Still Cruisin’: Cumberland Valley Cruisers talk history with the car club, what’s in store for 2023 season

2023 marks the 21st year of the Cumberland Valley Cruise-In, and longtime cruisers are thrilled to see the event return to downtown Corbin for another season full of fun, fellowship and celebrating custom vehicles.

“I have been a part of it for 15 years, and I took over about the time COVID started,” said event organizer Chris McQueen. “The cruise-in started on Depot Street, but everyone wanted to move it onto Main. It has just grown from there, and is now one of the longest running cruise-ins in the state.”

Anyone who has ever attended a Cumberland Valley Cruise-In in has likely seen McQueen’s car, which is a 1968 Dodge Charger that has been customized to look like the iconic “General Lee” from the classic television show, The Dukes of Hazzard.

“That is a car that I always wanted, since I was little,” McQueen said. “When you’re laying on the couch watching The Dukes of Hazzard and you have a little Hot Wheels replica, you want the real thing. That dream just never died for me.”

Another Cruise-In regular, Nick Greiwe, can usually be seen with his 1966 Dodge Coronet 440 at shows. When asked about the community aspect of these events, he said, “It’s kind of like having a long weekend. When we’re all together, especially at the shows, we are looking at each other’s vehicles, and getting ideas about things that we can do with our own.”

“It’s a family thing, too,” Greiwe added. “Sometimes my wife will go to shows with me as well, and some of the guys like to take their kids or grandkids. I have taken my grandsons, and they seem to really like it.”

The Cumberland Valley Cruise-In does pride itself on being a family-oriented event, and is similar to a festival in many ways, with vendor booths, food, and various kids’ activities typically being offered along with the dozens of beautiful vehicles that line both sides of Main Street in downtown Corbin.

Gary Foley, who owns a customized 1934 Ford Sedan, said there is usually something for every type of car enthusiast at the Cruise-In. “You will see vintage cars and muscle cars at the shows,” he explained. “Mine is kind of unusual, because a lot of guys are buying 60’s, 70’s, or 80’s models. I like the 30’s. I have redone this one so that I can drive it long distances all year round, with heat and air. It seats four, and can comfortably run up to 70-80 miles per hour on the interstate.”

Foley also said that attending a show like the Cumberland Valley Cruise-In is a great way to get acclimated to the show car scene. “If somebody is brand new, then it is always good for them to talk to someone who has a classic car,” he said. “They have been through the trial-and-error of what to do and what not to do. Connecting with people at shows is just a good way to share knowledge, and to give or receive references if someone is needing help.”

Ken Albro, who owns an upgraded 1941 Mercury Coupe, said, “The whole point of this is really the people. Without them, the show doesn’t happen. I have met some of the best people that I’ve ever known at car shows. To me, that is the best part of it.”

“It’s great to have a community like Corbin that embraces the Cruise-In and the work that we do to promote the downtown area,” Albro added. “People will come from different states just to park their car, walk around, and see what all is available. They buy food and gas, and some will rent hotel rooms. It is a tremendous economic benefit to the community, and a benefit to the cruisers who work to put on the show.”

One more longtime cruiser, Gary Durham, has extensive knowledge on rebuilding older vehicles. His, a 1937 Ford two-door slantback, has the original body and frame, but everything else has been updated using components from later model cars.

“I have owned it for 30-40 years,” Durham said of his custom cruiser. “I started working on it a lot after retirement, and I have been driving it for about the last four years.”

“There is a network,” Durham said of himself and other builders like him. “We like to help each other, and each person will typically have their own individual specialities.”

When it comes to re-building, Durham said it is important to always look for signs of rust and deterioration on a vehicle’s frame or body panels. “You really need a good core to start out with,” he advised. “Over time, you do learn to look for, and identify, the things that are going to be really hard to fix.”

This year’s Cumberland Valley Cruise-In season is scheduled to include the dates of May 13, June 10, July 8 and October 14. The June event will be held in conjunction with the Backroads of Appalachia motorcycle group. The season finale event in October will be held in conjunction with the Annual Octoberfest celebration in downtown Corbin.

Each Cruise-In will last from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. These are free events for anyone to attend, or to show a car in. Vehicles of all types are welcome. Anyone entering a car will simply be asked to fill out a registration card, which will make you eligible for a drawing to win one of several door prizes.

For more information, search for the Cumberland Valley Cruise-In on Facebook, or contact the Corbin Tourism office at (606) 528-8860.