Scene & Heard

COFFEE AND A CRUISE-IN

Library Director Sue Luidahl strolls up to a custom Ford as she takes pictures of the cars during the Creswell Cars & Coffee car show on May 5. The completely reworked interior of the Ford was designed by the owner himself. CHRISTOPHER PALANUK/THE CRESWELL CHRONICLE

In conjunction with Creswell Coffee Co. and Bi-Mart, Creswell Library hosted its eighth outing of Creswell Cars & Coffee (CC&C) in the Bi-Mart parking lot on May 5. The first of six scheduled meetings, the event will take place on the first Saturday of each month from May to October. Car enthusiasts from all makes and models of life are invited to ”chat, drink coffee and check out some of the great cars from our local area” each of these Saturday mornings.
Sue Luidahl, Creswell Library director, talked about the show’s humble beginnings: ”We used to do a car show, so we started the car show in 2007. We did that at the Library for a few years.” But Luidahl explained that they decided to move the gathering because the Library’s parking lot was too small.
”We were looking for a place to have access to a coffee shop and have a big parking lot and Bi-Mart said, ‘Yeah, we don’t open until 9 (a.m.). Go ahead and use the parking lot.” With this change, the event created a noticeable spike in interest.
”At the Library we used to get a dozen cars or so,” Luidahl said. ”Now we routinely get 40 to 50 cars here every time and from all over the area.”
When CC&C started in 2011, the venue brought about 19 cars. Now, it is reported to have had 65 total vehicles in attendance for the first 2018 show. But this move didn’t just entice more car owners into joining the free gathering. According to Luidahl, moving the location and recreating the idea into a new event also brought about more business for Creswell.
”A lot of people go to breakfast here afterward, so they go over to Joe’s (Diner) and over to TJ’s and have breakfast,” she said. ”Creswell Coffee was (also) excited about getting the extra business.”
But, for most, the business of the day was cars. From American classics to Japanese imports, the show’s open policy allowed for a wide assortment of makes.
”Never looked at it, because it’s an old car,” Bob Borum, the owner of a 1940 Ford, stated about his new purchase. ”My friend told me it was for sale and I went and looked at it and I went ‘Holy cow! This is pretty nice!’” Borum went on to explain that almost everything on the vehicle was new and how he liked its creature comforts for his ailing hip.
”Comfort,” Borum said, was the greatest aspect of the car. ”Yeah, I drove little ’32 roadsters and stuff and you had to bundle up to go for a ride. In this one, you just roll the windows up and go. It only took me 70 years to figure that out.”
Others, like Mark Herbert, Republican candidate for the State Representative, 11th District simply wanted to take a drive in his 2000 Porsche Boxster out to Creswell. ”I followed the Creswell Connections page and I saw it (CC&C) on Facebook and thought this would be a fun way to come down and spend some time with people in Creswell.”
However, he couldn’t help but talk about his prized car. Relating how he loved the idea of it, he talked about the history of the vehicle and what a joy it’s been for him.
”I’ve really enjoyed it,” he stated. ”I’ve owned it a little over 10 years now and it still puts a smile on my face. For anybody who’s looking at one, I highly recommend it.”
The car show rumbled its way out of the parking lot after an hour and a half (7:30 to 9 a.m.) instead of the 7 to 9 a.m. of previous years. This shortening of the car show’s usual two-hour stretch seemed to pay dividends for the show’s eighth consecutive opening, generating more interest than ever before.
For those who missed it, however, or who want to know more about the event, information can be found at the Creswell Library or on Creswell Cars & Coffee’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Creswell.Cars.

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