Moments In Time

from Cruisin Times Magazine - June 2021

Island Dragway

by: Mike Jusek

The Kids are Alright

How many times do you start out doing something and a family member, friend or a complete stranger comes up giving their thoughts (opinions) on what you’re doing and, all of a sudden, your original plan morphs into something so elaborate you can’t remember what your original concept was? You start out intending to paint your car red. Friend stops by, “Man, if you did two-tone this would be ‘killer’. Another buddy stops by, “Oh, with the lines of this car, scallops would really set it off. After a few more people and suggestions, you’re now into panel-paint, lace, candy, and lettering all over your ‘red car’.

Similar thing occurred in our Choppers Show pedal car area. It started out as an area filled with pedal cars and wagons. Well, the participants started stretching the envelope right from the start. My ‘vision’ was a little area next to our coloring and model building area with good old-fashion pedal cars and pull-along wagons. Silly me !

As soon as people could register, the ‘morphing’ began. We started receiving pictures of motorized wagons and cars, next was a minibike, and then came a 12-foot long Radio Flyer wagon that is street legal!!! At first, I was a little cranky at seeing my vision turning into something else, but after thinking on it (and flushing a little ego) I realized that this was a great thing. As we staged all these wild contraptions into the area you couldn’t help but notice each one for what it was…somebody else’s visions. The time, dollars, engineering and skill that went into these is awesome. And we also had a good share of original pedal cars and wagons which had the same work into them whether stock restoration or full-blown customization. Everyone of these folks and their vehicles deserves to be seen and appreciated. Adding all flavors of “mini-vehicles” actually added a cool variety of things for show attendees to enjoy. This area is also a ‘Kids Vote Only” area. We just tell the kids to pick their favorite, regardless if it has a motor, wings, 15-color paint job…just whatever one trips that kids trigger. And surprisingly, the top votegetters/winners for ‘Original’ and ‘Modified’ were basic pedal car power along with a cool wagon. Kids just pick what they like, and you never know what grabs their attention.

So, after a bit more thought I realized that calling the area the ‘pedal cars and wagons’ area just wasn’t gonna cut it. I want to continue to add wild, crazy, motorized, pedal, push, drag vehicles to this little world. So moving forward for next year’s show, folks will be turning in registrations for the ‘It’s a Small World’ area, and YES, we will continue on as a ‘Kids Only Vote’. WARNING: If you are a hard-core trophy seeker, this may not be for you because this area belongs to the kids. They don’t care how much money, time sweat you have in that beauty, They just ‘know what they like. Deal with it! The Kids are in control over here .

- Mike

Mike Jusek is a Cleveland Native & President of the Choppers Hot Rod Association. More info at www.ChoppersHotRodAssociation.com

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