Collector Car Appreciation Day Cruise-In, July 13, 2024

Published on July 9, 2024 by corvettesLeave a comment

Greeting Cruisers!
Has it been HOT ENOUGH for ya’s? Yes, it does seem hotter than usual, or perhaps we’re all getting older and crankier!

If you have been a Lake Country Cruiser for a while you know that the Caladium Car & Bike Show will be Saturday, July27, 2024 at the DeVane Park in downtown Lake Placid.

But, if you are just itching for a car show, what are you doing this Saturday?

**To see the large version of the poster, CLICK THE IMAGE.**

The 15^th Annual commemoration of Collector Car Appreciation Day is being celebrated in Sebring on July 13, 2024, to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society and to honor our Veterans and benefit Southwest Florida Honor Flight.

Free to Entrants and Spectators, with a suggested $10 Donation.

All Proceeds benefit Southwest Florida Honor Flight

We are inviting all of our Lake Country Cruiser friends to meet up in the Moose Lodge on Rt. 98 in Sebring at 8 am for an 8:30 am departure for the track. That way everyone can park together.

What: 15^th Annual Collector Car Appreciation Day Cruise-In

Where: Sebring International Raceway, Gate 4

When: Saturday July 13^th, 9 am to 1 pm

Who: All collector vehicles are welcome, including modern, antique, original survival cars, modified, customs, rat rods, sports cars, muscle cars, modern and classic trucks, as well as motorcycles.

For Additional Information, Contact: pappysmad@gmail.com

* Door Prizes * D.J. Music * 50/50 Raffle * Food Truck Eats *

The next Lake Country Cruisers Car & Bike Show will be Saturday, October 12, 2024, 11 am to 1:30 pm at the American Legion Post 25 on Rt. 27 in Lake Placid, Florida. – Scott, Pete, & Ron

80TH Anniversary of D-Day Commemoration Event

Published on June 5, 2024 by corvettesLeave a comment

Greetings Cruisers!

This post has nothing to do with car shows, but we wanted to let you know about this because we know that many of you are Veterans and we are all patriots.

This Thursday, June 6, 2024, at 2 PM, American Legion Post 25 will be hosting a special D-Day 80^th Anniversary Commemoration Event. Our very special guest of honor will be 101-year-old Tomoka Heights resident, Chester Barber.

In 2023 Chester and Lake Country Cruisers co-founder, Ross Longo participated in the rededication of the Flag Pole at Hendrick’s Field at Sebring International Raceway a few days before the big 12 Hours of Sebring event.

On D-Day, Chester flew a DC3 at night over France with a plane full of American paratroopers.

We invite all of our members, as well as the general public, to this special event.

The Legion Kitchen will be open for Daily Kitchen Items, so food will be available.

On Wednesday we will publish more of Chester Barber’s amazing life and times.

See you all at Post 25!

PS – Here’s Chester, back in the day!

Saturday’s Lake Country Cruisers Show is ON!!!

Published on May 9, 2024 by corvettesLeave a comment

Greetings Cruisers,

Just a quick post to let you all know that this Saturday, May 11, 2024, our monthly Car & Bike Show is ON! The show is from 11 am to 1:30 pm at the Lake Placid American Legion on Rt. 27.

The Legion’s backyard grill is getting a make-over and will be open for burgers and dogs from 12 Noon to 2 PM.

If it gets too hot, we’ll wrap things up at 1 pm.

This will be our last Car & Bike Show for the first half of the year. We’ll be back October 12, 2024 – same time, same place.

And don’t forget that we will be helping out at the July 27, 2024, Caladium Car & Bike Show at Devane Park in downtown Lake Placid. For registration info, CLICK HERE.

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

PS – We know that many of you have motorcycles. If you do, bring your bike! We like motorcycles too!

Our April Show Was Perfect!

Published on April 14, 2024 by corvettesLeave a comment

It was a PERFECT day for a Car & Bike Show!

Greetings Cruisers!

Ahh, if we could only can last Saturday’s beautiful Florida weather so we could open it up for every show. We want to thank everyone who came out to the show. We had around 75 cars and well over 100 people in attendance.

Our next Cat & Bike Show will be Saturday, May 11, 2024, 11 am to 1:30 pm at the Lake Placid American Legion Post 25 on Rt. 27 in Lake Placid.

We took a lot of pictures, so enjoy the below slide show!

See you at the next show! – Scott, Pete, & Ron

PS – ATTENTION Corvette fans! The next Highlands County Corvettes show will be on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at the Lake Placid American Legion Post 25.

Lake Country Cruisers Car Show This Saturday, April 13, 2024!

Published on April 10, 2024 by corvettesLeave a comment

Greetings Cruisers,
The warm, but not “hot” Florida weather is with us, so let’s have a Car & Bike Show!

Our next Show is THIS Saturday at the Lake Placid American Legion Post 25, starting at 11 AM and wrapping up at 1:30 PM.

Registration is just $5 and we will have neat Door Prizes, a 50/50 raffle with a restaurant gift certificate for the 50/50 runner-up.

The Legion’s backyard grill will be serving up burgers, cheeseburgers, and hot dogs. If you are a Legion member, you can go into the Legion Bar for an adult beverage. They also have soda pop and bottled water.

We are family-friendly, so bring the kids, the grand-kiddos, and we like dogs too, just keep them on a leash and clean up after them.

The Ladies Auxiliary will also be inside selling deserts!

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

PS – If you have a motorcycle, bring it!

Dec Cruisers Show & Lake Placid Christmas Parade

Published on November 27, 2023November 28, 2023 by corvettesLeave a comment

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 2^nd 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

Cruisers “Meet’n Eat” at Paul Fry’s House!!!

Published on June 4, 2023 by corvettes

Ready to tie on the old feed bag for a few hours?

Greetings Cruisers!

Our Corvette and motorcycle Cruiser pal, Paul Fry has completed renovations on his house and is hosting a “Meet’n Eat” event at his house in Sebring, this Thursday, June 8, 2023, from 2 pm to 4 pm-ish.

His address is; 5801 Redwood Terrace, Sebring, Florida. Here’s a map of how to get to Paul’s place… Continue reading “Cruisers “Meet’n Eat” at Paul Fry’s House!!!” →

Here’s why America’s Memorial Day car parades are great!

Published on May 29, 2023 by corvettes

Greetings Cruisers!

As a fellow car enthusiast, I think you will enjoy this story about why “classic cars” have become part of the fabric of our nation. CLICK HERE!

Our next Lake Country Cruisers Show will be June 10, 2023, at the Lake Placid American Legion, Post 25, from 9 am to 12 noon.

We are working on Car & Bike shows through the summer in various locations and times. Lots coming up and we’ll get back to you.

We hope that everyone enjoyed their Memorial Day. – Scott, Pete, & Ron PS

Dock 633’s New “Sand Bar” Tiki Bar Grand Opening This Saturday Afternoon

Published on May 23, 2023 by corvettes

Busy Saturday? Hang out with us and enjoy Dock 633’s new outside Tiki Bar, the “Sand Bar”

Greetings Cruisers! Dock 633 has been a very generous sponsor to us with $50 Gift Certificates that we use for our 50/50 Runner-Up prizes. (NICE!) Recently, owners Bill and Hillary asked us to stage a Car Show as part of the Grand Opening of their new “Sand Bar” outside Tiki bar.

The Show’n Shine Car & Bike show will begin at 11 am and run until around 2 pm.

The new tiki bar area is under a big shade tree with tent coverings, and there will be Live music. Drinks will be served outside, and lunch can be ordered from inside and then enjoyed outside.

As this is a Show’n Shine event, with no registration fee, but, we’ll have a 50/50!

Hope you can join us! – Scott, Pete, & Ron

PS – Our next Lake Country Cruisers Car & Bike Show will be on June 10, 2023, at the Lake Placid American Legion, Post 25, on Rt. 27 in Lake Placid.

Check out the rest of our Coming Events! Continue reading “Dock 633’s New “Sand Bar” Tiki Bar Grand Opening This Saturday Afternoon” →

Hungry? “Meet’n Eat” at GC Grillhouse, Thursday May 18, 2023, 2:30 to 4:30

Published on May 17, 2023May 17, 2023 by corvettes

Back by popular demand!

Greetings Cruisers! Pete, Ron, and I were talking recently and one of us said, “Hey, we haven’t done a Meet’n Eat in a while!” So, we called our friends at the GC Grillhouse on Rt. 27 in Lake Placid (formerly “Golden Corral) and made the arrangements.

If you can break away from normal life (whatever that is!) , meet us at GC Grillhouse from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm for lunch. GC Grillhouse has excellent Lunch Specials and their salad bar is terrific.

So, you are invited to join us, tie on the old feed bag, bench race, tell jokes, laugh, and solve the world’s problems! See you for lunch! – Scott, Pete, and Ron

PS – Our next event will be Saturday, May 27, 2023, at Dock 633 from 11 am to 2 pm-ish.

Dock 633 has been a very generous sponsor to us. Recently, owners Bill and Hillary asked us to stage a Car Show as part of the Grand Opening of their new “Sand Bar” outside tiki bar.

The new tiki bar area is under a big shade tree with tent coverings. Drinks will be served outside and lunch can be ordered from inside.

This is a Show’n Shine event, with no registration fee, but we’ll have a 50/50. Hope you can join us!

Meet’n Eat at Jaxson’s Feb 16, 2-to-4 PM

Published on January 29, 2023 by corvettes

You Get’n Hungry or What?

Greetings Cruisers! For our next Meet’n Eat Luncheon, we’ll be tying on the old feedbag at Jaxson’s On the Lake, in Lake Placid. Jaxson’s is a great little local watering hole with a vintage down-home bar flavor that offers indoor dining, as well as outdoor dining in their screened-in back porch that looks out over Lake Henry.

If you have never been to Jaxson’s, it’s easy to get there. If you are driving south on Rt. 27 (as if you were coming to a Cruisers Show at the American Legion, drive another mile or so, past the Advent Hospital on the right, and turn RIGHT onto Lake June Road, just past the CITCO gas station on the Right.

The road winds and twists, and you’ll drive about one mile. Jaxson’s is on the RIGHT, there’s a sign, you can’t miss it! Continue reading “Meet’n Eat at Jaxson’s Feb 16, 2-to-4 PM” →

Lake Placid Florida 2023 X-mas Parade, Best Ever

Published on December 27, 2022 by corvettes

Lake Placid Christmas Parade Slide Show Below

Greeting Cruisers! We hope that everyone had a delightful Christmas and is planning a fun New Year’s Eve.

December 10, 2022 was a BIG DAY for Lake Placid. We had our Lake Country Cruisers Car & Bike Cruise-In at the Lake Placid Historical Society Depot; Santa came to Lake Placid on the U.S. Sugar “Santa Express” (yes, Santa has his own train!); and Lake Placid hosted their annual Christmas Parade.

Also, the Santa Express had been parked at the depot overnight and departed promptly at 12 noon; WHAT’A SIGHT! If you’ve never stood next to a steam locomotive as it is departing, you have been missing a unique experience!

Oh, What Fun!

I have been attending the Lake Placid Christmas Parade since 2017 and we have to say, it doesn’t get more “Small Town Americana” than this, folks! “Oh, what fun!” In 2021 Lake Country Cruisers had eight vehicles in the parade, this year we had 15 street machines in the parade! (let’s make it 30 next year, guys and gals!)

And the Weather Was Perfect!

That is more, the weather was perfect “jacket weather” somewhere around 60-degrees, the sidewalks were packed, and the curbs in the street were lined with happy residents. After the parade, a small group of Cruisers met at the GC Grillhouse for eats.

In closing, the Lake Placid Christmas Parade was the perfect ending to a happy day! Lake Country Cruisers will definitely be back for the 2023 Lake Placid Christmas Parade. For all of the Cruisers that participated in the parade, a BIG THANKS! – Scott, Pete, & Ron

PS – We want to let you in on something, we are already making plans for the 2023 Christmas Cruise-In and it’s going to be big! Details to come.

Click any of the images to launch the slide show.
Then just click the arrows to the right or left!

Lake Country Cruisers Christmas Cruise-In… HOORAH!!!

Published on December 17, 2022December 17, 2022 by corvettes

Our Christmas Cruise-In Was A HUGE Success! SLIDE SHOW!

Greeting Cruisers! What a PERFECT day we had for a car show. Things started out a wee bit foggy, but by 10 am it was perfect. Although the location was a tad small, by noon we had 57 cars registered. Park Avenue slopes down and we had cars lining both sides of the street, the parking areas to the left of the Historical Society Depot were filled with cars, the grassy lot to the right of the building was stuffed with cars, and cars were parked on the hill and side yards!

Click the above graphic to launch the Slide Show.

Cars were everywhere and at different levels. It was not your typical “parking lot” car show.

Our Feature Cars were very special vehicles. Dick and Marilyn Roddie brought BOTH of their 1931 V-12 Cadillacs. Marilyn was beautiful and looked like a 1930s Hollywood movie star. For many, it was the first time they’d ever seen anything like that in-person. Continue reading “Lake Country Cruisers Christmas Cruise-In… HOORAH!!!” →

Dick & Marilyn Roddie’s Fully-Restored 1931 V-12 Cadillacs

Published on December 9, 2022January 4, 2023 by corvettes

Roddie’s Classic 1931 V-12 Cadillacs: One Phaeton, One Roadster

NOTE: This article was first published in the December 7, 2022 issue of the Highlands News-Sun’s Lake Placid Section. Congratulations to owners Dick & Marilyn Roddie for the completion of the restoration of their two 1931 V-12 Cadillacs! The two 82-year-old classic luxury cars will be the feature cars at the December 10. 2022 Lake Country Cruisers Car & Bike Show, held at the Lake Placid Historical Society Museum Depot from 10 am to 2 pm.

It will be a nostalgic day in Lake Placid on Saturday, December 10, 2022. Not only will the U.S. Sugar Express “Santa Train” 1920 steam locomotive be coming into town, but at the Historical Society Depot, the Lake Country Cruisers Car & Bike Show will have two special feature cars from the same era.

The Lake Country Cruisers Car & Bike Show’s “Feature Cars” will be Placid Lake residents Dick and Marilyn Roddie’s two 1931 V-12 Cadillacs. The Roddies have resided in Lake Placid for over twenty years and still have a working farm in Ohio. Dick is a “farm boy” at heart, having grown up in rural Ohio where farm machines are a part of everyday life. Along the way, Dick developed a deep appreciation for classic cars. Dick and Marilyn also own a black 1958 Corvette.

1930s-Style Top Shelf Auto Luxury

Both Cadillacs have recently been fully restored by Dick, with help from local friends and specialty shops. Restorations are a labor of love and can take years to complete. Dick acquired the 1931 Cadillac Phaeton in 2011 and the 1931 Cadillac Roadster in 2015. The restoration to the point of being roadworthy took around six years.

The two Cadillacs are essentially the same, the Phaeton is a four-door and is number 81-of-120 Phaetons built in 1931. The Roadster, with a rumble seat in the back and no roll-up side windows, is number 27-of-81 such models built in 1931. The Phaeton and the Roadster both ride on the same 140-inch wheelbase chassis.

Cadillac, the Standard of Luxury

The Cadillac Automobile Company was started in 1902 and was bought by General Motors in 1909. Always a high-end luxury car, Cadillac brought out their V-16 452 cubic-inch, 175-horsepower engine in 1930 and their 368 cubic-inch V-12 engine with 135-horsepower in 1931. The V-12 engine is an overhead-valve design, has two carburetors, two ignition coils, one ignition distributor, and a vacuum fuel tank. Cadillac V-16, V-12, and V-8 engines made the Cadillac brand the “Standard of the World”. Continue reading “Dick & Marilyn Roddie’s Fully-Restored 1931 V-12 Cadillacs” →

The SVRA Sebring SpeedTour is Coming to Town!

Published on December 6, 2022 by corvettes

Clear your calendar for February 23-26, 2023!

Greetings Cruisers! The winter months here in south-central Florida are the best time of year. That’s why we have so many snowbirds fly south to escape the cold nasty stuff up north. It’s also a great time for racing and car shows!

The SVRA SpeedTour will be coming to Sebring International Raceway on February 23-26, 2023. Tickets are $50, and available ONLY by phone. Call Toni Strollo at 863-698-8620 to buy your tickets. The ticket price is $50 for ONE car and TWO people.

ATTENTION CRUISERS!!! You can get $20 off the price of your ticket by mentioning Lake Country Cruisers when you call Toni Strollo.