Organizers of the relocated Langley Good Times Cruise-In are dropping hints about a celebrity appearance at the Saturday, Sept. 9 event in Aldergrove.
They are negotiating with a “well-known name in the car community” and television personality, Cruise-In president Wayne Patterson told the Times.
Patterson said he expected to have more details in about a week.
The volunteers who operate the annual charitable fundraiser that brings in classic and exotic cars will air their plans to relocate the Langley Good Times Cruise-In from Langley City, it’s home of nearly two decades, to Aldergrove in Langley Township, at a public meeting on June 29 at 7 p.m. at the Aldergrove Legion at 26607 Fraser Highway.
NOTE: a previous version of this story, based on information provided by Cruise-In, contained an incorrect date.
The plans are complete, but Patterson said Cruise-In is still waiting to hear back about an application to close part of Fraser Highway at the 264 Street intersection in Aldergrove to help accommodate the annual display of classic hot roads, custom and exotic cars.
All the other proposed road closures have already been approved by the Township.
The Aldergrove edition of Langley Good Times Cruise-In will be a two-day car show running Sept. 9, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. along the Fraser Highway from 264 to 273 Streets and along 272 Street from 39 to 32 Avenues, followed by a Sunday swap meet and car corral at 3100 272 St., from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Parking will be provided at Philip Jackman park, Parkside Centennial Elementary and the Langley Banquet Centre.
Following a dispute with the City over policing costs last year, Cruise-In was approached by the Township of Langley about moving to Aldergrove.
The 2016 event came close to being canceled following an email from the City to the volunteer board of directors stating that owing to the “loss of the RCMP Auxiliary volunteers that have supported the Cruise-In event for the past several years,” paid full-time officers would have to be used for crowd control on Friday and Saturday.
It was a response to a change in RCMP policy that limits the use of volunteer officers following the 2015 shootings of a regular duty officer and an auxiliary at an Alberta casino. The full-time officer died as a result of his injuries.
The email arrived with an invoice for the estimated extra costs of using full-time paid officers of $11,770.
It asked that 50 per cent, $5,885, be paid a month ahead of the event.
Patterson called it an “outrageous request” and threatened to cancel the car show.
Some last-minute negotiating averted a shutdown and produced a deal with the City to cover the policing costs.
At the time, City of Langley Mayor Ted Schaffer noted the City was already contributing $43,000 for policing the event, not including the additional $11,770 cost.
The Township has agreed to cover policing costs for the Aldergrove show.
After Cruise-In decided to move to Aldergrove, Langley City businessman Randy Caine announced plans to create a replacement show and shine that would be held before the Aldergrove Cruise-In.
Patterson said Cruise-In has asked car clubs not to participate in the replacement event and most have agreed to boycott the proposed show and shine.