The chilly weather did not deter people from celebrating one of the first signs of summer. The 2015 Southlake Auto Mall Cruise Night attracted dozens of cars and a crowd of spectators to this summer night ritual held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month through September 15th.
Music from The Doors blasted over the speakers while the smell of burning tire rubber was in the air. “That is just one of the many features that make us unique,” said Joe Olietti of Southlake Nissan & Kia. “We have a private road that we shut down and we let the cars do burnouts. It’s fun to hear the engines and see all the smoke from the tires.”
Olietti was inspired to bring the idea of a car cruise to the auto dealership after enjoying a similar event organized by the City of Crown Point. “We thought it would be a fun way to give back to the community. It is fun to see families out here looking at the cars and enjoying free hot dogs, pop, and popcorn provided by our dealership,” said Olietti.
Laine Kasarda of “All Soup’d Up” cooks the hot dogs for the dealership and sells a variety of sandwiches as well. “I started this business five years ago with my dad and we specialize in providing food for cruise nights and car shows. The best part about this particular show is the music and the burnouts, says Kasarda.
The Car Cruise has been a tradition for many car collectors since it first began five years ago. Gerald and Beverly Marietta have been attending since the first Car Cruise. They were proud to show off their 1949 Pontiac Silver Streak Chieftan, which has won eighteen trophies at various car shows. “The best part about coming for us is seeing old friends. You get to meet other collectors and it is fun to see the different cars,” explained Beverly Marietta.
For Rob Dawson and his son Kaleb, this was the first show where they displayed a car. The Dawsons brought their 1979 Chevy Capri Sport which is mostly original except for some work done to the engine,” Dawson said with pride.
All cars are welcome at the show. Conrad Serwatka displayed his 2015 Dodge Hellcat while Chuck Collins brought his 2011 Chevy Camaro SS convertible. No matter what age or condition of the cars, all owners enjoyed the satisfaction that came with sharing them with others.
The Car Cruise will continue through September on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 4:00 – 8:00 pm. The Southlake Auto Mall is located at 4191 East Lincoln Highway in Merrillville. All are welcome to showcase their cars or just take a look and enjoy a free hot dog.