Organizers expect 500-plus cars at 25th-annual show; it all started with just 75

Thank you to Justin Burch for his beautiful images

Cruise Nite Sneak Peek | photo by Adam Konruff, Kearney Hub

Cruise Nite Sneak Peek
Triplets Taylor, Grady and Tyler Grauerholz, 4, are at just the right height to get a great look inside Wade Cross’ 1928 Ford Sedan at the Get Together Show and Shine at Midway Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac as Cruise Nite 2012 events continue. The Grauerholz’ parents are Brandon and Kara Grauerholz of Kearney; Cross is from Phillips.

Friday, July 20, 2012
By SAM PESHEK Hub Intern

KEARNEY — The look and feel of the Cruise Nite car has changed with each of its 25 years.

But even with a record-breaking turnout of classic cars expected, the engines’ hum remains the same.

“When all this started, we didn’t care what your car looked like, just bring it down,” 20-year Cruise Nite Committee member Jim Barth said. “More people started showing up and said, ‘Hey, this is really fun. Just park what you’ve got on Main Street and meet some new people.’”

Kearney Cruise Nite in 1988 with 75 cars when members of the Fort Kearny Auto Club and the Mid 5’s Auto Club merged to form the Central Nebraska Auto Club.

What started as a one night gathering of car enthusiasts has grown into a 500-car spectacle that lasts for five days.

With this year’s 25th anniversary, Cruise Nite Chairman Brad Kernick expects the turnout will be much higher.   [Read the full story at the Kearney HUB…]