Classic cars cruise Abilene

An event from Oct 22. It's on my calendar and will be reported early enough next year for people to attend if they so desire!

From Report News: Classic cars cruise Abilene
There may have been hundreds of classic cars, trucks and motorcycles entered in the 29th annual Cruise Night on Saturday, but behind almost each one of them was a similar tale, said Lynn Maxwell.

"There's one of three stories," said Maxwell, a retired teacher and coach who had a 1966 Chevy Chevelle Super Sport. "You either had one as a kid, you always wanted one, or a friend had one."

In this case, Maxwell drove a '66 Chevelle that he kept until 1973 when the needs of a young family trumped owning a coupe that could go really fast.

The one he had at Cruise Night was similar to the one of his youth, except for the color. This one was fire engine red; his first Chevelle was yellow.

"You can't find the yellow ones," said Maxwell, who retired to Abilene in 2004 after a 33-year teaching career in West Texas. "I should have kept it."

The cars have the same 375-horsepower engine, which isn't great on fuel economy but performs impressively. They have the same four-speed transmission. And like his first one, this car has no air conditioning, an omission that keeps Maxwell from driving the car on trips longer than across town.

Funny, the lack of an air conditioner didn't bother him before.

"I was 18 then," Maxwell said.

Maxwell bought the car a couple of years ago from a doctor in Lewisville. He's done little to it other than change the wheels and hubcaps and make a few minor cosmetic changes in the interior.

"I figured he must have been going through a lawsuit or a divorce," Maxwell said of the previous owner.

Regardless, Maxwell was happy to buy a car that needed little restoration. He once restored a 1972 Ford pickup that belonged to his family, and that turned into more work than he wanted.

Although he's not particularly looking to sell, Maxwell said he would be willing to part with it and would like to get a convertible. If that's the case, he might was to talk to Bob Rose, who had a pretty nifty little 1952 MG-TD. However, considering how long it took him to get it, Rose might not ever want to part with it.

"I had wanted one since I was a junior in high school," Rose said. "It took me 60 years to get one."

The drivers cruised North First from the old Kmart shopping center to Shelton for a couple of hours before returning. Twenty cars were selected from the cruise to be displayed in the new Kmart parking lot on South First Street. The Kirk House Band performed at 8 p.m.

Car owners don't need much of an excuse to show their cars, Maxwell said, and it surely isn't because it's financially rewarding.

"Somebody asked me if you could make money doing this," he said. "I told them you have a $35,000 show car that you put in a $10,000 and pull with a $40,000 truck all over the country on $4 a gallon gas to try to win a $10 plaque. But, it's a lot of fun."