Maplesville Cruise-in has good turnout

Published 2:17 pm Monday, August 21, 2017

By Joyanna Love

By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The first Maplesville Cruise-in brought car enthusiasts from the region to town on Aug. 19.

Corvettes, Mustangs, Pontiacs and restored antique cars were all featured.

Winston Rushing brought his 1977 Nova. He said he restored the car “all the way from nothing,” including body work, the engine and interior. The project took three and a half years. Now, he takes the cars to various shows where others can appreciate the finished product.

John Segrest showed off his 1940 two-door Sedan Special Deluxe that he bought in February.

“It’s my retirement present to me,” Segrest said.

He said he chose this specific vehicle because he liked the color and it was already fully restored “where it needed to be” and not another project, like his old Ford truck.

However, he said on an old car, there is always something that needs to be done.

“It will keep me busy in my retirement,” Segrest said.

He had been looking for a car like this for 12 years.

Many of the cars had custom paint jobs.

John Hester brought his 1967 Chevrolet pick-up with a black and yellow paint scheme. He did all of the custom work on the truck. The truck had been sitting in a pasture when he found it.

“I got that worst one I could find rusted out real bad, just to be able to do this,” Hester said.

Shelley and Doug Hamilton brought their Mystery Machine patterned after the one in the Scooby-Doo TV show.

The couple customized the VW van with a commercial wrap. The project, including decking out the interior, took six months.

“I had a VW bus and she said if you ever get another one, it’s going to be a Mystery Machine,” Doug Hamilton said.

Shelley said she and their sons enjoy watching Scooby-Doo together.

“I like mysteries, and it reminds me of my childhood,” Shelley said.

The Capitol City Corvette Club from Montgomery brought more than 20 cars to the event. Members are from Montgomery, nearby Prattville and as far away as Gadsden.

Dean Baskett said he enjoys the speed of Corvettes. His car has customized Patriotic art on the inside of the hood.

“There are a lot of female drivers (in the Corvette Club). Women that just love to drive fast,” Pam Smith said.

She has owned a Corvette for more than a decade. Now, she owns three. In addition to the speed, Smith likes the look.

“It’s just smooth and sleek,” Smith said. “I got mine because I was always a Prince fan and he had that song Little Red Corvette, so mine is a little red Corvette.”

Baskett and Smith said most Corvette owners have more than one. Many times this is one to drive and one to take to shows.

Heart of Dixie Mustang Club in Montgomery was also represented.

Greg Bixler of Heart of Dixie brought his fastback Mustang. The restoration job, which he paid an expert to do, took two years.

“It has already won seven first-place trophies,” Bixler said.

He said he had wanted to own a Mustang ever since he was a child.

The Maplesville Cruise-in was organized by Sergio Sanchez of Valle Grande Mexican Grill.

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