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New season brings more cars to North Fort Myers cruise-in

By CHUCK BALLARO - | Dec 2, 2021

Many people love cars, especially classic cars like the ones their fathers used to drive, with V8 engines that could pass anything but a gas station.

Every Monday at the Merchants Crossing Shopping Center, next door to Applebee’s, people can stop by and see some of those old cars for themselves at the weekly car showcase.

And with people coming out after the pandemic, it resulted in nearly 200 classic cars showing up in the parking lot, with many of those who brought their classics enjoying camaraderie with other car buffs.

Gary Galiher, who helps run the cruise-in, said the show continues to grow and he expects more than 300 cars in the lot by the time the new year arrives.

“We have about 200 here today as people are coming back from up north. This has been here for six or seven years, at least,” Galiher said. “The weather has been better this year. Last year, we had rain four of the seven Mondays. This year, we’ve only had one.”

A 1953 Chevy Bel-Air at the Monday night cruise-in at Merchants Crossing Shopping Center. CHUCK BALLARO

Corvettes are always popular as well as the muscle cars from the 1960s. But there are also some modern vehicles, particularly Corvettes that also steal the show.

But it isn’t just the cars … it’s the people who bring the cars getting together to talk about them and be with people with a common love.

Jerry London, who brought a 1964 AMC Rambler, said he goes to shows all the time, including one this weekend in Daytona.

“This is all we do. We’re retired and this is my hobby. It’s great to talk to people with the same interests you have,” London said. “It doesn’t matter what car you have. It’s clean fun. There are no politics, it just about cars.”

William Tutor, who brought a 1961 Corvette, said going to the cruise-in is a good thing on a day that typically has nothing much going on.

“This car has 201,000 miles on it and we’ve been to California and back, on Route 66 and to 25 different states with it. I’ve done a couple hundred shows with it,” Tutor said. “You don’t realize how small this country is because you meet people all over from where you live. It makes you feel younger. I’m 70 but with this car I feel like I’m 30 again.”

The North Fort Myers Civic Association was also there, getting the news out that it is holding a toy drive for its annual sleigh ride through Palmona Park.

It was the NFMCA’s first trip to the cruise-in, and the association didn’t expect much in the way of donations. They will also be there the next two Mondays, Dec. 6 and 13, to collect more toys, which last year resulted in a treasure trove of goodies.

“We are letting everyone know to spread the holiday cheer and spirit by donating unwrapped toys. We are also doing 50/50s as well as giving one raffle ticket for every toy they donate,” said NFMCA vice president Christy-Lee Iwanow. “We’ve gotten a lot of commitment from a lot of people.”