Issue date: 10/15/07 Section: Features

Media Credit: Alex Reside Dewayne Willhoite, of Bloomington, modified a 1987 Szuki Samari and named it after country singer Jason Aldean's song "Hick Town."

The sharp smell of gasoline and the crackling sound of engines filled the air outside of the Shops at College Hills Saturday night as the Twin City Cruisers held their final cruise night of the season.

According to the president, John Vogel, the antique and classic car and truck organization has been rolling through Bloomington-Normal since 1992. The cruisers have a themed cruise night on the second Saturday of each month from April to October. Each has a different theme and each year they switch the themes so that each cruise night has a new theme.

Attendance is usually not a problem for the Cruisers. "[Attendance] is a little low because of the weather. On good nights, we had two [nights] this summer where we had over 300. One of them we had about 350," Vogel said. The monthly meetings bring out all sorts of cars from the modern to Richard Hospelhorn's metallic silver 1932 Chevy street rod. Hospelhorn and his two sons completely restored the car over a period of five years starting in 1998.

"It's won a lot of 'best in shows,'" Hospelhorn said. This includes events such as Super Chevy in Indianapolis.

Saturday's cruise night was 4x4 night and they were well represented especially by Normal resident Dewayne Willhoite's "Hick Town."

"Hick Town" is a stretched 1987 Suzuki Samurai with suicide doors and a 302 Boss and a seven foot two inch tall roof. In pink letters the words "Hick Town" are scrawled across the door along with the phrase "if you can read this...flip me over."

The event also saw newer vehicles such as Normal resident Michael Hubbard's 2006 Kia Spectra. Hubbard's father has a classic car and has been a big influence on his life. Hubbard has put $3,500 into his car since his initial purchase at $16,000.

Like many cruisers, the cruise nights are important to Hubbard. "I'm here every single one. Never miss it."

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