As promised, the 2011 Langley Good Times Cruise-In returned to the downtown core on Saturday — better than ever.
After taking a one-year hiatus in 2010, the directors and volunteers breathed new life into the massive car show.
“It’s like we never even took a year off, it was great,” said Cruise-In president Riccardo Sestito.
“I had nothing but positive feedback from everyone.”
Crowds of nearly 100,000 braced the hot late summer weather on Sept. 10 to admire the 1,200 classic cars registered in the event.
“Everything went too smooth, which was kind of scary,” Sestito said.
Unlike the mass burnouts and street racing seen in 2009, this year was significantly quieter.
A large police presence helped to quell drivers from doing dangerous stunts, which had occurred on the Friday night before the show in 2009.
“From a policing perspective, I think it went quite well,” said Langley RCMP Cpl. Holly Marks.
She says there were not many major complaints this year. However, tickets were issued.
There were 44 violation tickets given out on Saturday, along with many impaired driving tickets throughout the weekend.
“Right at the very beginning of the first day on Friday night, three vehicles were impounded for stunting, which I believe sets a tone. So the stunting stopped,” she said.
“Once those vehicles were towed away on the back of a pickup, it was clear we aren’t going to tolerate this.”
Sestito says the directors are already talking about plans for next year’s show.
“The saddest part for me is when four o’clock rolls around. As tired as we are, we always look and say ‘oh jeeze, it’s almost over,’” he said.
“Everything went really well so everyone can rest assured we will be back next year.”
After months of hard work putting the show together, Sestito says his favourite part this year was just being able to watch the event unfold before him.
“I don’t remember too much, I hardly slept. By the end of the day I was clueless as to what was going on,” he joked.
“But when the dust settles and Elvis is already starting his first act, I know everything is locked in and rolling strong. Then I can stand there and watch what’s going on.”
Sesito says nothing could be possible without support from the car participants, volunteers, directors and the community.
“I always get asked why is the show so successful. Well, it’s just the way the community is,” he said.