More than 1,200 vehicles were on display at the Langley Good Times Cruise-In charity car show in Aldergrove on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Crowds of almost 100,000 spectators strolled along Fraser Highway between 264 and 272 Streets for the show, which was closed for the event.
A preliminary estimate shows about $50,000 or more was raised from the Cruise-In this year, said president Marty Brown, which will be donated to local charities.
“Personally, I have at least one hundred new favourite cars I can’t stop thinking about. I was absolutely blown away by the great vibe at the show,” Brown said.
Many of the 125 volunteers showed up as early as 4 a.m. to set up Fraser Highway for the event and guide registered car owners into their spots on the road.
“Our car owners brought out their finest rides, our sponsors helped immensely this year, and the Township of Langley was right behind us all the best,” Brown said.
“It really takes an army of people and none of the show would happen without all the amazing volunteers, including the Cruise-In board, captains, and show day helpers. The power of people is amazing!”
Volunteer Heather Lehman has volunteered for Cruise-In for 20 years, and is now responsible for organizing the teams of volunteers for the big day.
Each part of the show requires its own crew of volunteers – staging, registration, crewing the barricades where streets are blocked off, and the parking crew are some of the larger ones.
“Why do they do it? I think the same reason as me, the passion for old cars,” Lehman said.
Other volunteers take part because the Cruise-In gives back to them. Soccer teams, dragon boat crews, and folks from Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Association are among the local charities and non-profits that have been given donations by the Cruise-In over the years.
Their members often work in teams on specific stations during the day.
That’s the other major reason Lehman and many volunteers do what they do, she said. They get a chance to give back to the community.
Braden Ulvild, a director of Cruise-In, created the new online registration system used for the show this year.
It allows the directors to see who registered this year and help ensure they can invite people back for next year, he said. Ulvild grew up with the car show being part of his life, his dad having been president at one point.
“It means a lot to still be here, and none of this would be possible without our team here. It’s a massive effort, and a lot of people spend their entire Saturday on the Cruise-In,” Ulvild said.
He noted this was the eighth year in Aldergrove as well. “And it’s just getting better and better each year.”
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