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Classic cars take to the street

John Stroud
Carbondale correspondent
Aspen, CO Colorado
A participant in a past Valley Cruisers Car Show buffs the hood of his Mustang. The event returns this weekend, making the move from Carbondale's Sopris Park to Main Street. The show starts Friday evening and continues Saturday in downtown Carbondale (Valley Journal file)
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CARBONDALE ” The Valley Cruisers Classic Car Club will be doing what cruisers do best at this year’s annual car show in Carbondale ” cruisin’ Main Street.

For eight years, the display of vintage and restored cars and trucks has taken place in Sopris Park for just one day. This year, in conjunction with Carbondale’s First Fridays art walk, the show kicks off with a car parade on Main Street at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

The show continues from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday along Main Street, which will be blocked off to both parking and vehicle traffic while the hotrods and vintage autos are on display.



“It seemed like we were a little bit off the beaten path over in the park, so we decided to try it this way and see how it goes,” said club member and show organizer Ron Madsen of Glenwood Springs.

“A lot of people enjoy being in the downtown environment, and it gives people a chance to go in and check out the stores during the show,” he said.




Friday’s parade will include an announcer’s table at Fourth and Main, where the cars and their owners will be introduced. After the parade, classic ’60s sounds will fill the air, as the Strolling Scones take the stage outside on the Fourth Street plaza at 7 p.m.

The car show continues Saturday, including a pancake breakfast during registration and setup, music by Straight Shot from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., displays by the Colorado State Patrol and Aspen Valley Harley Davidson, and awards in several categories.

The award categories include: People’s Choice, Best of Show (voted on by participants), Lady Valley Cruisers Pick, Mayor’s Choice, and the Downtown Preservation Association Choice. The awards will be announced at 2 p.m.

Madsen has been part of the Valley Cruisers for about seven years, and said the club has doubled in size in that time, with members from Aspen to Parachute.

“We do a lot of cruises to other car shows, and the proceeds from our Carbondale show go to LIFT-UP,” he said.

All types of cars, trucks and motorcycles are eligible to be part of show, with no limitations on the year or style. Registration begins at 2 p.m. Friday in Sopris Park, followed by a barbecue dinner served by the Lions Club at 4:30 p.m. Late registration continues at 7 a.m. Saturday on Main Street.

“We’re hoping for about 75 entries,” Madsen said. “Our club alone will have at least 40 cars in the show.”

Among them will be Madsen’s 1969 Mach 1 Mustang and 1967 Mercury Marauder S55. There are also two Ford Fairlanes with the retractable roof, which are rare.

“The vast majority are the old classic muscle cars, but always get a few foreign cars ” Lamborghinis, Ferraris.

“We also have a vintage 1970 Shasta Travel Trailer that’s been rebuilt, and Wally Dallenbach will have some of his race cars on display,” Madsen said. “What the club is really all about is preserving the older cars, so they don’t go rusting away in the junkyards. We have a lot of rescue cars. They bring back a lot of memories for people.”

During the day Saturday, there will be a variety of giveaways including a chance for one of the registered participants to win a Chevrolet 350 V8 engine.

To register for the show or for more information, contact Ron at 945-1008, or Darryl at 945-5074.

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