Saturday Night Sights & Sounds with the Missoula Cruisers

American Graffiti meets Reserve Street in Missoula on Saturday nights

With warm and sunny weather starting to show itself here in Missoula, just about everyone has been looking for things to do while still maintaining the prescribed social distance.

Generally, Reserve Street is a part of town many avoid due to the interminable clog of traffic that forms most days. Just as nature hates a vacuum, an old tradition has found new life on Reserve with the return of “cruising the drag” on Saturday nights.

We’ve recently seen a resurgence of interest in the community coming out to participate and take in the sights and sounds of the Missoula Cruisers, an informal large gathering of local owners of classic and performance vehicles, and those who appreciate them. From classics to hot rods, these machines are well preserved and meticulously cared for.

Missoulians have been bringing out their lawn chairs and coolers filled with their favorite beverages, and settling in on Saturday evenings around 7pm weekly to enjoy the procession up to 500 vintage cars, pickup trucks and motorcycles cruising up and down the boulevard. Participants generally gather in the Rosauers parking lot, and run all the way up and down Reserve for a couple hours between 7 and 9pm.

In addition to the Saturday Cruise Nights, the Missoula Cruisers have taken to coordinating with area nursing homes and senior living facilities to boost morale by getting the elderly patients outside to watch the parade of classic vehicles roll slowly through the parking lots. Countless smiles and memories are returned, brightening the day of residents who otherwise would not be able to enjoy the spectacle of automotive sights and sounds.

Looking Ahead:
The Missoula Cruisers group is the loosely organized group for Missoula Cruisers to meet, mingle, show off cars, share ideas. They’re all just everyday car nuts who like all brands and styles. All they ask of anyone joining is to simply be nice, no bashing, fighting, or name calling, or negative comments. You can follow & join their Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/Missoulahigginscruisers/
@Missoulahigginscruisers

images by Michael Lloyd / 41digital

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