By BOBBIE GREEN
The Progress
Back in the day, Saturday evenings were a time that the young people gathered at the drive-ins in their tricked-out cars. They ordered cherry cokes and french fries. But the food wasn’t really the reason they were there. It was the socializing among themselves that was the draw… and, of course, showing off their cars.
Nowadays, in the Virgin Valley of 50 years later, some social gatherings remain the same.
On Tuesday mornings these days, the parking lot of the 1880’s Grill at the Conestoga Golf Course looks like a teen hangout from the 50s. The local “Over the Hill Gang,” of the Virgin Valley Car Club, as they call themselves, meets there for breakfast each week, arriving in their vintage automobiles.
Organizer of the Gang, Steve Underahl said, though this is a local club, many of its members belong to other car organizations also. But they love to cruise in their classic cars.
“When the weather is warmer and daylight is longer, we do more activities like rallies, day trips, fun things,” Underahl said.
Underahl says that he puts out a monthly newsletter informing classic car owners of happenings taking place in the area.
Don Middleton showed up last week in his unique ‘34 Chevy 5-window coup after seeing the notice about the event online.
“We were excited at the chance to meet other classic ride owners and show off the car,” Middleton said.
Another great activity for classic car lovers is the Cruise Night event which takes place at Wedgies at 5 pm on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. This event invites any classic car owner who wants to participate – as well as those who just like to look at the old cars. The group meets for dinner at Wedgies Sports Bar/Restaurant located at 796 West Pioneer Blvd. Mesquite.
John Froysland is the organizer of this “loose” group as he calls it. “We usually have about 12 people for dinner, but we are growing,” Froysland said. “Last week there were several new participants in the mix.”
Froysland said that he likes to make the meetings fun by having a small raffle where participant can win “dollar store prizes”.
“We feel like we are helping out the local restaurants with these gatherings,” Froysland said. “In the summer we plan more activities and participate in more car shows.”
Froysland said that classic car owners can get their “clear gas,” with no ethanol, for their vintage cars at Eagles Landing or Mesquite Maverick Station.
“Some of us old guys can work on our own vintage cars,” Froysland said. “They weren’t built like the ones today with all the computer stuff.”
Classic car owner Gary Lapple arrived last week in his new ride: a Vanderhall Venice Blackjack. This sleek vehicle is a 3-wheeler motorcycle that looks like a race car.
“I have run it as fast as 105 miles per hours,” Lapple said. “But they say it will go 145 miles per hour!”
The groups regularly ride in local parades and many other events where they are invited to participate where classic cars are wanted.
More information about the groups can contact Underahl at 702-249-2264.
