Classic cars, community fill Main Street during annual car show
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POLSON — Downtown Polson was packed on Saturday as the streets filled with chrome, horsepower, and a whole lot of car talk during the annual Cruisin’ by the Bay car show. Hosted by the Mission Valley Cruisers, the event brought together hundreds of people and dozens of cars ranging from vintage classics to modern muscle, custom 4x4s, and even brand-new models courtesy of local dealers.
Under sunny skies, Polson’s Main Street buzzed with community energy. The event offered something for everyone, whether a lifelong gearhead or just someone who appreciates the beauty of a well-maintained machine.
One standout presence at the show was the Skyliners 4 Wheel Drive Club, which brought a fleet of rugged 4x4s ready to inspire off-road dreams. Member Mike Hine was enthusiastic about the club’s presence.
“There are nice classic cars, and there are 4x4s, so if you like either of those, you should come to the car show,” Hine said.
He also encouraged anyone curious about off-roading to join their monthly meetings, held the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Polson VFW.
“Everyone is welcome to come out since we have gone on plenty of runs with varying difficulty and have even stock Nissans come out and do just fine,” he added.
While the off-roaders drew their crowd, the heart of the show was still beating strong with rows of restored classics and muscle cars, some gleaming from a fresh polish, others proudly showing their age like a badge of honor.
Fox Gilchrist, one of the many car owners at the event, stood next to his pride and joy—a beautifully restored car with deep roots.
“I came out to the car show today due to the love of cars and enjoying talking with other mechanics who worked on their cars,” Fox said.
“There was a lot of buffing and polishing to get the car show ready,” he said. “My grandpa worked on this car for two years. Some other friends and family helped work on it, but it was me and my grandpa who got the car running in those two years, and it runs good as it would new.”
Adding a modern touch to the event, Don Aadsen Ford set up shop to showcase some of their latest vehicles, drawing a curious crowd. One highlight was a crate 5.0 engine on display—a modern powerhouse that sparked plenty of conversations about blending classic styling with new-age performance.
Gordon Hendricksen, former owner of Don Anderson Ford in Ronan, shared the dealership’s long-standing support of the event.
“We have come out every year to support the event, and it’s a good opportunity to talk with old friends and get to meet the community,” he said.
Of course, pulling off a car show of this scale doesn’t just happen overnight. Behind the scenes, it takes dedication, planning, and a lot of paperwork.
Norm Nather, one of the event organizers, shared just how much goes into getting the show on the road.
There’s plenty of work getting an event like this ready from permits to insurance and event approval, he explained.
But it’s all worth it, he added: “We love old cars, and we recommend coming out, so just get up, get here early, and come out and have fun.”
And that’s exactly what people did. From families with kids wide-eyed at the roaring engines, to older couples reminiscing about their first cars, the annual Mission Valley Cruisers Car Show was a celebration of craftsmanship, community and joy of the open road.
