The eight annual Lansdale Cruise Night once again brought car lovers of all ages out for a good cause Saturday.
"We mostly do it because it brings back fond memories of the old days. I grew up in Lansdale and remember cruising around the town. It's a great way to get the kids involved as well,” Jimmy Hemmig of Harleysville said while preparing to take his 1930 Model A Ford along the route with his wife and granddaughter.
"I even met my wife at a car show," he said. "I can’t say enough good things about the people working hard to organize this event. This is my fifth year participating.”
For others, it was their initial cruise along the streets of Lansdale.
"It's my first Lansdale Cruise Night," said Tom Meers, 54, of Oreland, alongside his 1932 Ford Roadster. "I spent six hours this morning getting my car ready to be here, but I was going to make it come hell or high water. I’ve put over 4,500 hours into my car and everything is built by hand.”
That sense of pride is a common theme among enthusiasts. During the pre-cruise display, owners as well as spectators walked through rows of classic cars. From Ferraris to Fords to Cadillacs, there was something for all tastes among the 150 participating vehicles. Owners gladly shared stories with anyone interested in their prized possessions.
"They can tell you anything else, but it's all about the cars. I bought this one as is, but I built that truck over there for my daughter,” Thomas Lewis, 65, of Upper Darby, said with a smile as he sat by his '33 Willys coupe. Daughter Ashley Lewis, 29, of Hatfield, looked proudly over at her '49 Ford Custom truck.
While for some, the night was all about the cars and reliving those moments from a bygone era of cruising on a weekend night, for the event's organizers, Discover Lansdale, it was a chance to take people's passion for automobiles and use it for a good cause.
All participants were required to pay a $10 donation and bring a minimum of 3 canned or packaged goods, with all proceeds benefiting Manna on Main Street. The organization is dedicated to fighting hunger in the North Penn area through a food pantry and soup kitchen as well as other programs to help those in need. The night netted the pantry some 450 pounds of food, organizers said.
While the Pennise Family Band played oldies into the night, the cars revved to life as they paraded along Main and Broad streets. Drivers and onlookers smiled, waved and honked, knowing that it was not only a great night to view cars, but they had also helped those less fortunate in their community.
