JUNE 2013
VOL1 • ISSUE 1
PREMIER ISSUE • FREE!
HAMMOND’S JIM KNIGHT & HIS TIRE SHREDDING
72 CHARGER REGION RENEGADE JEREMY BRYANT AND DEVIANT DESIGNS AND FABRICATION - WHEELER, IN
HOOSIER’S HOTTEST GARAGES:
HOJ POJ GARAGE
’48 FLEETLINE
HOBART’S LOUIS RUIZ
! E E R F
A Letter from Your Editor WELCOME to the premier issue of Region Rides, the magazine all about the Rides from our Region, the guys that wrench on them and the shops that specialize in building them! But before I get into what this magazine is all about, I’d like to take a few words to personally thank my wife for all of her love and support during the planning of this magazine. Without her support, this wouldn’t have happened!
This month, we’ll be featuring Deviant Designs & Fabrication, from Wheeler! Deviant specializes in custom built 4x4 suspensions and engineering. Look for us at the local car shows & cruise nights this year. We’re on the hunt for cool Rides to feature in future issues of Region Rides! So if you, your neighbor or even your kid brother’s father-in-law’s nephew have a ride you’d like to see featured in Region Rides, send pics and a brief description Region Rides is about Rides of ALL to: Rides@RegionRides.com. kinds: Muscle Cars, Hot Rods, Choppers, Lowriders, Customs, Be sure to like our Facebook 4x4’s, Classics & more! Each page to upload pics, see behind month, not only are we going to the scene features, daily photo have featured Rides, we’re also contests and help keep everyone going to feature a specialty shop informed about special events in in our Region Renegade Feature. the Region. - RR
facebook.com/RegionRides Wanna See Your Ride on the Cover of Region Rides?! Shoot us an email at: Rides@RegionRides.com
With a brief history of your Ride and a few pics, plus your name, email and phone number so we can get a hold of ya! This month’s cover is Jim Knight’s wicked 1972 Charger Special Edition shot on location by Jessica Halliar
Sales: Sales@RegionRides.com • 219.200.3877
Region Rides is a monthly publication by Region Rides LLC. All rights reserved. Production without permission is strictly prohibited. All photographs & articles submitted become the sole property of Region Rides Magazine.
IN THIS ISSUE
Works of Art in Progress 4
WEEKEND CARNAGE
Jeremy Bryant’s 4x4 CJ
8
SLOW & LOW
Luis Ruiz’s 48 Fleetwood 12
BLACK KNIGHT
Jim Knight’s 72 Charger 16
HOOSIER’S HOTTEST GARAGES Hoj Poj Garage
20
REGION RENEGADE
Deviant Designs & Fab 24
R.R. ON LOCATION
37th Annual Car Show
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RACE FOR THE FUTURE
Alternative Power Initiative 28 Region Cruise Nights 29
OUR TEAM Mark Halliar
FOUNDER • PUBLISHER
Rolando Martinez PUBLISHER
Wally Martinez CONTRIBUTER
Jeremy Daniels
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Chris Jackson
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Alex Ortiz
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Jessica Halliar
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Denise Roznowski
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Jerome Hindmon
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Designs by Mark
PUBLICATION & AD DESIGN
WORKS OF ART IN PROGRESS The Man
WHO: Matt Mrzlock WHERE: Portage
The Ride YEAR: 1968 MAKE: Ford MODEL: Mustang ENGINE: Ford Small Block 302 TRANS: C4 automatic with 2500 stahl PAINT: Tuxedo Black Metallic BODY: Hard Top Coupe SUSPENSION: 1” drop Leafs & Coils, with Shelby/Arning Suspension drop INTERIOR: Custom black leather upholstery over new OEM replaced foam keeping the original shape, matching leather upholstered door panels & black carpet. OTHER: Complete new painless wire harness, retained original style steel hood with driver facing hood scoops & turn signals TIME SPENT RESTORING: Matt purchased this Mustang in April 2003 and plans to have completed for this summer. Look out Portage! MODIFICATIONS FROM STOCK: Mild built engine Dyno’d and tuned at 340 hp and 338 torque, AFR 185cc aluminum heads with 1.6 roller rockers, Comp Cams hydraulic flat tappet lifters and cam kit, Edelbrock RPM performer intake with AED custom built 4 barrel 650 double pumper carb, MSD 6AL ignition box with blaster coil and distributor. Long tube headmen headers, full aluminized 2.5” exhaust with flowmaster mufflers, Ford 9” rear end with a posi track currie center section, 4 wheel SSBC power disc brakes, MB Chrome Old School 17x8 wheels with 245x45x17 Yokohama Sdrives, fiberglass Shelby deck lid and molded in quarter panel extensions, fiberglass California special side scoops.
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FUTURE PLANS: Borgeson Power assist steering box upgrade, Classic Auto Air complete in dash AC kit- RR
ENJOY WITH OLD FRIENDS. Stacked logo with gold drop and slight gradation on red
Stacked logo with gold drop and no gradation on red
$5
2nd Annual
HAVEN HOLLOW PARK
Admission
330 W. 700 N., South Haven IN 46385
Thursday-Sunday, June 13-16th
Always Father’s Day Weekend!
RED REBEL County 9-11p Saturday Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday (5-10p)
5:30p 7:30p 9p
(5-11p)
THURSDAY Jason Jacques Country Chad Burton
Mr. Right
(11a-11p)
3p 5p 7p
SATURDAY 4 Us Cool Kids Beatles Tribute Tequilla Rose
9p
RED REBEL COUNTY
ALLEN WRONKO 9p Friday
5:30p 7:30p 9p
FRIDAY <11 DreamZ
Allen Wronko
3p 5p 7p
SUNDAY SonDay Glory Jack Straw Eaten Alive
9p The Difference 9p Sunday
facebook.com/portagetownshipsummerfest
WEEKEND
350HP 1983 C
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CARNAGE
CJ7 “LUCKY” JEEP - JEREMY BRYANT - WHEELER, IN Written by: Jeremy Daniels • Photos by Mark Halliar
Jeremy Bryant’s 1983 Jeep CJ7 4x4 is a true piece of art work. He turned something that no-one else would give the time of day into a vehicle that will have Jeep lovers drooling. And it all started with a $500 investment in 2009. “Someone I knew how much I was into Jeeps so he asked if I’d want to buy this Jeep – the catch was that it had been on fire,” said Bryant. “I told him I’d take it, even though I have never even seen it!” When he picked it up, he learned that the fire had just been under the hood so Jeremy knew this was going to be his next project. “I started working on the motor first since that’s what had burnt up,” he said. “Then about 8 months later I went through and reworked on the power train, transmission, engineered and fabricated all suspension components - basically everything but the body and frame are all custom built – all in house.” And when Jeremy says “in house” he’s talking about his shop Deviant Designs & Fabrication – a shop that can do anything and everything to your vehicle! Alright, back to the Jeep – it’s UNBELIEVABLE what this Jeep can do! Lucky, as he’s named his it, has an estimated 350hp engine, but now it’s probably a little bit more. “I was trying to take Lucky up the side of a wall but the engine actually tore the brand new motor and transmission mounts off the frame,” he explained! “When that happened, I had to just laugh and say “Well, guess I gotta fix that before my next meet, huh?”
J e r e m y absolutely loves offroading with his Jeep, in fact he does so pretty regularly with his buddies. He belongs to NWI Jeepers, and has been a member since 2006. “We currently have upwards of 50 members,” he said. “And we get together once a month to go to the cliffs in Illinois and the Badlands down in Attica Indiana. We also go
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Lucky’s Transmission & 350HP Inline6 sitting sideways after pulling free of it’s brand-new engine and trans mounts. “Oh well, “ says Bryant.
on long haul trips – there are entire weekends where we go somewhere long distance, play with our Jeeps and camp out with our families. It’s a true family affair.” And with Lucky a true off-roading vehicle, Jeremy hasn’t put it in any competitions because it’s meant to get beat up in the woods. And it’s what he loves doing most! “I had always heard that the Jeep lifestyle is very interesting and it sure is,” he exclaimed! “You can go anywhere with just two or three people, be outside and have your doors off. You meet tons of people on the trails and it’s amazing how you can form an instant friendship. I’ve never met an unfriendly Jeeper.” -RR
RIDE SPECS:
WHO: Jeremy Bryant Deviant Designs & Fabrication LLC WHAT: 1983 Jeep CJ7 WHERE: Wheeler, IN
Jeremy unhooks the U-Joins to prep Lucky for the tow off the trails.
To see more off-road action, visit the Region Rides Facbook page!
ENGINE: Jeep 4.6L Stroker Motor with Comp Cams Cam, Offenhauser 4 barrel intake, F.A.S.T. EzEFI Fuel Injection System, D.U.I. GM style H.E.I. Ignition system, Headman exhaust header, Machine work by Rhyne Competition Engines in Gary Indiana BRAKES: Factory Wagoneer Brakes, Drums Rear
Jeep 1978 Discs Front,
TRANS: 2006 Jeep TJ Wrangler Style NSG370 REAREND: 1978 Jeep Wagoneer Dana 44 offset center with Aussie Locker by TorqMasters INTERIOR: Bare bones stock WHEELS & TIRES: Wheels 15x8 6 lugs Steel, Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs 31x11.5xR15 SUSPENSION: Front Custom Leaf Springs with custom out board mounts, 2 inch lift springs and 2 inch lift shackles for 5.5” of lift, Rancho RS5000 Shocks, 6 degree wedges. Rear custom triangulated 4-link with 1/4 elliptic leaf springs, Links are made from .120 DOM tubing using Rusty’s Fordged Flex Ends for Joints, Shocks are Rancho RS9000 XL’s adjustables. PAINT & BODY: Stock Factory Green
SLOW & ULTIMATE DREAM LOWRIDER - LUIS RUIZ - HOBART Written by: Alex Ortiz • Photos by: Jerome Hindmon
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& LOW Luis Ruiz has had a love for cars since he was a little boy. Growing up in the Harbor, and seeing some of his friends with their lowriders, Luis knew he would one day be part of this amazing lowriding culture. “For me it started in 1979, that’s when I knew lowriding would one day be my way of
life,” he said. “The sense of family I got from being around the guys made me realize that these riders were much more than a bunch of guys just hanging out admiring cars.” And so, Luis set out to become a lowrider himself. His first vehicle was a 1963 Chevy Impala – Spanish Gold. This
was followed up by a 1952 Chevy – Zooter. And then, Luis made the purchase of a lifetime – a car he always dreamt of having. “I was finally able to get my hands on a
1948 Chevy Fleetline – it’s every Latino’s dream car,” he said. “It’s truly the ultimate car in lowriding and I was in love with it the minute I laid eyes on it.” But Luis knew it was going to need work. He set out to do a full frame restoration, front end work, and put in a new engine
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–a 350. “I built it about four years ago,” he said. “Now it’s a totally brand new car.” The red maroon Chevy Fleetline is a beauty – and has received much recognition in the area. Not only has it made the pages of LowRider magazine (along with Luis’ other two vehicles), it also won first place at the World of Wheels – the big show at the McCormick – in the street rod category. “That show is a very prestigious show so for me to place there was pretty amazing,” he said. “That show was about four years ago but I remember it clearly. Everyone who came over to my car absolutely loved it – probably
because it’s not your typical car. That feeling of everyone enjoying my lowrider was amazing – truly indescribable.” Luis takes extreme pride in his car and his love for being a lowrider. He belongs to a lowriding group in Chicago called Together Car Club, which originated in LA. We have about 10 guys in our club the majority of us lowriders from the region hang out in Chicago. We are a family so we like to all be together and that’s where we feel most welcomed. We compare ourselves to the Harley people, we live to ride.”
Luis enjoys taking his Fleetline to cruise nights and local car shows – and he’s not afraid to drive it! Although his lowrider has been fully restored, he enjoys driving it to shows and won’t trailer it. “I’m not a trailer Queen,” he said jokingly. “I love cruising, and once you throw the oldies on – man it just takes me back.” His passion for lowriding is something that’s grown and grown over the years and he is thankful to have such talented friends that have helped him build his dream cars. For Luis, it’s just about living the culture, and living the dream. Slow and low baby. -RR
RIDE SPECS:
WHO: Luis & Michelle Ruiz WHAT: 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan WHERE: Hobart, IN ENGINE: 4 barrel 350 FRONT END : Greg Shaller installed a Mustang 2 front end TRANS: 350 turbo REAREND: Chrome; Calco Plating of Chicago did my chroming INTERIOR: Lupe of Duneland Designs in Lake Station stitched up my tan interior WHEELS & TIRES: 14” coker tires with Sunbrust hub caps SUSPENSION: Air ride suspension installed by Greg Schaller PAINT & BODY: painted by Greg Schaller of Woodmar Body Shop. We created our own color scheme - It’s a two tone raspberry over a charcoal gray.
Visit TogetherCC.com
EXTRAS: the original radio knobs control my air conditioning. Greg Schaller modified the original car radio.
BLACK KN
1972 DODGE CHARGER SPECIAL EDITION - JIM KNIGHT im Knight has had a need for speed for years! Ever since he was a kid, he knew he wanted a fast car, and he knew exactly which one he wanted. “When I was a kid, a friend of my family had this car that I just loved,” he started his story. “Whenever it was in this area, everyone knew who’s car it was – Dave Hernandez. It was beautiful and fast.”
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But when Dave wrecked the car, he vowed to do the motor and get it back up and running. But that never happened. Instead, it sat in storage for 17 years – Jim never stopped thinking about it. “I always wanted to buy the car, I begged Dave to sell it to me,” he said. I went through my 20’s and then into my 30’s still wanting the car. Then 12 years ago I finally got it – I bought my dream car.”
This dream car of Jim’s was a 1972 Dodge Charger, Special Edition. But when he bought this dream car it didn’t really look like a dream car. “The motor was out, the interior was a mess, the wheels were gone,” he said. “I trailered it and brought it home. My kids looked at it and thought, ‘Yeah right dad!’ But, about two years later, and thousands of dollars later, I got my dream car.”
NIGHT
T - HAMMOND
And this dream car is no joke. With the help of his friends and older brother Jim was able to make this dream come true! “My older brother is a great mechanic and has done a lot for me he really got the car going for me,” said Jim. “A few years ago, I was in an accident and got hurt – suffered nerve damage so I couldn’t work on cars. My brother stepped in
Written by: Jeremy Daniels • Photos by: Jessica Halliar
and spent endless hours helping me, always there when I needed him.” His brother wasn’t the only one willing to lend a hand to make Jim’s dream a reality. Great friends also paved the way to making to Jim’s dream a reality. “My friend Tracy from T&R Auto Body did the paintwork,” Jim said. “Then another friend Paul did a
lot of the metal work and engine work with my brother. Lake County Customs helped out a lot as well. I’m so lucky to have friends to do that for me.” So what did these guys put together? A beauty of a vehicle – an exterior that’s black with silver flames and an interior that is custom. “Whenever anyone sees it they say it looks like a
car from the movie the Fast and the Furious,” he said. “Plus, my car has a blower – you don’t see many 72 Chargers with blowers.” Jim is a car guy through and through and it’s probably because it’s in his blood. His brother and father-in-law have a few cars, even his sister has a couple of cars – in fact between the four of them they have about 15 hot rods. And if you’re
wondering if Jim drives this 72 Charger around, you may be surprised by the answer. “I love driving my car, in fact I can’t stand when someone has a cool car and doesn’t drive it - Why have it if you don’t enjoy it,” he asked. “People will tell me they saw me at the grocery store with my Charger and that they are surprised I would take it out like that.”
Jim will take his Charger to car shows and cruise nights, but while he enjoys those outings, there’s something else he likes doing even more. “On a Friday night, I rather be cruising my car in the country,” he said. “And in the summer, my hot rods are my every day drivers.” - RR
See more pics of Jim’s Charger on or Facebook Page!
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RIDE SPECS: WHO: Jim Knight WHAT: 1972 Dodge Charger Special Edition WHERE: Hammond, IN ENGINE: 440 big block dual carb with a 671 dyers blower built by Geary Knight BRAKES: 4 wheel disk brakes TRANS: 727 REAR END: 8 他 ratchet rear end INTERIOR: Custom black leather flamed and embroidered by Chappa Custom Interior in Hammond
WHEELS & TIRES: 15 Center Line Wheels, Cooper Tires SUSPENSION: Indiana Stock PAINT & BODY: Black with silver flames by T&R Auto in Hammond. EXTRAS: Custom alum work under hood by Alum a Fab Racing in Gary.
HOOSIER’S HOTTEST GARAGES:
HOJ POJ GA People who ride motorcycles are a breed apart. If you ride or know somebody who does then you understand just how passionate bikers are about riding and their bikes. But there’s more to it than that. Riding a motorcycle is more than just fun; it’s an emotional experience that is unique to each rider. And part of that experience
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is the relationship that a biker develops with his bike. Yes, a relationship. Bikers fall in love with their bikes. When you ride, your bike becomes a form of self expression, an extension of the rider. Bikers develop a deep emotional bond with their bikes. Anthony Millefoglie and Mike Hoj, the principals of Hodge
Written by: Chris Jackson • Photos by: Denise
Podge Garage, were a couple of these bikers; guys who love motorcycles. When they weren’t riding, they were talking about bikes or working on bikes. The Hoj Poj Garage story begins with Hoj working on friends’ bikes in his driveway. Friends would bring their bikes over for him to fix or they would just come hang around while he was working on
ARAGE
e Roznowski
someone’s bike. And as word of mouth spread, more and more people brought their bikes over for Hoj to work on. Millefoglie was a guy that Hoj had met through riding, and when they became friends Millefoglie was one of the guys hanging around, working on bikes. By 2003, the pair had not only
developed a great friendship, but quite a reputation too, not only for quality repair work but for their ability to solve problems by fabricating parts. “Like a lot of riders we got tired of manufacturers who didn’t have any parts in stock,” said Hoj. “So we figured if we couldn’t get the part, we’d make it, and so we ended up becoming our own parts
and service department. And we were more competitive too.” Because they had the ability to fabricate just about any part they needed the pair began to specialize in customizing work. Just about anything anyone could dream up, the pair could do, from creating parts to trick out bikes to custom paint jobs and lighting.
about anything a customer could dream up,” continued Millefoglie. “From tail draggers to giant rims, custom paint jobs to chrome, our only limitation was what they could afford.”
Soon the two bike enthusiasts were not only fabricating bike parts, but building custom bikes to order. “We were building custom bikes for all kinds of customers,” said Millefoglie. “We would build everything from show bikes for the high brow type customers who would take them to bike shows to practical bikes that people would ride every day.” “We build
and diversity of our customization work,” said Hoj. “But it really reflects the scope of all the different work we do.” “We still specialize in custom work, but we opened the shop to do general service work, from oil
And as the word of mouth about their custom building spread, Millefoglie and Hoj had plenty of work. So the pair continued custom building by appointment only until 2011. Then the two opened a shop: the Hoj Poj Garage. “The name sort of evolved through the growth
could just
503 E MAIN ST • GRIFFITH, IN • 219.487.7516 22
changes and general maintenance to tires. And we work on everything,” continued Hoj. “From crotch rockets to choppers and Harleys, American or foreign, we can fix or customize it all.”
Located on Main Street in Griffith, Hoj Poj Garage is indeed the only one of its kind in Lake County. “We’re a full service repair, customization and fabrication center,” said Millefoglie. “We’re a service center of riders for riders.” So if you have been looking for the right service center or if you have a dream about how you would like to customize your bike, it would be worth your while to drop in to the Hoj Poj Garage and have a chat with Mike and
Anthony. You won’t be sorry. “We love motorcycles,” continued Millefoglie. “Bikes are a personal, emotional experience for their riders and we get a great sense of self satisfaction when we see a customers’ reaction to one of our customizations. We’re like a never, never land for bikers.” “If you want your bike to pimp on bike night come in and see us,” smiled Hoj. - RR
Mike Hoj & Anthony Millefoglie
REGION RENE . . JEREMY BRYANT
Deviant Designs and fabrication llc
When it comes to bad ass vehicles, Jeremy Bryant is a lover of all – he doesn’t discriminate!! His first love may be his 1983 Jeep CJ7 4x4, but it’s just one of a fleet of seven Jeremy has in his garage today. “I have a jet ski and a Victory that are off the showroom floor, I haven’t done anything to them – yet,” he said. “Then I have three motorcycles, my tow truck and of course, the jeep.” You see, Jeremy isn’t a car collector – he’s a car customizer. He loves to
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OWNER
DEVIANT DESIGNS & F
buy all sorts of vehicles, take them a p a r t and put them back t o g e t h e r. It’s exactly what he did to one of his motorcycles. “It started as a 2007 c r o t c h rocket, but I proceeded to cut the whole back end off – stretched it 14 inches, and then lowered the seat height 14 inches as well,” he said. “We built a custom swingarm, custom wire harness set up, custom intake, custom mounted after market headlights. All the controls are custom in house as well.” The entire motorcycle was designed and fabricated in house at Deviant Designs and Fabrications, LLC, Jeremy’s shop located at 128 Main Street in Wheeler. “The business kind of grew itself honestly,” he said modestly. “I’ve always been into the cars and motorcycles my whole life and have always worked
on something. At first I was doing my own work, then some work for friends, then for friends of friends. I had always been interested in running my own shop so I thought I should go for it.” And he did! The potential he thought was there - truly was, and two years ago made it official! Now he has customers on a regular basis and enjoys seeing what’s coming into the shop next. “We are a full service shop so we do everything from frame off restoration to general repair work,” he said. “Right now we are working on restoring a 1970 Volkswagon Beetle – that’s pretty cool!” Whether you’ve got a jeep, hot rod, muscle car, or motorcycle, Deviant Designs and Fabrications can fix up any vehicle! “I eat, sleep and live motorcycles, jeeps and cars,” Jeremy
NEGADE .
FABRICATION
WHEELER, IN Written by: Jeremy Daniels
said. “I’m the type of individual that if there’s nothing occupying my mind, I think about what’s my next project. I’m one of those people that loos at anything mechanical and things what can I do better.” A perfectionist – perhaps, but Jeremy’s love of wheels goes back – way back to his childhood. A typical boy playing with cars, Jeremy knew at a very early age what he wanted to have when he grew up. “From when I can remember I loved jeeps, and my dad and grandpa were big into muscle cars, so I just fell in love with anything motorized” he said. “My mom tells everyone that when I was a kid, I used to say that when I got older, I’d have a blue jeep, blue cowboy boots and blue jeans.” He may not have gotten everything on that list, but the part about getting
a jeep was dead on. He never swayed from what he wanted, and that’s exactly what he’s doing with his shop. “For me, it’s about chasing a dream with the shop,” Jeremy said. “Whether it’s working on something for myself, or for a customer, I never get tired of it. And his passion for cars is what has him having high hopes for the future. “In five years, I would definitely like to be in a bigger shop and it would be nice to have full time employees, right now they are on contract work,” he said. “In five years I’d also like to be competing consistently in car shows. But the number one is just growing the company.” And even though spends Jeremy spends countless hours at the shop, he also spends time
at his full time job at NIPSCO where he’s an Production Manager, so he asks people interested in coming into Deviant Designs and Fabricators to call ahead first and make an appointment. You can reach him at 219.241.3796. Check out Deviant Designs Facebook page to keep up on their latest garage projects!
THE THIRTY-SEVENTH
STREETERS RODCAR&SHOW CUSTOM • CROWN POINT June 1st & June 2nd • Lake County Fair Grounds
It’s back –the 37th Annual Regional Streeters Rod & Custom Car Show! This annual two-day event has become a staple in Lake County – attracting not only car lovers wanting to show off their prized vehicles, but thousands of spectators. “We get in the ballpark of 5,000 people coming out to the event over the two day period,” said Wally Woldt, former President of the Regional Streeters Club and current registration organizer for the event. “We put on a really good show – the best in the area – and we always get people coming back year after year. We have seen people come from Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky; we’ve even had people come from Arkansas.”
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So what’s everyone coming out for? Well, they’re coming to get a glimpse of some of the hottest vehicles in the area! Nearly 500 vehicles are expected to turn out for this event at the Lake County Fairgrounds and every car will have a story. “This year he have 31 classes of cars,” said Woldt “We have everything from 1940 stock cars original from the factory to early 60’s and 70’s muscle cars. We will also have street rods, sports cars, corvettes, motorcycles and trucks.” Those participating in the event will receive a dash plaque - a coveted piece of hardware auto lovers live for! They will also receive goody bags and other promotional giveaways. “In the car show business, you give out a steel or magnetized plaque which is 2 inches high by 3 inches long and guys collect those,” said Woldt. “And they will also get a t-shirt which lists our sponsors and artwork of the riders.”
Written by: Alex Ortiz
The car show is a family fun filled event, complete with food, entertainment and shopping. “We have vendors selling new merchandise as well as a swap meet,” said Woldt. “We will also have about eight or nine different food and beverage vendors, a DJ that will be making announcements and playing music, and we will have the Wolf Gang Singers out of Hobart – a teenage acapella group we bring back every year.” Now if you’re wondering how this Car Show got started in the first place, it’s really pretty interesting. You see, it all started with a few friends from the Valparaiso area that liked cars. They liked cars so much they decide to do a show and did so at the Old Porter County Fairgrounds. Since they seemed to attract so many car enthusiasts, the buddies decided to make the event an annual thing. They later moved the show to the new Porter County Fairgrounds and then
later to the Lake County Fairgrounds where the show has been for at least 20 years. And for nearly a decade, Woldt was President of the Regional Streeters Club. “Every year I love seeing this event play out,” he said. “It takes a full year to plan and get everything lined up. As soon as this show is
wrapped up, we will begin planning the 2014 show. If you are interested in coming out to the 37th Annual Regional Streeters Rod & Custom Car Show – here’s what you need to know! The event takes place on Saturday June 1 and Sunday June 2 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point. The gates open at 7am both days and the show ends at 4pm on Saturday. On Sunday, awards start at 3pm. Tickets cost $5 and those 12 and under are free. There is no charge for parking.
The Regional Streeters Club currently has 40 active members and is a non-profit charitable organization. They socialize, meet twice a month to cruise with their cars, but their main objective is to give back to their community. Proceeds raised from this event will benefit a local charity. If you want to know more about this club, check out their website: RegionalStreeters.com -RR
RACE FOR THE FUTURE The rubber band powered race car - Slingshot
Written by: William Halliar
Photos by: Jessica Halliar
WHAT will the cars of the future the date set this year for the 2013 creative minds mingle the sparks of look like? What will power their challenge which will feature a five invention always fly. engines? Will we drive plutonium mile course through the streets of the powered vehicles controlled by historic “Little City on the Lake”. The need for discovering and “Flux Capacitors” or solar charged perfecting alternate energy sources electric cars? Will hydrogen propel Any and all individuals or teams has never been greater. The us into the future or is there a power with curiosity, creative imagination race for the future promotes and source still unknown and yet to encourages the development be discovered that will shape the Our call is to the garage inventor & of vehicles powered by nonway that we humans travel across the basement tinkerer, as well as those traditional energy sources. For the landscape. Our automobiles in the fields of design & production! info & rules for the race see are becoming increasingly more AlternatePowerInitiative.com. complex in their design; many of and ideas are invited to take up the We have thrown the gauntlet; who their functions so complex that they challenge. Our call is to the garage is up to the challenge? Join us in must be controlled by sophisticated inventor and the basement tinkerer Whiting on August 10! - RR computers. Will the future see ever as well as to those with expertise in increasing complexity or is there a the fields of design and production. simple power solution awaiting our We believe in the power of every discovery? day genius and that the key to unlocking the breakthrough The Alternate Power Initiative seeks technologies of tomorrow is the the answers to these and other collaboration of creative minds questions, through the Race for the today. We invite all, young and old, Future, an annual challenge that dreamers and designers, inventors is hosted each year by the City of and builders from all over the world Konstantin Kulikov Whiting, Indiana. August 10 is to join us in making history. When & his GET (Green
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AlternatePowerInitiative.com
Eco Trike) took home first place in his class in 2012
Region Cruise Nights Photo Credit: Jessica Halliar
MONDAY’S
Applebees/Advanced Auto • 5pm to 8pm 791 Indian Boundary Rd • Chesterton, IN Charley Horse Restaurant • 5pm 8940 Calumet Ave • Munster, IN Cheers Food & Drink • 6pm to 9pm 1942 45th Street • Munster, IN
TUESDAY’S
Southlake Auto Mall • 4pm to 8pm 4191 E Lincoln Hwy • Merrillville, IN Every 1st & 3rd of the Month • May thru Sept
WEDNESDAY’S
A&W/KFC • 5pm 1475 South Lake Park Ave • Hobart, IN Across from St Mary Hospital White’s Pit Stop • 5pm 330 E US Hwy 30 • Schererville, IN SouthSIde Pizzeria • 6pm to 9pm Parrish & 133rd Ave • Cedar Lake, IN Whiting Cruise Night • 6pm to 9pm Every 3rd Wednesday • 119th Street
THURSDAY’S
Courthouse Square • 5pm to 9pm Crown Point
FRIDAY’S
Harley Davidson of Valparaiso • 5pm 1151 W Morthland Dr • Valparaiso Finnegan’s Pub • 6pm to 9pm 1074 Joliet St • Dyer, IN Zel’s Restaurant • 5pm 210 US Hwy 41 • Schererville
IF WE MISSED ONE, LET US KNOW!
INFO@REGIONRIDES.COM
FRIDAY & SATURDAY’S Simon Sez • 8pm to Midnight 2250 W Lincoln Hwy • Merrillville .com
4
THE
WORLD’S MOST REFRESHING CAN JUST IN TIME FOR SUMMER .
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