Cruisin' the Drag through the years

Jerry Gray watches the foot traffic pass by at 2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Car enthusiatsts from left: David Bell, Fritz Seitz, and Shane Hegle joke around at 2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Jerry Eberl shows off his custom sneakers at the 2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Lindy Eberl at 2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Lindy Eberl at 2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Mike Johnson's 1926 Ford Model T at the 2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Drew Kent and his son Liam, age 3, check out Jim Trainor's 1956 Chevrolet 210 at the 2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Jim Trainor talks about his 1956 Chevrolet 210 ono display at the 2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Andrew Fowler's 1950 Chevy 3500 truck on display at the 2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Cody Harant and his son Archie, age 2, check out the cars at the 2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Buzz, the chihuahua pug mix, rests in the shade of a 1956 Ford Fairlane at Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

1933 Ford Vicky Speedstar at the 2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

1933 Ford Vicky Speedstar at the 2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Penn Kiser, age 6, sits in his '55 Chevy Bel Air pedal car as his grandfather Phil Kiser looks on next to his '56 Chevy Bel Air at the 2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Penn Kiser waits as his grandfather visits with a fellow car owner at the 2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Tom Matsko tries on Lindy Eberl's retro glasses at Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Charity Bacon and her nephew Damien push their sprint car inspired stroller at Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Charity Bacon and her nephew Damien push their sprint car inspired stroller at Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Al Smith's 1930 Ford Model A at 2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Patrick Willis used exhaust tips as housings for the dashboard guages in his 1962 Ford truck on display at the 2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

2016 Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday on Central Avenue in downtown Great Falls.

Ed Davis wipes down his '64 Chevy Impala druing Cruisin' the Drag in 2010.

Jeremiah, left, and Leif Myskewitz enjoy looking at their reflections in a chrome bumper during Cruisin' The Drag.

A 1940 Buick, Eight Special at Cruisin' the Drag in 2010.

People flock to Cruisin' the Drag in 2010.

Justin Bollich, age 5, enjoys the nice weather in his hot rod during Cruisin' the Drag.

Car fans walk Central Avenue during Cruisin' The Drag.

The hood ornament of a 1932 Chevy on display at Cruisin' The Drag.

A 1948 Anglia on display at Cruisin' The Drag.

Kids check out the modified 1965 Cadilac Deville Superior Hearse on display at Cruisin' The Drag.

John Jewell of Great Falls looks at the engine of Dan Holt's 1955 Chevy Belair during Cruisin' the Drag.

The rear end of a 1975 Corvette Roadster on display at Cruisin' the Drag.

Bob Harris looks over the information card on this 1932 Chevy Confederate at Cruisin' the Drag.

Classic cars are right at home under the Public Drug store sign during Cruisin' the Drag.

TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS Randy Wolter checks out a 63' Chevy Nova as he strolled Central Avenue during Cruisin' the Drag Saturday afternoon.

TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS Sun and chrome make for a good combination; over 600 cars were entered in the eighth annual Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday in downtown Great Falls.

Tribune Photo by Rion Sanders Tait Hanson looks over a 1951 Mercury during Cruisin' the Drag, Satuday afternoon. Custom and Classic cars lined Central Avenue and some side streets in Downtown Great Falls during the event, which was expected to draw some 600 vehicles and cover nine blocks along Central Avenue.

TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS The grill of a custom 1946 Chevy reflects Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday afternoon on Central Avenue.

Tribune Photo by Rion Sanders Betsy Pulliam stands in front of her 1934 Ford at Cruisin' the Drag, Sturday, May 13, 2006. It took Betsy and her husband four years to rebuild the car to it's current state.

Tribune Photo by Rion Sanders Custom and Classic cars lined Central Avenue and some side streets in Downtown Great Falls during Cruisin' the Drag, Saturday, May 13, 2006. The event was expected to draw some 600 vehicles and cover nine blocks along Central Avenue.

Tribune file photo Bennett Motors sponsors Cruisin' the Drag, a popular spring event as this 2008 file photo by Jim Wells shows.

The Cruisin the Drag car show is reflected in a Packard hubcap.

C.M. Russell High School student Brandon Brewster shows his 1967 Mustang Coupe at Saturday's Cruisin' the Drag event.

Jordan Wanner, 14, left, and his dad Drew Wanner looked at Mustangs models form mid 1960s to 2012.

Cruisin' the Drag gets underway.

Mark Zeke inspects Dick and Diana Anderson's 1951 Mercury custom two-door sedan during Cruisin' the Drag.

Car fans cruise downtown Great Falls during the Cruisin the Drag car show on Saturday.

Tom O'Hara's 1938 Chevy at Cruisin the Drag on Saturday.

TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS Steve Howse's 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 on display. Steve Howse's 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 on display at Cruisin the Drag on Saturday.

TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS An attendee checks out an engine in one of the classic cars. The annual Cruisin the Drag car show underway in downtown Great Falls on Saturday.

Mike Johnson¿s 1926 Ford Model T at Cruisin¿ the Drag. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS Mike Johnson's 1926 Ford Model T at Cruisin the Drag on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS The show featured cars of varied colors and vintages. The annual Cruisin the Drag car show underway in downtown Great Falls on Saturday.

TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS Bella and Weston Thompson play in their grandfather's 1968 Camaro. Bella and Weston Thompson play in their grandfather's 1968 Camero on Saturday at Cruisin the Drag.

Rat Fink antenna ornament at Cruisin the Drag on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Jerry Meyer¿s 1955 Oldsmobile. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS Jerry Meyer's 1955 Oldsmobile at Cruisin the Drag on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

The hood of Richard and Judy Glover¿s 1969 VW Beetle Type 3 is shown Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS Hood of Richard and Judy Glover's 1969 VW Beetle Type 3 during Cruisin the Drag, Saturday on Central Ave. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Kooper Bannister, 3, cruises Central Avenue with his grandfather Bob Bannister on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS Kooper Bannister, age 3, cruises Central Avenue with his grandfather Bob Bannister on Saturday during Cruisin the Drag. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Edward Randash's 1957 Chevy Bel Air at Cruisin the Drag on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

- -FILE _ Some of about 400 custom and classic cars registered for the Cruisin' the Drag 2001 show Saturday jammed Bennett Motors lots and Central Avenue from 6th Street above to 9th Street. Tribune photo by Wayne Arnst

- -GFT, 13.05.2001:1M _ With a red Bugatti in the Bennett Motors lot behind him, Kolton Clark, 7, shows the Hot Wheels Triceratops Bus he planned to race during the Cruisin' the Drag 2001 show Saturday, May 13, 2001. Tribune photo by Wayne Arnst

- -GFT, 13.05.2001:1M _ Ken Fink of Butte looks over the engine in a 56 Ford Truck "Cruzn56" customized by Roger Jacobson of Shelby. Tribune photo by Wayne Arnst

- -GFT, 12.05.2002:3M - Vehicles in the Cruisin' the Drag Car Show make their way down Central Avenue on their way to parade around Great Falls Saturday afternoon, May 11, 2002. Tribune photo by Kevin Dunn

- - GFT, 02.05.2003:1W -- This 1970 orange Subaru is one of the unusual vehicles that will be on display in the annual Cruisin' the Drag car show May 10. It features a 360 cc two-cycle, two-stroke engine. It is being exhibited by Bennett Motors mechanic Ken Clark, who has it on loan from Bill Cafyn. Tribune photo by Stuart S. White 04/29/03

- -GFT, 02.05.2003:1W -- Randy Robertson's 1917 Velie will be a featured attraction at the third annual Cruisin' the Drag May 10, 2003, on Central Avenue. Tribune photo by Stuart S. White 04/29/03

- -FILE _ Doug Bean and his son Josh Bean, 14, admire one of the vehicles during the Cruisin' the Drag car show Saturday, May 10, 2003, on Central Avenue in Great Falls. Tribune Photo by John W. Liston

- -GFT, 09.05.2004:1A -- Curb to curb people and vehicles jammed Central Avenue from the Civic Center east to 9th Street during the fifth annual Cruisin' the Drag family fun day in downtown Great Falls Saturday, May 8, 2004. 050804 CarShw crowd 1 Tribune photo by Wayne Arnst

- -GFT, 06.05.2005:1L -- Bob and Debbie Bourgeois sit on their Harleys in Great Falls. The couple will be showing their motorcycles this year in the Cruisin' the Drag. Tribune photo by Robin Loznak

- -GFT, 08.05.2005:1M -- Car show judges Jay Kugler, left, and Lynn Murphy of Billings take notes on a 1940 Ford F-150 pickup truck, that later took home Best in Show truck honors at the Cruisin' the Drag classic car show on Central Avenue on Saturday, May 7, 2005. Tribune Photo by Rion Sanders 050705

- -FILE _ Some of about 400 custom and classic cars registered for the Cruisin' the Drag 2001 show Saturday jammed Bennett Motors lots and Central Avenue from 6th Street above to 9th Street. Tribune photo by Wayne Arnst

- -GFT, 13.05.2001:1M _ Some of the about 400 custom and classic cars registered for the Cruisin' the Drag 2001 show Saturday, May 12, 2001, jammed the Bennett Motors lots above and Central Avenue from 5th to 9th Streets. Tribune photo by Wayne Arnst

- -GFT, 02.05.2003:1W -- Imagine yourself behind the wheel of Randy Robertson's 1917 Velie, on display in the Bennett Motors showroom, and one ofthe featured attractions for the third annual Cruisin' the Drag, May 10, 2003. Tribune photo by Stuart S. White 04/29/03.

Bill Kopetski checks out the hood of a 1956 Chevy 210.