Cruiser Car & Bike Show This Weekend is ON!

Greeting Cruisers!

It feels like our “winter” is behind us and we’re getting back to warm Florida weather. The Weather.com site says on Saturday we’ll have AM Clouds and PM Sun, with a high of 88 degrees.

Perfect weather for a Car & Bike Show!

Our show will start at 11 am and wrap up at 1:30 pm. The American Legion will be cooking burgers and cheeseburgers for lunch! Registration is just $5, there will be rock’n roll music, door prizes, a 50/50, plus a 50/50 runner-up prize!

Lake Country Cruisers Car & Bike Shows are family-centered. So, bring some friends, bring the kids, and the grand-kiddos! We like dogs too, just keep them on the leash and clean up after them.

If you have a motorcycle, let’s see it! And invite some of your motorcycle pals, too!

See you all this Saturday! – Scott, Pete, & Ron

PS – Wasn’t that SVRA Event something?! And the party at Pete Richie’s RV was perfect. HEY, Lake Country Cruisers won a trophy from Toni Strolo and SVRA. Thanks, Toni! Thanks, SVRA!

We’ll have our trophy at the sign-in table!

Lake Country Cruisers at the SVRA Event THIS WEEKEND!

Greetings Cruisers!

Just a brief reminder that the big SVRA Show is coming to Sebring International Raceway. If you have NOT gotten your tickets yet, call Toni Strolo at… 863-698-8620 to get your ticket to the 2-day event. Tickets are $50 for ONE car with TWO people. Tell Toni you are a Lake Country Cruiser and you’ll get a $10 discount.

If you are a Hagerty member, there’s a bigger discount!

If you want to come to the event as a group, we will meet up at the Moose Lodge on Rt. 98 at 8 AM and will depart together at 8:30 AM. This way we’ll all be able to park together.

The big Hagerty Car Show is on Saturday. Awards will be given for the various classes. Last year our ’32 Ford Roadster Hot Rod pal, Bob Barard won a beautiful Blue and Gold Ribbon!

While the Car Show action is going on, there will be racing on the track with all kinds of vintage sports racing cars and late 60s and early 70s TRANS-AM race cars out on the track like it’s 1970 again! There are restored, fully functional actual Trans-Am race cars, NOT replicas.

Your ticket will get you in for more racing action on Sunday.

 

You’re invited to Party With the Cruisers!

And, if you’d like to party with the Cruisers, Pete Richie will have his RV and a side tent set up for grill’n and lots of eat’n! Bring something; snacks, desserts, beer, whatever.

As last year’s event was wrapping up, the decision was unanimous, “WE HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN IN ’24!” And here we are, ready to do it again.

As of this afternoon (2-22-24), Weather.com is calling for SUNNY SKIES on Sunday with a high of 72 degrees! We’ll TAKE IT!

Hope to see you all this weekend! – Scott, Pete, & Ron

 

PS – Our next regular Lake Country Cruisers Car & Bike Show will be Saturday, March 9, from 11 AM to 1:30 PM at the Lake Placid American Legion Post 25. Burgers, cheeseburgers, and hot dogs will be served on the Legion’s refurbished backyard grille!

You smell those burgers and dogs??? That smells GUUD!!!

Lake Country Cruisers 2024 Car & Bike Show Schedule

Greetings Cruisers,

For those of you that came to American Legion Post 25 last week only to find there was “no show”, we apologize for not being clearer that our February Car & Bike Show was part of the Annual Lake Placid Arts & Crafts Festival at the Devane Circle in downtown Lake Placid.

Here are the scheduled Cruisers Car & Bike Shows from March to December 2024.

All of our shows at the American Legion are from 11 am to 1:30 pm.

March 9, 2024 – 11 am to 1:30 pm.

April 13, 2024 – 11 am to 1:30 pm.

May 11, 2024 – 11 am to 1:30 pm.

September 14, 2024 – 11 am to 1:30 pm.

October 12, 2024 – 11 am to 1:30 pm.

November 9, 2024 – 11 am to 1:30 pm.

December 14, 2024 – 11 am to 1:30 pm.

Lake Country Cruisers will be part of the Annual Lake Placid Caladium Festival at Devane Park on July 27, 2024. We will let you know when registration for the Caladium Show is available.

Last year we tried shows in the summer months, but it was just too HOT. People were wilting before our eyes!

The December Car & Bike Show is the same day as the Lake Placid Annual Christmas Parade. All Cruisers are welcome to be part of the parade. The parade is pure Americana and a lot of fun to be part of!

See you all at American Legion Post 25 in March! The Legion’s backyard grille is getting a new roof, but the Legion is accommodating us by offering burgers, cheeseburgers, and hot dogs on their pellet grille.

See you at Post 25 in March! – Scott, Pete, and Ron

PS There is still time to get your tickets for the big 2-day SVRA event. Call Toni Strolo at 863-698-8620, tell her you are with Lake Country Cruisers and you’ll get $10 off the $50 ticket that is good for ONE car and TWO people.

Our pal Bob Forrester informed us that if you are a member of the Hagerty Drivers Club, you can get a $25 discount! Thanks, Bob!!!

The Hagerty Cars & Coffee Show will be on Saturday, February 24, 2024. Lake Country Cruisers will meet at the Sebring Moose Lodge on Rt. 98 in Sebring at 8:15 am so that we can all drive in and part together.

Cruisers February Show is Tomorrow at DeVane Park

Greetings Cruisers!

Just a quick reminder that the February Lake Country Cruisers Car Show will be TOMORROW, February 3, 2024, as part of the Lake Placid Arts & Crafts Country Fair at the DeVane Park on Interlake Blvd. This is the same venue as the annual Caladium Car Show in July.

The show starts at 10 am and registration begins at 8 am. The Registration fee is $25. Trophies will be awarded at 1:30 pm. There will be Arts & Crafts food vendors at the show. This is a family-friendly event, so bring the kids and the grand kiddos!

The next Lake Country Cruisers Show will be Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the Lake Placid American Legion, 11 am to 1:30 pm.

There is still time to get your tickets for the big 2-day SVRA event. Call Toni Strolo at 863-698-8620, tell her you are with Lake Country Cruisers and you’ll get $10 off the $50 ticket that is good for ONE car and TWO people.

Our pal Bob Forrester informed us that if you are a member of the Hagerty Drivers Club, you can get a $25 discount! Thanks, Bob!!!

The Hagerty Cars & Coffee Show will be on Saturday, February 24, 2024. Lake Country Cruisers will meet at the Sebring Moose Lodge on Rt. 98 in Sebring at 8:15 am so that we can all drive in and part together.

See you at DeVane Park tomorrow!Scott, Pete, & Ron

YES! There Will Be a Cruisers Car & Bike Show Tomorrow!

Greetings Cruisers,

   Just a quick note to let you know that it looks like we’ll be getting a break in this crummy weather we’ve been having for over a month. So our Lake Country Cruisers Car & Bike Show is ON!

The show will run from 11 am to 1:30 pm. The Legion’s kitchen will be open and serving burgers and cheeseburgers for lunch.

Well, probably not this cold!

However, it’ll be a wee bit chilly. The National Weather Service is predicting the temperature at 11 am will be around 55 degrees and 60 degrees by 1 pm.

But it will be mostly sunny, at least we’ll get some warm sunshine on us!

So, get your long underwear on and your parka, gloves, and hat too! It’ll be a “cool” Car & Bike Show!

See you all at Post 25! – Scott, Pete, & Ron

PS – Our February Car & Bike Show will be on February 3, 2024, at Devane Park as part of the Lake Placid Arts & Crafts Country Fair.
CLICK HERE for more details.


And for info about the upcoming SVRA event, CLICK HERE!

 

The January 13, 2024 Lake Country Cruisers Show POSTPONED!

Greetings Cruisers!

   First question: WHO STOLE OUR BEAUTIFUL FLORIDA WINTER WEATHER?!?!? We wish they’d return it!

The weather forecast for tomorrow is CRUMMY, so we decided to reschedule our January Car & Bike Show for Saturday, January 20, 2024.

We were going to cancel the January show but decided, why not try for the following Saturday?

Hopefully, our beautiful Florida winter weather will be back and we’ll be able to get a car show in!

JUST A REMINDER, our February Car & Bike Show will be on February 3, 2024 (the 1st Saturday of the month), as part of the Lake Placid Arts & Craft Country Fair at Devane Park. For details, CLICK HERE!

And lastly, the 2024 SVRA Hagerty Cars & Coffee Show is coming to Sebring International Raceway 24-25, 2024. The Hagerty Show will be on Saturday, February 24, 2024. Lake Country Cruisers will meet at the Sebring Moose Lodge on Rt. 98 in Sebring at 8:15 am so that we can all drive in and part together.

GET YOUR DI$COUNT!!!

SVRA rep Toni Strolo is offering a $10 discount on the $50 per car with 2 people ticket. To order your discounted ticket, call Toni at… 863-698-8620.

Your ticket is for TWO days (Saturday and Sunday). If track conditions are good (no crashes to clean up), there will be a few laps of track time (no “racing”) for attendees on Saturday at noon.

For now, keep your ride dry and we’ll be seeing you soon! – Scott, Pete, & Ron

Happy New Years Lake Country Cruisers!

Greeting Cruisers!

We hope everyone had a delightful Christmas holiday and New Year’s season. Here’s what’s coming up in the next few months.

Our January 2024 Car & Bike Show at American Legion Post 25, on Rt. 27 in Lake Placid will be on January 13, 2024, from 11 am to 1:30 pm. The Legion’s Mess Hall Kitchen will be serving burgers, so bring your car or bike, AND your appetite.

Our February Show will be on February 3, 2024, as part of the Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce’s Craft Show at Devane Park (the circle), same place as the annual Caladium Car Show.

Show time is 10 am to 1:30 pm. Registration starts at 7 am with trophies awarded at 1:30 pm. Pre-registration is $20 (cut-off date is 1/26), or $25 day of the show. Craft and food vendors will be there!

 


The 2024 SVRA Hagerty Cars & Coffee Show is coming to Sebring International Raceway 24-25, 2024. The Hagerty Show will be on Saturday, February 24, 2024. Lake Country Cruisers will beet at the Sebring Moose Lodge on Rt. 98 in Sebring at 8:15 am so that we can all drive in and part together.

SVRA rep Toni Strolo is offering a $10 discount on the $50 per car with 2 people ticket. To order your discounted ticket, call Toni at… 863-698-8620.

Your ticket is for TWO days (Saturday and Sunday). If track conditions are good (no crashes to clean up), there will be a few laps of track time (no “racing”) for attendees on Saturday at noon.

There will be vintage sports car racing on Sunday and Pete Richie will be at track-side for an RV Party with food and beverages! Last year we had a blast! Bring some goodies if you want.

More to come for the rest of 2024!Scott, Pete, and Ron


 

Dec Cruisers Show & Lake Placid Christmas Parade

Greetings Cruisers! We have two new things to share with you today.

CORRECTION: To be in the Christmas Parade on Dec. 9, 2023, it is not necessary to fill out a form from the Chamber of Commerce.

First, our next Lake Country Cruisers Car & Bike Show will be a week from this Saturday, December 9, 2023, at the American Legion Post 25, in Lake Placid, Florida. The show starts at 11 am and wraps up around 1:30 pm.

Second, the Town of Lake Placid always has its Annual Christmas Parade on the 2nd Saturday of December, the same day we are having our Car Show. We have been invited to put out to the  Cruisers to be part of the Christmas Parade!

If you would like to “Cruise with the Cruisers” in the Lake Placid Christmas Parade, email Scott at… lightoak@comcast.net . There is NO CHARGE.

We have heard some chatter about the 2024 SVRA Hagerty Cars & Caffeine Show on February 24, 2024. DON’T BUY YOUR TICKETS, YET!

After January 1, 2024, Toni Strollo will issue a generous Discount Code. We’ll let you know when the code is available.

Hope everyone had a delightful Thanksgiving and weekend. See you December 9 at Legion Post 25! – Scott, Pete, & Ron

 

No Cruisers Show For September

Greetings Cruisers. We are letting everyone know that there will be no Lake Country Cruisers Car & Bike Show for the month of September.

Sometimes, “life gets in the way” of things. It happens that Pete Richie and Ron Ellerman will both be traveling north, vacationing with their families for the month of September.

The next Car & Bike Show will be on October 14 at the American Legion, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

Legion Post 25’s backyard grille will be getting a new metal roof that may or may not be completed by then. So, burgers and dogs cooked on the grille might not be available, but they will work out something for lunch from the inside kitchen.

Y’all enjoy the final weeks of summer and we’ll see you around town and at the Legion on October 14th! – Scott, Pete, & Ron

PS – Check out Post 25’s beautiful NEW mural!!! The formal name of the mural is, “Honoring Veterans”.

PSS – On September 11, 2023, there will be a commemoration event at Post 25 starting at 9 a.m. Pancake breakfast will be served at no charge for First Responders and Police. This event is open to the public.

Then at 1 p.m., there will be a dedication ceremony for the new mural. Artist Keith Goodson, the Lake Placid Mural Society, the Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce, and Post 25 officers will be in attendance. This event is open to the public.

This Saturday’s Car & Bike Show CANCELED!

Greetings Cruisers! Well, you don’t need us to tell you that it’s a HOT summer here. The forecast for this Saturday is that the low for the day before sunrise will be 77 degrees and a high temp of 96 degrees.

Those numbers are AMBIENT air temps and do not reflect the heat index that factors in humidity. It’s going to be one of the hottest days of the summer.

So, because we don’t want anyone dropping from the heat, we have decided to CANCEL this Saturday’s show due to BAD WEATHER.

Sorry, Cruisers. Please let your other Cruiser pals know, just in case they don’t read this.

We’ll be back to you about the September show at the Lake Placid American Legion.

Y’all stay cool now! – Scott, Pete, & Ron

2023 Caladium Festival Car & Bike Show

Yes, it was another HOT ONE, but HEY, it was the end of July in South-Central Florida! (Slide Show Below!)

Greetings Cruisers! Despite the challenging heat, Devane Park was packed with cars, trucks, bikes, and happy people. Plus, we had the classic ambiance of the U.S. Sugar Express steam locomotive train.

There’s nothing like the lonesome sound of a steam train whistle. But being that we’re car and bike people, you could also say the same things about a big-block Chevy or Hemi with open headers or a big-bore Harley-Davidson.

From the 2022 Caladium Car & Bike Show

The gates opened at 7 am and as usual, cars were lined up by 6:30 to get a good parking spot near a tree. “DJ Ben” fired up his machine, a big, honk’n soundboard, and speakers by 8 am. You gotta have tunes for a car & bike show!

 

 

 

This year’s Caladium Festival Car & Bike Show had a simplified Awards deal. Here are our winners!

“Farthest Traveled” – Troy Evans, 2020 Corvette Stingray from Washington State

“Mayor’s Choice – John Donato, 1930 Ford Hot Rod

“People’s Choice” – Anthony Poplunek, 1932 Ford Hot Rod

“Mayor’s Motorcycle Choice & Police Chief Motorcycle Choice” – Jeff Mace Custom Harley-Davidson

“Most Members of a Car Club” – “No Name Car Club”

“50/50 Winner of $900” – Chris Barry

 

 

 

 

Our next Lake Country Cruisers Car & Bike show will be Saturday, August 12, from 9 am to noon at the Lake Placid American Legion, on Rt. 27 in Lake Placid, Florida.

Legion Pit Master “Larry” will be slinging the burgers and dogs!

Lake Country Cruisers will supply the Rock’n Roll music, great door prizes, Cruiser of the Month, Bike of the Month, 50/50, plus a 50/50 runner-up prize. Lake Country Cruisers Car & Bike Shows are Family-Friendly and Dog-Friendly. So, bring the kids, grand kiddos, and Poochie! (we ask that you keep your doggie on a lead and clean up after any messes)

We’ll see you there! – Scott, Pete, & Ron

2023 Caladium Car & Bike Show This Saturday!

Greetings Cruisers,

   Just a reminder that this Saturday, July 29, 2023, is the 32ndth Annual Caladium Festival Car & Bike Show at Devane Park in beautiful downtown Lake Placid, in the roundabout circle.

The Registration gate opens at 7 am. If you did not Pre-Register, the Registration Fee is $25.

Here are the Rules for Participation

1. Registration opens at 7 am on Saturday, July 29th at the park and closes promptly at noon.

2. ABSOLUTELY no early admissions to the show field.

3. All show parking sites will be assigned by show officials.

4. All trailered show cars must be driven onto the show field.

5. Parking will be provided for trailers and tow cars adjacent to the show field.

6. Cars to be judged must have trunk and hood open and windows down.

7. No bicycles. skateboards, skates, or scooters are allowed on the show field.

8. “For Sale” signs are permitted on the windshield for the sale of the vehicle, but no parts sales.

9. For their safety, all minor (Under 18) children must be supervised by an adult.

10. All decisions are final.

* Dash Plaques & Goody bags to the first 150 registered vehicles

* Music by GNR Sounds (DJ Ben)

* Food provided by the Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce

* Beer Garden

* 50/50, plus consolation prizes (last year’s 50/50 was $1,000!)

* Little Miss Caladium Pageant, sponsored by Bittner Bridal, in Lake Placid.

2023 Awards: Awards Presentation at 1:30 PM

Awards include;

* Peoples Choice

* Police Chief’s Choice

* Mayor’s Choice

* Most in a Club

* Furthest Driven

Follow the Car Show signs from US Highway 27 to Devane Park.

And lastly, Cruisers, when you register, remember to register as “Lake Country Cruisers” so we have a chance at winning the “Most in a Club” award!

Rain or Shine – No Refunds.

Just a reminder, it will be HOT (big surprise, right?), so be sure to pace yourself and drink plenty of liquids; and not just beer! Find a shady spot and do your best to chill.

We’ll see you there! – Scott, Pete, & Ron

 

 

PS – Cruisers, our next Car & Bike Show will be on August 12 at the Lake Placid American Legion, on rt. 27, in Lake Placid, FL. The show will run from 5 pm to 7:30 pm. If you have a motorcycle, bring it, or have friends with a bike, invite them! We like two, three, four, and six-wheel machines!

Happy 95th B-Day to Ross Longo!

Ross Longo B-Day Party Slide Show Below!

Greeting Cruisers! It was twenty years ago that Ross Longo, Mary Carol Plott, and Edde King thought it would be fun to start a car club! Since Highlands County is peppered with lakes, large and small, they decided to call themselves, “Lake Country Cruisers”.

They put the word out that they would all be gathering in the parking lot behind the Lake Placid Train Depot in downtown Lake Placid. A dozen or so friends got together, enjoyed oldies music from someone’s boom box (remember those?), did a little dancing, and had a lot of fun! So much so, the Lake Country Car Show became a regular monthly happening! You can read the full story HERE.

The rest is history and Lake Country Cruisers is still going strong!

On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, around two dozen members of Lake Country Cruisers got together at the Lake Placid American Legion to celebrate Cruisers’ founding member, Ross Longo’s 95th Birthday! Birthday cupcakes, cards, old stories, and good wishes were the order of the day.

Cruisers co-founders Mary Carol and Edde ganged up on Ross to deliver double smooches!

So, on behalf of Pete, Ron, and all of the Cruisers, a big THANK YOU to Ross and Mary Carol, and Edde, too for launching Lake Country Cruisers! – Scott

PS – Just a brief reminder. This Saturday, April 8, 2023, will be a Car & Bike Show AND Swap Meet. The Swap Meet starts one hour earlier than usual, at 9 am.
For complete details, CLICK HERE!

Lake Country Cruisers March 2023 Car & Bike Show – YES!

A Perfect Day For A Car Show! (Slide Show Below!)

Greetings Cruisers! What a beautiful day we had for a Car & Bike Show. It was a little cool at 9 am when we started to set up and a little warm when we wrapped up tthe show at 1:30 pm.

A big “Thanks!” to our friends at the Lake Placid Dunkin Donuts for the coffee and donuts. They sure did go fast!

We had fifty cars and around eighty in attendance at the show. The American Legion was having a regional meeting in the banquet room, so the inside kitchen was closed. But Commander Fred Pierce made sure that our Cruiser friends could get lunch, so the outside grill was fired up and by 11:30 am you could smell the burgers and hot dogs!

Our 50/50 winner was Sebring resident BethLinn Mackes and her take home was $150 CASH!

Our 50/50 Runner-Up winner was Sebring resident Pat Klynstra, and she received a FREE oil change from our friends at Highlands Complete Auto, on Rt. 27 in Sebring.

 

 

And our Curiser of the Month was Ron Bomberger and his stunningly beautiful 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk. In 1956 this was one of the quickest, fastest cars of its day. The Golden Hawk’s styling was influenced by French industrial designer, Raymond Loewy‘s design studio. Loewy went on to design the body for the 1963 Studebaker Avante.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

Our next Lake Country Cruisers Car & Bike Show on April 8, 2023, will also be a Swap Meet! So, the same as we did for our February Swap Meet, we will start at 9:00 am, one hour earlier than usual.

If you are looking for parts or would like to clear the car clutter in your garage and unload some old car stuff, the 10′ x 10′ space is $15 and the 10′ x 15′ space is $20. You can pay at the Sign-In tent.

Thanks to everyone that came to the show. Remember, our shows are car AND bike shows. So, if you have a motorcycle, bring it. If you have motorcycle friends, invite them! It’s a Car & Bike Party!

See ya next month!Scott, Pete, & Ron


PS – We will be doing Car & Bike Shows throughout the year, and sometimes in different places. We’ll always let you know where and when, but be sure to check out Coming Events page.


Car & Bike Show This Saturday!

Greeting Cruisers!

Just a brief reminder that this Saturday, March 11 we will be hosting another fun Lake Country Cruisers Car & Bike show at the Lake Placid American Legion. The show officially starts are 10 am and runs to around 1:30-ish.

The weather forecast for Saturday is good – cool in the early morning with a high of 85 degrees later in the afternoon. PERFECT weather for a Car Show.

If you have friends with motorcycles, invite them! We like all kinds of machines!

And bring your pooch if you have one! We love dogs too. Just keep them on their leash and clean up after them if they, well, you know.

See y’all Saturday!Scott, Pete, & Ron