By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Classic cars and family fun are the focus of a new event coming to Maplesville this August.

Valle Grande owner Sergio Sanchez will host the first Maplesville Cruise-In on Aug. 19 from 4 to 8 p.m. Main Street will be closed to thru traffic and instead be lined with classic cars.

“Young kids will be able to see cars they would normally only see on the road, and people can see cars that their parents or grandparents would have owned,” Sanchez said.

Anyone can show their classic car at the event. Participation is free, but as an incentive and a thank-you Valle Grande will offer 50 percent off a meal at the restaurant for those who bring a classic car to the event. Car owners can show up the day of the event. No prior registration is required.

The event will also be a time of learning the stories and histories of the owners and their cars.

“Every single person who comes to the cruise-in loves to talk about their car,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez said car shows are held at an annual basis at the Valle Grande in Selma, including a drive of the classic cars to Montgomery. Since this is the first time the restaurant in Maplesville is hosting a car event, Sanchez said he wanted to start with a cruise-in.

“It’s going to be a fun family event,” Sanchez said.

The event is free.

Sanchez’s love of classic vehicles goes back to his childhood in Mexico. When he was 10 years old, an American who spent his Christmas vacation in Mexico drove a Mustang Mach 1.

“I used to just to sit and daydream about cars,” Sanchez said.

One day the owner let Sanchez sit in the driver’s seat.

“I promised myself I would own an American muscle car one day,” Sanchez said.

Today, he owns a Mustang Mach 1.

For Sanchez, a car is more than a way to get where he needs to go. Instead, “a car is a way of living, it’s a passion. He said is Mustang remains a reminder that dreams can come true if you work hard.

Sanchez will have three of his vehicles featured at the event.