Big weekend for car enthusiasts in Battle Creek with 'Cruise the Creek' and drive-ins

Battle Creek will become a car lover's paradise this weekend with a full slate of cruise-in events.

Beginning Friday, the 17th annual Consumers Professional Credit Union "Cruise-In" will close down a section of Capital Avenue Southwest in the Old Lakeview neighborhood. The road closes from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and all vehicles must enter from John R. Street. All vehicles under 25 years old must park along Service Drive.

'Cruise the Gut' is paused

What would have been the 25th annual "Cruise the Gut" event in downtown Battle Creek was paused this year, with organizer Ron Munster citing "destruction" and other problems at last year's event.

The retired Battle Creek Police officer said volunteers had been physically threatened when confronting vehicle owners who were not eligible to be in the drive-in, and that he and the Battle Creek Police Department, which supports the event, agreed to take the year off to reconfigure and reformat.

In place of Cruise the Gut, Tucker Newsome, founder of the club AutoMODIFIED, stepped in to organize "Cruise the Creek." The free event takes place downtown from 1 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Saturday, with Newsome saying it is receiving support from Michigan State Police.

While much of the format is similar to Cruise the Gut, the new event has opened up to include classic cars made through 1997 and select modified modern vehicles.

"I've been going to Cruise the Gut since I was a child. I absolutely love the show, love everything about it with the exception of a few things," Newsome said. "It's been (for vehicles) 1982 and older. A true classic car is 25 years or older, legally a classic car. Most of your cruises or car shows are 25 years and older... Also we're opening it up to modern modified or custom vehicles. Those will be determined the day of by my staff, what counts as a modern customized vehicle."

Cruise the Gut began in 1998 as a nod to the days when teenagers and young adults would cruise through downtown, and as a way to bring crowds to support downtown businesses.

Newsome, who founded AutoMODIFIED in 2017, said the intent in opening up the event to newer vehicles to is to draw in a "younger generation" of car aficionados.

"We want to keep the younger generation interested," he said. "The unfortunate thing about classic cars is they are extremely expensive. All the classics that are fully restored and in great shape are unattainable by a younger crowd because of the cost."

No registration is needed, and AutoMODIFIED will have various checkpoints where 16 volunteers will help direct drivers who want to be included in the cruise. Vehicles are welcome to park throughout the downtown area, and people are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to set up along Michigan Avenue. Burnouts will not be allowed.

AutoMODIFIED will also have a donation booth accepting money for St. Jude Children's Hospital.

"One of our mottos at AutoModified is to do something in the community to bring life back to Battle Creek," Newsome said. "We really just want everyone to know we are community oriented, family friendly in everything we do and welcoming to new people. We hope we see a lot of different diverse cars. I know some race cars and a few mega trucks will drive around downtown, and that's new. We're pretty excited."

Mayor's Car Club Drive In at Station 66

Across town from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Munster and the Mayor's Car Club will host a drive-in benefit of their own at Station 66 restaurant at 4588 D. Dr. S, open to all vehicle types.

Admission is $10, with all proceeds donated to Talons Out Honor Flight, a nonprofit that flies veterans to Washington D.C. for free to visit various monuments.

"We'll have cornhole games, DJ music and Station 66 has food, ice cream and plenty of space to park," Munster said. "Just a family day with whatever you drive. What's more fun than a giant picnic with your car?"

Contact reporter Nick Buckley at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley

Battle Creek Drive In Events

FRIDAY

• CPCU Cruise In: Old Lakeview neighborhood, Capital Avenue Southwest, 6 p.m. -9 p.m.

SATURDAY

• Cruise the Creek: Downtown, Michigan Ave., 1 p.m. -10 p.m.

• Mayor's Car Club Drive In: Station 66, 4588 D Dr. S, 4 p.m.-9 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Car enthusiasts descend on Battle Creek with 'Cruise the Creek'