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WILKES-BARRE — What do Chevrolet Camaros, Pontiac Firebirds and Honda motorcycles have in common?
Not much. Except for the fact they were all on display Friday during the Wilkes-Barre Public Square Car & Bike Cruise.
The car show, which begins around 6 p.m. every third Friday from April to September, was abruptly cut short around 8 p.m. due to rain.
Kevin Kochanski, of Shavertown, brought out his 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle for the occasion.
“I bring it out on nice sunny days,” he said about 10 minutes before the downpour began. By 8:10 p.m., most cars were off the Square and headed home because of the inclement weather. Some stuck around, using their cars as shields from the wet stuff.
Kochanski said he bought his gold-and-brown classic car “a long time ago” — 18 years, to be exact.
Daniel Miik, of Timeless Auto Sales, said he sees the cruise as a time for people to reminisce about their glory days.
“The car scene is getting bigger (nationally),” he said, noting he helps advertise cars across the country. He enjoys seeing the selection of cars or, as he calls it, “the older and younger generation.”
Miik sees more people “coming out of the woodwork” with their classic vehicles.
Typically, as noted by the event’s Facebook page, a disc jockey is on hand to provide music. But because of Friday’s rain, the DJ was canceled.
Dominic Rittenhouse was carrying his own Fisher Price car to the car show.
Dominic, 3, of Wilkes-Barre, came with his mother, father and brothers to see the wide variety of vehicles. Dominic’s father, Thomas, said his son is fascinated by them. And the chance to see “real nice cars” was too tempting to pass up.
When asked if he was having fun, Dominic said “yes” and pointed to a motorcycle and purple car.
“(He loves it) as long as it has an engine,” Thomas said about his boy.
