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If it has wheels, bring it -- that familiar phrase from the old Arby's car cruise in Salem is beckoning cruisers to the Winona Friend's Church for a Cruisin' Crew reunion from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Registration begins at 2 p.m. at the location at 4615 Whinnery Road, Salem. Spectators should watch for signs for parking off of Whinnery Road, with the church parking lot reserved for cruisers. Organizer Gene Johnson said more than 400 cars are expected.
Just like in the past, it's not just about the cars but about helping others, this time with all cruise proceeds going to the Winona Fire Department for a power lift cot system for the ambulance.
"What we're doing is trying to help them raise $25,000," Johnson said.
For many years, Johnson was known as the Cruisin' Crew chief who played the tunes in the parking lot of the Arby's restaurant on Saturday nights. He and his wife Jane and a small army of volunteers and car enthusiasts used the opportunity to collect food for local pantries.
The group then took their talents to the Salem Super Cruise, where Gene served as organizer, bringing with him a ton of volunteers to sell raffle tickets, park cars and anything else needed for a successful event. He also made sure the local food pantries were included, raising funds for them and using them as volunteers. Gene decided to step away from the Salem Super Cruise a couple years ago.
He said a lot of the older guys from the Arby's car cruise have asked him about having a get together, so he thought why not have one more. He also said he thought of having the cruise benefit another organization other than the food pantries. He and Jane live in the area served by the Winona Fire Department, so it was a natural pick.
The St. Patrick's Food Pantry, whose members previously worked with Gene at both the Salem Super Cruise and the Arby's car cruise, still get to benefit by providing the food for the reunion cruise and keeping all the profits from food sales.
Gene said the reunion cruise will help everyone pay respect for those who passed away from the Arby's car cruise. Surprisingly, that number stands at 24 lives.
The registration fee for participants showing cars is $5. The first 150 registered will receive a dash plaque. There are also 48 trophies to give away. The event includes a Chinese auction with 40 or more items and a 50/50. Donations have already been received from veterans organizations and clubs and others towards the monetary goal, which is nearly reached already.
Some of the volunteers from the Arby's car cruise group are returning to help and the fire department has volunteers lined up to help park cars, play music or whatever's needed.
The Frostop root beer mug restored by the Greenamyer family of Salem will be on hand and there's going to be valve cover racing, so anyone with a valve cover car is welcome to come and race.
There's no cost to just come and see the classic cars at the reunion cruise, just like the Saturday nights of the past in the Arby's lot.
mgreier@mojonews.com