Ellijay’s charitable car club will be lining up the hot rods and popping the hoods when the club’s run of spring/summer cruise-ins gets rolling this week.
The Apple Country Auto Club will start its 2024 cruise-ins Friday, April 12. They will be held the second Friday of each month until September. The cruise-ins are held from 5-8 p.m. in the park and ride area across Craig Street from Poole’s Bar-B-Q.
“We say it’s at Poole’s, but we’re actually in the park and ride,” said Ronnie Prater, Apple Country Auto Club president.
Each cruise-in is like a mini car show where all types of classic and antique cars and trucks can be shown. Some of the featured vehicles are owned by club members, but anyone with a classic or antique vehicle is welcome to participate, Prater noted. The events are free to attend and open to the public.
There’s no registration fee to show a vehicle, and each car owner who registers gets a 20 percent off coupon for the next door barbecue restaurant, Prater noted.
“Registration is free, and we don’t keep any names or information on anybody. A lot of people won’t register because they think you’ll call them up later, but we don’t,” he added.
The 2024 cruise-ins will offer the only chances for local residents to attend one of the car club’s events until the Apple Classic Car Show in October.
The club revived its Apple Blossom Car Show in spring 2023, but, this year, the Gilmer Chamber’s Apple Blossom Festival will be held on a different date, Prater noted. The car club does not plan on having the spring car show again, he confirmed.
“It will avoid confusion since this year’s festival is on another date, and we’ve also decided that one show a year is enough,” Prater said.
Each cruise-in will also feature a 50/50 cash drawing. Any proceeds will be put toward the car club’s charitable fund, which benefits various nonprofits and community service groups with donations at the end of each year, Prater noted.
One lucky car owner will receive the “Pigk (sic) of the Month Award,” a pig-shaped, pick-of-show prize.
“Somebody from the restaurant comes out and chooses the winning vehicle, and that person gets the Pigk of the Month Award. We’ll have six cruise-ins and six Pigks of the Month,” Prater said.