Cruisin' With the Cops: FOP's annual classic car show starts at noon Saturday

Tom Walker's always a fan of classic Fords — "and I do love, love, love the Mustangs when they come up here."

But there was that one Buick he remembers from the Bucyrus Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 68's first Cruisin' with the Cops Custom and Classic Car Show.

"I can't remember what year of Buick it was," the Bucyrus police captain recalled this week. "But that Buick was absolutely beautiful from the ground up; it was maroon and gray and just beautiful. There was nothing in it that wasn't pristine. ... That Buick just absolutely blew my mind."

On Saturday afternoon, this year's edition of Cruisin' with the Cops will take over the streets of downtown Bucyrus.

"We close the streets down at noon and registration starts at 1," Walker said. Entry fee is $15. The show is limited to 1989 and older models.

Registration will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Judging will be from 5 to about 6 p.m., followed by trophies at 7 p.m.

"I believe we have something in the neighborhood of 25 to 30 trophies," Walker said. "I don't know the exact number, but they're beautiful — they're absolutely gorgeous this year."

Like this year's event T-shirts, the trophies are orange, as are the camo cup cozies the FOP will be selling, he said. "They look kind of cool."

Large area for cruising sets show apart

One of the things that sets this car show apart from others across the area is the large area blocked off for cruising — all along Sandusky Street from Oakwood Avenue to Mary Street.

"There's a lot of cruising that goes on — there's a ton of cruising that goes on," Walker said. "It's pretty much nonstop from the time it opens up."

Because the entire area is closed off, car owners can feel safe as they drive laps.

"You don't get many like that," Walker said. "You're not in a parking lot — you're literally in a downtown area that's closed off by the police department. It's a good, safe place to lap and enjoy the memories — a trip down memory lane."

Most of the people who travel long distances will bring their classic vehicles to the show on a trailer. Ensuring the vehicles are safe is a priority, Walker said. All traffic laws are enforced.

"No laying patches of rubber," he said. "As fun and exciting as it is ... people have in some cases hundreds of thousands of dollars wrapped up in these vehicles. We have to be careful that we don't allow somebody's car to get damaged up here. It's just a respect thing, I think in the overall grand scheme of things. We haven't had much trouble with it, however we always have to put it out there."

Some car owners choose to park their vehicles along the curb line of Sandusky Avenue or around Washington Square, he said, "but there's just a ton of lapping going on, which is awesome."

"We love it," Walker said. "I can't tell you how the sound of those roaring engines and the smell of the exhaust — it's electrifying, it really is. It's so much fun."

400 to 600 vehicles expected at this year's event

Walker said he's not sure how many cars will be on display at this year's event, but more than 200 have registered in advance, so he's expecting between 400 and 600 classic vehicles.

"I was really surprised, even with the high fuel prices, a lot of people are inquiring," he said. "They want this. This is something they're excited about. I don't think the fuel prices are going to have a dramatic effect. I think in general, people just want to get out and do things."

How many volunteers does it take to make sure everything goes smoothly?

"A lot," Walker said, laughing. "Every person we can get from the police department, their family members — there is really no set number, but every member of our agency and their family puts something into this. And we do have some other members of the community, such as some of the local car clubs will come and help. The Eliminators help us every year."

Even some of the people who bring vehicles to the show park their cars and then volunteer to help, he said.

Downtown residents play a part in the event's success, too, Walker said.

"We appreciate the fact that the residents who live in the downtown have their vehicles off the road by noon; we appreciate their cooperation with that," he said.

ggoble@gannett.com

419-559-7263

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Cruisin' with the Cops car show is Saturday in downtown Bucyrus