9th Annual Metro-Cruise visits 28th Street

As the weather warmed up for the 9th Annual Metro Cruise event held in Wyoming-Kentwood, so did the classic and antique cars that went on display for the local popular two day event.

"Metro-Cruise helps to bring in the people into town and gives the businesses a boost with customers," says Kevin Vantimmren, General Manager of Roger Plaza Mall. "There will be a multi-task police force presence as well to ensure the safety of everyone." Vantimmeren recalls that his first car was a Ford Torino with a forest green color. "I remember the price of gasoline was only 55 cents a gallon."

Antique and Classic car owners love to show off their wheels and talk about the by-gone days of when their vehicle was popular and what made them popular.

"It helps to bring the community together and brings in the money for the city as well," says Gregg Howard,  Director of Metro Cruise. "There will be about 200,000 people visiting this event and 15,000 cars on display as well." In an exclusive telephone interview with the Director of Metro Cruise, The Rapidian was able to learn more about what all makes up the Metro Crusie.

"There will be an Adam-12 car on display that will actually travel to California for Adam 12's- 40th Anniversay event taken place there. Also, there will be Tonka Trucks, and the Pin-Up girls will be there as well." To help make the event run more smoothly, there will be about 500 volunteers from Wyoming-Lee on hand to help out with whatever needs to be taken care of.

"In return for volunteering, this group will receive free T-Shirts and scholarships worth between $1,500 and $2,000 dollars will be given to the schools," says Howard.

As a visitor walked around the designated walk areas they could be awed struck by the variety of cars on hand and could literally talk a long time with the owner who is displaying them.

"My first car was a 1930 Ford Model A and the price of gas was only 19 cents a gallon," says Tom Conner of Hudsonville. "This car here is a 64 Cheverolet four wheel drive," said Conner. "It took me two and a half years to rebuild it from the frame up and I have owned it now for eight years." Conner bought his tools he needed to work on the vehicle as needed and rebuilt his set of wheels in his own garage.

Not too far from this car was another car with an eager car owner to talk about it as well. It was a 2004 Pontiac GTO.

"My first car was a 1962 Baby Blue Rambler," says Jerry Vankuiken of Grand Rapids. "It had no radio and just had the basics."I bought the car brand new and have driven it only about 3 to 5,000 miles a year," says Vankuiken. The Pontiac is unique  because it has a 'cold air intake' system to it. "It was imported from Australia by General Motors and this is my favoirte car cruise event to be in," says VanKuiken.

The third car owner interviewed on display was a 1981 Electric Car owned by Rich Mills of Norton Shores. "I put on about 2,500 miles a year on this car and it gives me a speed of about 55 miles per hour," says Mills. "This car has a gasoline heater, a charger plus an electric dryer on it." Mills stated that an electric car today costs about $52,000 and that only the wealthy could afford it for now.