We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Classic cars at Zortman cafe 2015. The Blaine County Cruise, an annual event of the local car club, will be held Friday and Saturday, June 24-25. This year's cruise will visit sites in Havre, Big Sandy and Beaver Creek Park. This photo, from last year's cruise, shows some of the participants' vehicles during a stop in Zortman. Any vehicle is welcome to make the day-trip on Saturday of the event.
The annual Blaine County Cruise is set for June 24 and 25. Alan Pula, one of the planners for this year's cruise, said, "We didn't really come up with a theme for the cruise this year. We couldn't figure a way to make the drive-in movies match one theme. I guess if we did have a theme, it would be "Cruisin' to Beaver Creek Park" since that's the major stop of the cruise." The annual cruise is one of the main activities of the local auto club.
This is the sixth year the Chinook-based club has hosted the tour of the area and accompanying weekend festivities. Stops on this year's 'road trip' include the weigh station west of Havre, Big Sandy, Rotary Pond in Beaver Creek Park and a final stop at Triple Dog Brewery in Havre. At each stop there are challenges-sometimes involving driving skills, sometimes just fun games that are kid and adult friendly. The competitor on the trip who earns the most points doing the challenges wins a $1,000 prize.
Wally Duschscher, a member of the car club, said, "Alan Pula and I put together the driving challenge. At least one of the challenges always involves a test of driving skills." Pula added, "This year we're doing the 'fan belt toss.'" The belt toss is kind of a variation of pitching horseshoes...except you're in a slow moving vehicle, moving down a prescribed path and tossing a fan belt to 'ring' a standing traffic cone. That may be a stretch to compare it to horseshoes, but readers get the idea.
The event begins Friday evening, June 24, at the Blaine County Fairgrounds with registration. Registration is required to participate in the cruise that leaves on Saturday morning from Chinook. Cost is $30 and $20 for each additional vehicle entered in the cruise. The fee includes dinner on Saturday night, also at the fairgrounds. Registration will be available on Saturday before the cruise leaves or early registration is available online at blainecountycruise.com.
A favorite of the cruise, especially the kids, is the drive-in movie on Friday and Saturday nights. The movies are shown on the side of the grandstand at the fairgrounds and local groups sell concessions during the evening. Movies start at dark, organizers figure around 10pm because of the long days, and are open to the community. There is no charge for the drive in movies. Friday night's feature is "Hooper" and on Saturday evening "Need for Speed" will be shown.
The cruise is open to anyone with a vehicle. The club prides itself on being family-friendly. Bring the kids, the emphasis is on fun and fellowship, not how shiny or fancy the vehicles are. One club member said, "We are not a 'shine and show' club. We like to drive and enjoy the vehicles we have."
The general cruise route this year is starting from Chinook and travel west to Havre, then south to Big Sandy. From Big Sandy go to Box Elder, cross Rocky Boy reservation and head to Beaver Creek Park. There will be challenges, from testing driving skills to family-friendly games, at stops along the cruise.
You can get additional information about the cruise and related activities at the club's website: http://www.blainecountycruise.com. Information, registration forms and answers to questions are available at these member businesses in Chinook: Jamieson Motors; American Garage and Top Dog Performance. In Havre, cruise details at Duchscher Agency.
