News : 27th Annual Cruise bring hundreds of classics to Vinton

Joe Kimm of Blairstown entered this 1923 Ford Bucket T in the Cruise.

A classic pickup owner shows of the capabilities of his pickup's box.

Many families took photos of the cars, and of themselves with the cars, before the Cruise began.

Spectators admire the cars on display.

Classic cars filled 4th Street in front of the courthouse before the 27th Annual Vinton Cruise.

Jeremy Grimm's entry, a 55 Chevy, formerly his grandfather's, for the first time this year.

Mike Kuennen of Palo gets lots of comments about his car, but more about his Coca-Cola trailer.

Ben Ward's classic Ford Galaxy sits at the north end of the cars on display before the cruise.

Spectators looked at many cars, and under their hoods, before the cruise.

Ken Avis entered this 1970 Chevy Impala.

Spectators look at Scott Hill's 1935 Chevy Master Deluxe before the 27th Annual Cruise.

Norm Goodell of Cedar Rapids entered this 1930 Model A in the Vinton Cruise for the first time.

Despite its storm-delayed August date and occasional showers that had spectators clutching umbrellas and car owners scrambling to shut windows and hoods a few times on Saturday, the 27th Annual Vinton Cruise was a successful event that brought approximately 400 (or more) antique and classic cars to Vinton.

Each car on display had a story, and its owners were eager to share those stories with each other and the spectators.

One of the vehicles making its first appearance in Vinton was a 1933 Dodge owned by Mike Kuennen of Palo. Along with the long, white car, Kuennen has a Coca-Cola cooler that has been converted into a trailer. He recently bought the car, which has been in dozens of other car shows throughout the country, although Kuennen himself has only been to a couple, including a recent event in Louisville.

The trailer gets more comments (and more requests from people hoping to buy it) than the car does, said Kuennen. He has mostly finished rebuilding the car and plans to enter it in more shows in the future. But first, he says, he plans to enjoy driving it for a while.

Another first-time classic was the 1955 Chevy 210 hardtop entered by Jeremy Grimm of Vinton. Grimm said the car belonged to his grandfather, Melvin, who bought it when it was virtually brand new. While Jeremy entered the car into the show, he said it belongs to his father, whom he talked into restoring the car. They did most of the work on it themselves, said Grimm, with the exception of rebuilding the transmission and the new paint job.

"I think he said it only had 200 miles on it when he got it, and now it's got just 42,000," said Grimm. While the car has been repainted, it still retains its original appearance and tires.

Hundreds of people of all ages walked around the cars on display on Fourth Street and other areas surrounding the courthouse. While many of the vehicles are from Benton County and surrounding areas, a few owners brought cars from hundreds of miles away. a 1970 Chevy Impala owned by Ken Avis of Vinton said in the city parking lot on 4th Street, next to a car from Missouri.

Norm Goodell of Cedar Rapids is also a first-time participant. He recently bought a 1930 Model A from a neighbor, and plans to do some more work on the car and enter it into more events in the future.

Cruise organizers relied on dozens of volunteers to sign in the participants, help arrange the cars on the streets and pass out door prizes.