John Wirth, left, and Jerry Krause, right, present an award to Aaron Kewish, center, for sponsoring the Street Cruisers Car Club season. [Submitted photo]

Members of the Street Cruisers Car Club recently honored the sponsors of its 2024 season.

Club president, John Wirth, along with club member Jerry Krause, presented appreciation plaques to Brad Whitcher from Save-a-lot for sponsoring the Kewanee Cruise-In, and Aaron Kewish of Kewish Concrete and Greg Schilling of Galva Iron and Metal for the event held in Galva.

According to Wirth, the car club plans to increase the number of events in Kewanee to four and hold three in Galva this summer, with Friday selected as the best night for the cruise-ins.

From left, John Wirth, president of the car club, Brad Whitcher, manager of Save-a-lot, and Jerry Krause, a member of the Street Cruisers Car Club. Wirth and Krause presented an award to Whitcher for sponsoring its 2024 season. [Submitted photo]

Cruisers are treated to a sponsored meal at each location, at no charge. Wirth said that donations are appreciated to cover some of the costs.

Upwards of 50 vehicles might cruise in and spectators can number close to 200, he said.

“I cooked a lot of hamburgers last summer,” joked Wirth.

This year plans to cruise through Johnson-Sauk Trail Park from Kewanee, and to and from Bishop Hill are being considered. Also new to the events is a 40-foot “Valve Cover Racetrack” with valve covers attached to wheels and raced.

“It’s like a Pinewood Derby for adults,” he said.

The club currently has around 14 members, but Wirth hopes to see membership grow.

“I’m hoping that number increases this year,” Wirth said.

Plans to return the Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show to Kewanee’s Francis Park on July 4 are also underway. Wirth, who was instrumental in reviving that car show after a number of years, says it is a great success.

“We brought it back to life in 2023,” he said, “and are looking forward to seeing the crowd at this summer’s event.”

Wirth shared the car club’s appreciation for the sponsors, car owners, and spectators for a great year and said everyone is looking forward to 2025.

Information on the cruise-ins can be found on the Facebook page, Cruising the 4 Lanes/Kewanee Cruise in, or by contacting Wirth directly at sccc2020@yahoo.com.