×

Go west, young drivers

Salem to stretch out Super Cruise, add more events

Tom Hall, a planner with the Salem Super Cruise, shows off his valve cover racer, made of a polished die cast aluminum valve cover he got from a friend at NAPA Auto Parts/Bricker Automotive in Lisbon. He used wheels from a toy he found at a local store, added some pipes and borrowed the driver from his grandchild’s toy. No steel tires are allowed. Racers will race side-by-side on a 20-foot long wooden track he built with 17-inch wide lanes. For the rules, check the cruise Facebook page. (Salem News photo by Mary Ann Greier)

SALEM — Get your valve cover racers and hula hoops ready — they’re two of the new contests for this year’s Salem Super Cruise June 6-9 — plus even bigger, there’s a new route for cruisers to venture beyond the Dean B. Cranmer bridge.

“The west end businesses asked us to extend the cruise route to the west end,” Cruisin’ Crew chief Gene Johnson said.

He made the announcement during the cruise committee meeting held Wednesday night at city hall, adding that BH Tire’s new owner wants to really get involved. Normally, the cruise route stops short of the west end.

Officials for the 14th annual Salem Super Cruise, which is managed by the city and back to being organized by the Cruisin’ Crew, gave updates on the concessions, the many new and familiar activities that encompass the four-day event, the entertainment, logistics and the brochure, which should be available for the next meeting, set for 7 p.m. April 24 at city hall.

Tom Hall, who oversees the website at salemsupercruise.com and the Salem Super Cruise Facebook page, brought along his personal valve cover racer so people would have an idea of what to expect. Valve cover racing will take place at 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday of the cruise near the Dale Shaffer Research Library.

“Gravity is your friend,” he told the roomful of meeting attendees.

Hall built a 20-foot long wooden track with 17-inch wide side-by-side lanes, describing the concept as similar to Pinewood Derby races for Cub Scouts. The lanes have small walls and the fastest car wins the race. He built his own valve cover racer using a polished die cast aluminum valve cover he got from a friend at NAPA Auto Parts/Bricker Automotive in Lisbon. He found some wheels at a local store, added some pipes and added a driver from his grandchild’s toy.

Participants of all ages are invited to take part. They can decorate their cars however they want and use any type of valve cover. He said some people use compact discs for tires. No steel tires are allowed because they would eat up the track. To learn more about the rules, visit the Salem Super Cruise Facebook page.

“If a kid wants to get involved in it, I think that would be great,” he said.

Another new event will be a hula hoop contest starting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday of the cruise in the United Methodist Church parking lot. Contestants should bring their own hula hoop, although the Cruisin’ Crew will have a few available.

Johnson announced that as part of the Big Idaho Potato Truck display in front of city hall, signatures will be sought to raise funds for the area pantries through the Big Helping program. Idaho Potato will donate $1 for each signature on the Big Helping sign, up to 500 signatures. He said that’s a big deal.

The Cruisin’ Crew is coming to the end of asking for donations for the cruise brochure and Johnson said he’s urging anyone who sees the booklet to pay attention to the advertisers who paid for the ads and tell them thank-you.

“Without that, we couldn’t afford to do the Super Cruise. That’s what keeps it going,” he said.

City Service/Safety Director Ken Kenst, who oversees the meetings, said the city administration, including himself, Mayor John Berlin and Administrative Assistant Debbie Bricker, can’t thank Gene’s Cruisin’ Crew enough for the work done on the brochure.

“We don’t look to make money on this event, we look to pay our expenses. I’m confidant that we have that covered,” Kenst said.

He reported that bands performing this year include Along for the Ride on Thursday, Sobos on Friday, Manhattan and Main Street Lions on Saturday and House Party on Sunday.

Other new events Johnson noted include an auto parts swap meet from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Butech parking lot, a craft vendor area with about 30 vendors Friday, Saturday and Sunday on South Broadway, a Monster truck display in the Firestone Car Care lot, an antique tractor show at 6 p.m. Friday on South Broadway. A transportation exhibit inside the Dale Shaffer Research Library will include a history of the GM plant in Lordstown and outside will include a variety of vehicles.

A question was asked on whether Pershing Street will be open, with one woman voicing concern for pedestrians due to the traffic, but Kenst said Pershing will remain open.

mgreier@salemnews.net

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today