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SUNNY Temp: 88 °F Wind: WNW at 10 mph Thursday, July 24, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 14, 2003 Ron Foster of Medford bought this 1931 Ford from a local farmer who had it stored in a barn. Foster and friends will tour downtown streets for more than three hours tonight. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell The driver’s seat You can find a spot to watch the Medford Cruise from the sidewalk, or take a stroll in Hawthorne Park, but to those whose cars will rumble through the city this weekend, there’s really only one place to be By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune For Ron Foster, who lives just west of Medford’s city limits, restoring a 1930s Ford has been on his to-do list for a long time. "All my life I wanted to do this," said Foster, boasting about his viper yellow 1931 Ford with a Chevrolet 360 engine. "It’s pretty radical running, it lopes a lot," he said, translating: "It’s loud and it’s also fast." Foster is one of hundreds of vintage car enthusiasts who have polished their chrome in preparation of the 18th annual Medford Cruise this weekend. Advertisement From a 90 horsepower Nash Metropolitan to a 500 horsepower Shelby Cobra, at least 500 vintage cars are zooming and dragging and showing off for the annual event that is a fund-raiser for the Boys and Girls Club of the Rogue Valley. "We raised $24,000 last year," said John LaVoie, president of the Medford Cruise Association. He said 150 cars went on the 125-mile poker run Friday, and today there’s a Show and Shine in Hawthorne Park from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by the evening cruise. Downtown Medford streets will be closed to all non-registered traffic for the cruise from 6 to 9:30 p.m. To enter, drivers must register before 3 p.m. today, and cars must be 1972 or older. The fee is $40. The cruise will head down Central Avenue from Second Street, take a right onto Fifth Street, a left onto Front Street, and then a right on to Eighth Street. From there the route goes right onto Holly Street, right onto Fourth Street, left onto Front Street, completing the loop with a right onto Second Street. The display in Hawthorne Park continues Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. said LaVoie, adding that people come from California to Seattle "and everywhere in between." Dick Pedro, 60, drove his 1932 Ford, painted "Porsche red" with flames, from his home in Portland for the event. "This is my first show," said Pedro, adding that he enjoyed the long trip down. "Drives like a dream," said Pedro, adding that the flame theme continues on the leather interior and steering wheel. For Foster, 62, restoring cars has been a lifelong hobby. "I’ve been doing it since I was 15," he said. But this particular car, which he found in an old barn outside of Jacksonville, was worth the six years and $20,000 he’s invested, he said. "I had a ’30 just like this in high school," he said, adding that he’s wanted to restore a car like this since then. "I should be ashamed; I haven’t grown up yet." For more information about the Medford Cruise, contact Heritage Motors at 772-5222. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times