PILOT MOUNTAIN — With the slightest hint of fall already in the air, Saturday’s “Hot Nights and Hot Cars” summer cruise-in series felt the effects of overcast skies and cooler temperatures.
While traffic was obviously lighter than for August’s huge turnout, the center of downtown Pilot Mountain was still filled with festive crowds and classic vehicles.
“The weather probably did hurt us as far as turnout goes,” noted Jerry Venable of the sponsoring organization. “But this was still a good show with people enjoying themselves throughout. We were pleased.”
Venable particularly noted the Depot Street bandstand area which was filled for the music of The Blackwater Rhythm and Blues Band.
“This was the beach music band of the year last year, and they put on an awesome show,” he said. “They’re an exceptional band with lots of horns and brass and plenty of energy. And when we had some rain about 8:30, they kept playing. They finished their show.”
The summer series will conclude with a Friday-Saturday pair of events on Oct. 6 and 7.
The fourth-annual “Race Car Friday Night on Main” event, scheduled for Oct. 6, will see Main Street closed to traffic at 5 p.m., allowing spectators the opportunity to admire a wide assortment of race cars to be displayed from 5:30-9:30 p.m.
The show is open to all types of cars from dirt, drag and stadium racing, including drag cars, open-wheel modifieds, old and new stadium modifieds, street legal, pro street, road course, pro-mod and gassers.
“We’re already working on it and we’re hoping the word will get out,” Venable noted. “We should have a lot of local cars be brought out. We had close to 100 race cars on hand last year, and we hope to get 100 or more this year.”
Main Street will be reopened the next day for the final cruise-in of the year.
The event will follow its now familiar format featuring live beach music to be provided on the Depot Street stage by the Carolina Breakers. The band was voted the Carolina Beach Music Awards favorite new artist of 2011 and over the past four years has collectively amassed 10 number-one hits.
