By CHARLES BOLDES
Student Reporter
Modern, classic and drag cars, oh my!
The 14th annual Big Cruise and Car Show was in Alva Friday through Sunday, September 21. Over 400 people came into Alva to look at the most modern and classic of cars.
The first car show held in Alva was organized by Jim Clemons, an Alva restaurant manager. The event was held on the Woods County Fairgrounds in June 1999 and from this the Alva Big Cruise and Car show began.
In 14 years the Big Cruise and Car Show evolved into what it is today, including a tattoo contest that occurred last year for the first time to a burnout contest and the annual cruise on the West Oklahoma Boulevard after the show is over.
“Most people arrive early on Friday, but by Saturday our numbers double,” said Don Curtis, show vice president and photographer.
While people came into the town square to sign up they got free burgers and hotdogs while they looked around at the cars on display. After that came the tattoo contest, featuring different categories depending on style and colors of tattoos people had. After that was the Big Cruise, held in the evening on the town square, where vehicles other than four-wheelers were allowed to run.
The show resumed at 9 a.m. Saturday. Despite the hot day, at least twice as many people came as the previous day. There were over 150 cars, which people were allowed to look at and judge during the car show.
“The Black 2011 Chevy Camaro SS with multi-led lights is my favorite car from the show this year,” said Wei Wu, a student from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. There was supposed to be a Free Dyno during the car show on Saturday, but apparently it had broken down, and they hope that it will be in working order by next year’s car show.
On Saturday, the two biggest events were the Burnout Contest and the Cruise down West Oklahoma Boulevard. The burnout contest was probably the loudest, as cars were judged upon people’s choice and judges of how each car did their burnout.
“The burnout competition was interesting to say the least, from bellowing smoke to bad Elvis impersonations,” said Austin Anderson another Northwestern student. After the Burnout Contest ended it was time for the Cruise as every street legal car drove up and down West Oklahoma Boulevard numerous times – and a few were pulled over by police.
After the big turnout this year, organizers of the event expect that each year will get better as more people come from around the states.
“I think it is nice that a small town like Alva can hold a big event like this every year and of course, this event makes more people know Alva,” said Northwestern student Summer Sun.