back four door sedan entered in the show by Ron Keist. He found the car in Mobile, Ala. Cherry said that the old Ford almost made her change her mind.
Roberts said that the club is pleased with the downtown event, producing some interest in the cars, the club and the city.
Lakeland Cruisers plan a Black Patch Car Show this fall. The show has been on-going for over 30 years.
