It takes someone with a giving heart to organize a cruise-in.
Today, businesses are reluctant to grant access to their parking lots for a myriad of reasons. Automotive vendor support, once plentiful, has all but dried up.
Without someone with a giving heart leading the charge, the dream of gathering car enthusiasts together dies on the vine.
Fortunately for Atlanta’s car community, Patricia Chamlee has a giving heart, and that makes all the difference in the world.
You experience the difference the moment you roll into her Cruz-In events held at DQ/Walmart-Midway, 5615 Commerce Blvd in Alpharetta.
Spend a few minutes with her, and you walk away with a profound respect for her boundless energy, enthusiasm, and bulldog tenacity. Patricia might be happiest when she can put a smile on the faces of those around her through a great event.
Also, you don’t chase off sleeping overnight truckers, clean up parking lots, and organize volunteers without wanting to provide enjoyment for others. Not to mention the myriad of constantly changing hoops she has to jump through.
Fortunately, Patricia has her husband Brent for encouragement, dedicated volunteers, and a DQ restaurant owner who enjoys cruise-ins.
DQ Puts A Swirl On Top
When is a cruise-in, not just a cruise-in? The answer is simple: when it’s held beside a DQ restaurant.
Cruise-ins and fun dining have always been joined at the hip. It’s been a natural pairing since the late 50s.
This DQ-Midway restaurant keeps that “Happy Days’ vibe going strong by being the hub of the action.
In addition to their genuine hospitality, they donate chilled bottled water and give out highly-coveted coupons for a free small ice cream cone.
Not only does Payal, the owner of the DQ-Midway restaurant, support Atlanta’s car culture, but she also puts a swirl on top to boot.
Big Blue Draws A Crowd
Some people gravitate toward classic cars, while others prefer a more modern design. Eventually, everyone saunters over to admire Big Blue, owned by Dave Williams.
Dave’s 1982 American LaFrance “Century” pumper is like a human magnet at a car show. It continually draws people, questions, and young ones clamoring to sit inside.
The engine began its service on January 12, 1983, as FDNY Engine 290 in the south-central section of Brooklyn, NY. From there, it served with distinction until eventually being decommissioned on November 4, 1998.
The North Lawrence, New York Volunteer Fire Department purchased the engine and had it fitted with a 1600-gallon water tank and painted blue and white.
In the Spring of 2013, the fire truck was retired from active duty. Today, its second life revolves around car shows and local parades as it’s slowly being restored and re-equipped.
Walmart’s Generosity
Few things in life these days are truly free. That idiom is especially true of car shows and cruise-ins in Atlanta. Here is something you may not have known.
Property owners routinely charge a minimum of $500 to upwards of $1,000+ for the use of their patch of black asphalt. The upfront costs don’t stop there.
Often, you need a $1,000,000 liability insurance policy in your back pocket before you can even get your foot in the door. The obvious question at this point would be, “How can these shows offer a free event?”
Often, it comes down to donations from vendors and generous participants. In the case of Patricia’s Cruz-In event, this Walmart location has stepped up and generously waived the liability insurance requirement and the parking lot fee.
Walmart’s magnanimous support enabled the $500 raised in donations that day to go towards purchasing parking passes for families at CHOA (Children’s Healthcare-Atl).
Special thanks go to the management team of the Walmart Supercenter for giving back to the community and for supporting our car hobby.
Personal Touch
Do you recall the last time the event organizer personally greeted you as you rolled into the event? We’re guessing most car show veterans would say, “Never” if asked.
The DQ/Walmart-Midway Cruz-In at 5615 Commerce Blvd, in Alpharetta, is different. Often, either Patricia or Brent will give you a heartfelt smile and a cold bottle of water as soon as you arrive.
Throughout the show, you’ll find Patricia taking pictures and chatting it up with rusty pickup truck owners, Lamborghini drivers, and everyone in between. She stays in constant motion, ensuring everyone is having a good time.
This hospitality has earned the show a strong reputation that draws out the best vehicles in the area. Everybody, who’s anybody, has made their way over to Patricia’s event over the past few years.
They say someone with a giving heart who refreshes others will, in turn, refresh themselves. We want to believe that’s true.
What we do know is that Patricia Chamlee’s giving heart makes all the difference.
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