The decades of the 1950s and 1960s were stylish times. Cool fashions, great music and classic automobiles were the order of the day.
Even today, many people still fondly reminisce about those times, and they long to revisit them before the memories fade away. For those folks, there is a solution – the Hendersonville Cruise In.
Held each Friday night from May through October, the Hendersonville Cruise In offers classic car enthusiasts an opportunity to gather to display their autos, enjoy music and swap stories about the good old days of fins, chrome and horsepower.
Located in the shopping center parking lot at 393 East Main Street, the Cruise In is operated by car buff Jeff Troynar and his wife Nikki.
“I have been interested in cars for as long as I can remember,” says Jeff. “I got my first one when I was 15 – it was a 1952 Chevy that needed a lot of work. By the time I finished restoring it, I knew that I was hooked on cars.”
The Cruise In concept was originated by Lyle and Mary Exline in 2005. After the Exlines retired in 2014, the Troynars took over as organizers.
Along with Jeff and Nikki, the Cruise In is supported by a team of 8 individuals who volunteer their time to help put on the event each week. Several local businesses, including Maple Motors, Wendy’s and Rock Auto, also provide donations which are used for prizes and giveaways.
After a humble start in 2005 with only 12 cars on display, the Hendersonville Cruise In has evolved into a major undertaking, featuring between 150 and 300 classic cars of many makes and models spanning multiple decades. Along the way, it has also become much more than just a classic car show.
“The Cruise In is not just about cars; it is about community,” says Jeff. “We feel that it is very important to give back to our hometown. Over the years, we have held fundraisers for such organizations as ALS, Project 22 and the Vietnam Veterans of America. We have also held coat and toy drives and provided turkeys to the Samaritan Center for Thanksgiving.”
The Hendersonville Cruise In also hosts an annual public service appreciation night to showcase local first responders.
“Our public service night is an opportunity for our local police, fire and EMT personnel to display the vehicles that they use to protect our community each day,” says Jeff. “Kids of all ages have an opportunity to tour the vehicles and get to meet some of our hometown heroes.”
Recently, the Cruise In has been held in conjunction with the Friday night food and music festival sponsored by the Meat Sweats BBQ. This collaboration has proven to be successful for both the Cruise In organizers and the local shopping center merchants.
“By having both the Cruise In and the food and music festival at the same time, we have been able to grow our event even more,” says Jeff. “Our goal is to make 393 East Main Street the place to be on Friday nights.”
For great entertainment and fellowship, be sure to join your friends and neighbors each week at the Hendersonville Cruise In, where classic cars never go out of style.