Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW July 4 is a milestone for Medford woman who will become U.S. citizen ... Emergency services ... Helicopter, ground crews stop fire near Central Point homes ... July 4 is a milestone for Medford woman who will become U.S. citizen ... Emergency services ... Helicopter, ground crews stop fire near Central Point homes ... MEDFORD CRUISE 2016 Medford Cruise hosts car shows, a downtown cruise night and more Comment By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 16, 2016 at 9:00 AM By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 16, 2016 at 9:00 AM » Social News The 31st annual Medford Cruise is back this year with car shows, a downtown cruise night and more. Each year, fans of car culture trot out their shiny classics and hot rods and take them to the streets for all to see. The place to be Friday, June 17, is Fichtner-Mainwaring Park, 334 Holmes St., off Stewart Avenue. Fords and hot rods of all years and models will be displayed from 5 to 7:30 p.m. It's $5 to show, and free to attend. Car owners who wish to show should arrive at 4 p.m. From there, Medford Cruise will continue with more car shows, a free concert, drag races, a drive-in movie and the big downtown cruise. This is Jay Ruettgers' first year as president of Medford Cruise Association, which is a nonprofit volunteer committee, and he's served on the Cruise's board for about five years. Ruettgers drives a 1956 Ford F-100 pickup truck that's been in his family for about 18 years. "I grew up around classic cars," Ruettgers says. "My dad was into old cars and was always pointing them out, and my uncle was into restoring them. Every time we'd go by an old car, my dad would be able to look at it and tell me the make and the model." Ruettgers grew up in Stayton and now makes the Rogue Valley his home. "I guess I inherited the habit, because I find myself doing the same thing with my kids," he says. "It's fun pointing things out to them the way my dad did with me." Ruettgers Ford F-100 is always a work in progress, he says. "It's never completely finished, especially if you drive it a lot. I like to put my father-in-law to work on it whenever he comes to visit. He's big into restoring cars. He's my go-to guy. I usually try to get one thing done to it every year. Last year, it was the fuel system. Next year, I may focus on updating the interior. There's always something to work on. "The exterior is pretty much untouched since the truck's been in my family," he says. "It's as is. We've maintained the original wood in the truck bed, but the rest of the exterior is ready for an update. The body's straight, the paint's not 100-percent perfect, it's got a few rock chips and scratches here and there, but it's in good shape. I polish every once in a while." Look for Ruettger's F-100 — with a bit of polish on it — in the downtown cruise Saturday, June 18, along with vehicles from Canada, California, Washington, Nevada, Idaho and other western states. Friday's events include the Stoplight Drags at 4 p.m. at Champion Raceway in the Jackson County Sports Park, 6900 Kershaw Road, Central Point. The drags will be limited to cars built in '79 or earlier. It's $35 to race. Spectators get inside the gate for $10, kids 6 and younger get in free. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, a free concert in Fichter-Mainwaring Park will feature "La Bamba," a tribute to the music of Mexican-American musician Ritchie Valens by "Sting" Ray Anthony. This entertainer is known for his fast-paced and fun performances at places around the country. The festivities start early Saturday with Boy Scout Troop 5's pancake breakfast in the park. The cost is $6 per plate. The annual '79 and Older Show 'n' Shine will take place right along with the newer '80 and Newer Show 'n' Shine. It's $50 for drivers to show at the '79 and older show, and that includes participation the downtown cruise. Registration is $30 for the '80 and newer show, and the fee includes a T-shirt. Admission to the show 'n' shines is free for spectators. The annual '79 and older downtown cruise is from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Vehicles can enter the route from the north where Central Avenue intersects with Second Street. The cruise follows Central Avenue to East Main Street, where it turns west and travels over the railroad tracks turning into West Main Street. It turns north on Ivy Street, east on Sixth Street, north on Front Street, and east on Second Street to start again. After the downtown cruise, look for an old-fashioned drive-in movie featuring Walt Disney's 1969 "The Love Bug." As first-year president of the Cruise Association, Ruettger says there's nothing specific he'd like to change about the annual event. "It's growing every year, so we add different things each year to accommodate everyone in car culture," he says. "One of the changes this year is that we're promoting car clubs by giving them their own section to display vehicles. The car clubs can promote themselves in the park and at the cruise." Proceeds from the Medford Cruise are donated to the Greater Medford Rotary Foundation, which distributes the money to such youth programs as Outdoor Adventure Clubs youth scholarships, Salvation Army's free after-school program for kids from low-income families, Boys and Girls Club of Talent and Eagle Point, Hidden Valley Skills USA, Boy Scouts Troop 5, Wilderness Trails, Sparrow Clubs, 4H, FFA and Rogue Valley Youth Choir, to name a few. By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 16, 2016 at 9:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501