Christopher Ford of Fredericksburg checks out a car's engine outside the Fredericksburg eatery. The Cruise Night event, which is open to the public, is held between 6 and 10 p.m. on Fridays. msn

Every Friday, Virginia Barbeque Co. hosts Cruise Night, a chance for car enthusiasts to get a close look at a wide variety of automobiles, including vintage models like this 1926 Ford Model T owned by Tom Mabry of Spotsylvania. msn

Norman White polishes his 1966 Ford Fairlane on Friday in the parking lot of the Virginia Barbeque Co. restaurant on the U.S. 1 Bypass in Fredericksburg. Cruise Night activities include games, raffles and door prizes as well as trophies for the Best in Show cars. msn

Classic-car-club culture flourishes here, every weekend

By KRISTIN DAVIS

Date published: 8/16/2004

On Friday nights, "Pop" Wilson parks his glittering 1968 Volkswagen Baja Beetle curbside at a local restaurant, and throws trunk, hood and doors wide open.

Chrome gleams, aqua metallic paint sparkles and the Beetle's white leather interior shines impeccably.

"When people ask me when I plan to get rid of it," Wilson says in the lot of Virginia Barbeque Co., "this is what I tell 'em."

He walks to the trunk, and points to the fancy lettering inside: "Till Death Do We Part."

Wilson, who works in the parts department of the Stafford County school system's garage, is a member of the Fredericksburg Classic and Muscle Car Club.

Each weekend, a fervent society of automobile lovers descend on the area's parking lots for cruise-ins--family-friendly events that let car owners show off their vehicles and socialize.

There are at least five car clubs in the area: Classic and Muscle Car Club, Ghost Riders, Lake Anna Cruizers, Orange County Cruisers and Virginia Classic Cruisers.

Folks drive their rare classics here, putting thousands of dollars and countless hours of work on display.

On Friday nights, cars gleam from washing and waxing.

Some come in their scuffed-up works in progress, plans folded in their hands.

Others come just to look, just to admire.

Disc jockeys play old rock 'n' roll, and kids hula hoop and dance limbo for prizes. Grown-ups win trophies and plaques for originality and best-in-show.

But there is a softer side to the metal and the chrome.

The Classic and Muscle Car Club, like its counterparts, raises money for charities.

Some hold 50-50 raffles in which the winner takes half the proceeds and the other half is socked away for the holidays. Last Christmas, the Fredericksburg club shopped for six needy families.

Ghost Riders helped two families at Thanksgiving and seven at Christmas last year.

It's part of the tradition, part of the fun.

On a recent Friday, a Beach Boys tune blares through Virginia Barbeque's parking lot. The cars come in, one by one. A 1965 Buick Skylark. A 1968 Shelby Cobra. A 1956 Chevrolet Nomad.

But Pop Wilson's sparkly turquoise Beetle stands out.

He's owned it for a quarter century. Renewal came bit by bit, when he had the money and the time.

Wilson's done most of the work in recent years, since "the kids got grown and I could afford it," he says.

He's driven the Beetle 48,000 miles in 25 years, mostly to local cruise-ins. It's gone up and down the East Coast for car shows, too.

Wilson has no idea how much money went into his masterpiece. Whatever the cost, he's won 93 trophies and a spot in a national classic car magazine.

Wilson happily points out the details to admirers who happen by. The sunroof, the red leather dashboard and steering wheel, the radio between the visors.

They cock their heads to get a better look inside.

Date published: 8/16/2004