'It puts Ravenna on the map': Cruise In zooms back to Ravenna
More cars than ever before were displayed at the ninth annual Octane Nights on Main Street Cruise In — in many cases, making a slow drive down Main Street in Ravenna in search of a parking space.
Tricia Krause, owner of Mongoose Motorsports and Portage Trim and an event organizer, said she arrived for work at 7:30 a.m. the day of the car show on Wednesday, hours before the event was to begin. Already, she said, "a lot of people" had arrived, ready to park their cars.
By 4 p.m., all 4,000 parking spaces had been claimed, forcing a steady line of vehicles to head west on Main Street, in hopes that a parking spot had opened up. Because vehicles were only allowed to drive west on the closed street, those who hadn't found a parking spaces needed to find their way back to Cotton Corners to try their luck again.
"It's a rolling cruise," Krause said, watching the line of motorists drive slowly past her business, where dozens of car enthusiasts hand purchased VIP parking passes in advance.
Spectators were encouraged to take a trolley from Portage Area Regional Transit Authority, which picked up people at Ravenna High School or University Hospitals Portage Medical Center and dropped them off at Freedom and Main streets. However, many spectators found other parking options.
The event has grown every year since it started in 2014. Last year, the show was expanded from a quarter mile to half a mile, from Freedom Street to Cotton Corners.
Car enthusiasts reveled in the chance to show off their classic vehicles to the community. Some drove from out of state to take part in the event, while others came from within Portage County.
Sheri and Dave Saltsman of Edinburg came with both their "goats" — a blue Pontiac GTO and an 11-week-old baby goat named Lindy. While his wife took delight in letting spectators pet Lindy, Dave Saltsman talked about his vehicle, called "the goat" because of its reputation beating other cars in racing.
He said he's owned the car about four years but didn't participate in the cruise in until last year.
"I think it's awesome," he said of the event. "It puts Ravenna on the map."
Bill and Cheryl Starcher of Shalersville came with a collection of Bill's sculptures, including a Komodo dragon, in the back of their 1957 Studebaker. Nearby, another trailer was parked with a collection of Starcher's other pieces —including a mama and baby bear, a Spinosaurus and Big Foot — holding a pizza box from Sicliano's pizza.
Cheryl Starcher said she was amazed that cars were lining up at 11 a.m., three hours before the event started.
"This is amazing," she said. "We don't miss it. It's a wonderful thing."
The cruise in was founded in 2014 by Tricia Krause's late husband, Gary. The event has been held every year except 2020, when it was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Months later, Gary Krause died from COVID.
Michael Stanley of Youngstown, who was at the Mongoose parking lot with his dog, Harley, and his 1967 Camaro, told Tricia Krause the weather was perfect for the show.
"Your husband is smiling down on us," he said.
Tricia Krause said she was "humbled" that the show was going so well.
"There's a lot of stress leading up to it, but on the day of the show, it's all worth it," she said.
It was her third show without Gary, which she found bittersweet.
"I think he'd say, 'I knew you could do it,' " she said. "I'm sure he's smiling down on us."
Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at 330-298-1139 or dsmith@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Octane Nights on Main Street in Ravenna features 4,000+ cars
