Classic Nights Car Club Kicks Off 2011 Season

MonroePatch.com (Monroe, Connecticut): Classic Nights Car Club Kicks Off 2011 Season
For more information, visit their website at www.classicnights.com.
Along with the blooming flowers and budding trees, classic cars are a sure sign that spring has sprung in Monroe. Friday night, the Classic Nights Car Club kicked off its 27th cruise season at Village Square Shopping Center in Monroe.

Club member and public relations director, Pete Kodz, explained the origins of the club. “The club was started by five guys in 1984," he said. "We started by meeting at the old restaurant where Bill’s is now and we just outgrew it.”

“We get as many as 200 cars,” Kodz said, “Every night this place is jumping. It’s a great thing to do with your family. There’s Dairy Queen, McGowen’s, Chinese food and McDonald’s right across the street.”

Cars from years up to and including 1978 may participate in the cruise. This night, roughly 75 cars were on display. There is no charge to view the car show.

Eddie Staib of Bethel, is a member of the Sycamore Nights, and brings his '54 Ford Skyliner to the cruise faithfully. Known as "Fast Eddie," he explained, “I’m lost in the '50’s!” What keeps him coming back? “Hanging out, listening to the music, having a good time,” he said.

Fast Eddie bought his car in 1963. “I bought it straight out of high school," he said. "It’s called Earth Angel. I got the record in the window.”

That’s not all, the car features a glass roof and an interior that would humble the guys on MTV’s Pimp My Ride. It has a stocked bar, mirrored ball fixture hanging from the ceiling and the seats reconfigure into a bed. Plus, it has special lighting inside and out.

Donna and Ron Renz of Monroe have been bringing their '65 Corvette to the show for three years. “You can’t wait for the warm weather," Donna said. "People know that we are going to be out here on Friday night so they’ll stop by to visit."

Ron Dayton brought his wife and two young daughters out to Cruise Night. “We come out every Friday. My older brother and my dad come,” Dayton said, “We love the old music and the cars. I’ve been into cars my whole life and I want to bring my girls up like me.”

The Dayton family ended the evening with friends, enjoying ice cream from Dairy Queen.

Rob Weber owns Rob’s Monroe Auto Repair. He’s been bringing his 1971 Nova for 10 years. “It’s about hot rods. It’s all about the cars,” he said. “It barely ran and it leaked oil. Now it’s mint. I can’t even tell you how many hours have gotten into it. I go to work for eight hours, then work nine on my car.”

Cruise nights are held every Friday from 6:30 – 10 p.m., weather permitting. On May 27 they will feature radio station STAR 99.9 sponsored by McDonald’s. For more information, visit their website at www.classicnights.com.