“Sunday, Monday, Happy Days,
Tuesday, Wednesday, Happy Days,
Thursday, Friday, Happy Days,
The weekend comes, my cycle hums
Ready to race to you”
Sometimes I get nostalgic for a good old-fashion early 60’s cruise-in. A simpler time when people pulled up to the gas pump and actually said to the attendant, “Gimme a dollar’s worth.”
In 1965, a dollar could get you a far piece down the road, because gas was only 31 cents a gallon. Back then, Saturday night was date night, and you would hang out at the local drive-in diner with your friends.
So what do you do today when nostalgia sweeps over you? If it’s the 4th Sunday of the month, you jump into your Corvette and head over to Patricia & Brent Chamlee’s event at the DQ/Walmart – Midway Shopping Center parking lot.
While it’s not Arnold’s Drive-In from Happy Days, it’s still a great place to get something to eat, grab a dessert and hang out with fellow car lovers.
North Alpharetta Bound
One Sunday afternoon, we took advantage of the warm weather and pointed our Corvette toward North Alpharetta, searching for Patricia’s cruise-in. The event is held rain/shine from 3 pm to 6:30 pm on the 4th Sunday of the month from March through October.
The GPS was true to its word as we pulled into the event at the DQ/Walmart – Midway Shopping Center, 5615 Commerce Blvd, Alpharetta, GA, 30004. When we got there around 4 pm, the roped off parking lot, set aside for 125 cars or so, was filling up nicely.
As they handed us our goody bag, they reminded us there is no entry fee, no burnouts, no alcohol, or profanity—just smiles, laughter, shiny chrome, and patina.
Eventually, we caught up with Patricia during a lull in the action to talk to her about her classic cruise-in.
How It All Started
ROD WORLEY – Editor – Patricia, you put on a genuine, old-fashion cruise-in here on Commerce Blvd in North Alpharetta. How long have you and your husband been into street rods and shows?
What prompted you to start this show?
Patricia Chamlee – Event Organizer – My hubby and I have been ‘street rodding’ for 38 years, along with owning Harleys for 26 plus years. We’ve traveled across the USA to attend events for both.
I began organizing events many years ago at my office for upwards of 2,000 attendees. So that experience flowed over into assisting in the organization of benefit motorcycle rides and events through the local clubs and Harley dealerships.
Soon the local car clubs began requesting volunteers for their benefit events. At about the same time, churches, schools, families in need, Veterans, etc. were also looking for help. There is always a need.
Three years ago, this Dairy Queen in the Midway Community Shopping Center opened its doors. It quickly became one of my favorite locations for fundraiser meetings because of its family-friendly atmosphere.
As so often happens among us local classic car owners, it didn’t take long for this DQ to become a gathering place for impromptu cruise-ins. It’s hard to hide beauty on the blacktop.
Special Thanks To DQ – Midway
The DQ – Midway owners, Digesh & Payal, and their staff set the tone for an enjoyable overall experience. They have a great appreciation for these vehicles and the camaraderie among the owners.
They expressed on several occasions their desire to have me head up their monthly cruise-in, which I eventually did.
The owners, Digesh & Payall, are very family-oriented and have an appreciation for these vehicles. They expressed their desire on several occasions to have a cruise-in, and that’s how it all began.
As it does sometimes happen, the weather did not cooperate on our very 1st Cruz-In. It was about 38 degrees and rain.
But, I have the best supporters, so approximately 17 vehicles rolled in any way. From there, we have continued to grow each month, with this year reaching upwards of 120+ vehicles on some months.
Just An Old School Cruise-In
ROD WORLEY – Editor – Patricia, you and your husband Brent not only put on the show with only two volunteers, Larry Pirkle & Ms. Elaine, but you support it financially as well. DQ provides some support through bottled water & free ice cream cones.
Do you accept donations?
Patricia Chamlee – Event Organizer – Yes, we accept donations when our Cruze-In includes a specific fundraiser, such as Children’s Miracle Network or a particular family in need. Then the fundraiser/Cruz-In is widely advertised as such, and donations are encouraged.
The car, truck, and bike enthusiasts have always been charitable and will give wholeheartedly to an event with the correct approach and organization. The organization, planning, and carrying out each month’s Cruz-In requires a lot of time and dedication from me, even though it’s just an ‘old school’ type monthly cruise-in.
I’m not affiliated with a club or organization. There are no entry fees, trophies, door prizes, or 50/50. Just cruise in, share laughs and camaraderie.
Sit back and admire the beauty rolling in, make new friends, catch up with old friends. You can relax under a shade tree with an ice cream cone or a full meal.
Stay as long as you want and leave when you want. Many people bring their little side tables, chairs and a picnic basket from home or frequent the Dairy Queen for a meal or ice cream.
It’s just a good ole gathering of car enthusiasts that enjoy the simplicity of a Sunday afternoon doing what we car enthusiasts love doing.
Enthusiastic Turnout
ROD WORLEY – Editor – Your event is a traditional cruise-in in the truest, time-honored sense of the word. You’ve roped off space for about 125 cars, but how many vehicles do you typically see each month?
How far into the surrounding communities do you usually draw from for this event?
Patricia Chamlee – Event Organizer – Well, Rod, I’d say we get around 95 vehicles on average, though it depends on the weather, of course. They cruise in from as close as four miles away to 110 mi away.
We have owners driving in from Suwanee, Newnan, Griffin, Douglasville, Oakwood, Stone Mountain, and Jasper. Marietta, Dallas, Fayetteville, Roswell, Buckhead, Snellville, Cumming, and the Dawsonville area are also well represented.
Each month we extend an invitation to our Forsyth & Milton City Police and 1st Responders. David & Pat Bradley represents Forsyth City each month with a beautiful 1937 Pirsch ladder truck.
It’s a beautiful ladder truck and serves as a focal point for the event. Children and adults alike love to ring that fire truck bell. What a thrill!
Children’s Miracle Network
ROD WORLEY – Editor – We looked over the charitable work for this DQ and Walmart. We noticed they were both involved in the Children’s Miracle Network.
Has your cruise-in helped raise funds for this charity?
Patricia Chamlee – Event Organizer – Yes, myself, the DQ, and the Walmart – Midway are involved in charity work for Children’s Miracle Network. In particular, DQ-Midway sponsors many fundraising events for CMN and also local schools and individuals in need.
Walmart – Midway does occasionally setup a donation/information table during our event to encourage donations and increase awareness of the needs of the Children’s Miracle Network.
My recent fundraiser at DQ – Midway was for a 4-yr old child with leukemia. We were able to raise $2,600 in three hours through our event.
The Personal Touch
ROD WORLEY – Editor – We couldn’t help but notice you greeted everyone who drove in and thanked them when they left. Patricia, your excitement and energy spread like wildfire over everyone here!
Tells us more about the event and the goody bag you give everyone.
Patricia Chamlee – Event Organizer – Thank you for the compliment, Rod. We are passionate about our Cruz-In and take extra steps to ensure it is a very welcoming, laughter-filled, family-friendly, and safe experience.
Walmart graciously allows me to rope off a specific 125 space parking area for our cruisers only.
We care about controlling the roped off area for parking, walking, and standing around talking to others. Another important point is to greet each owner as they enter & always thank them for coming as they exit.
I am continually walking thru the parking area, chatting to the new people, catching up with old friends, or just making sure everyone is enjoying the gathering. Of course we also take lots of photos.
Entrants (and many spectators) also receive a goody bag with useful trinkets and brochures advertising local businesses.
DQ Supports The Cruise-In
Patricia Chamlee – Event Organizer – The DQ-Midway generously adds to each goody bag a bottled water and a free DQ ice cream cone coupon. Often they will provide a DQ cup for getting free fountain ice water, tea, or soda.
I’m always concerned that everyone stays hydrated during those hot and humid days. It’s just an extra effort to make sure everyone feels welcomed.
“Goodbye grey sky, hello blue,
there’s nothing can hold me when I hold you.
feels so right, you can’t be wrong,
rocking’ and rolling’ all week long!”
Thanks For The Memories
An event like Patricia’s brings back fond memories for me. I can still close my eyes and vividly recall hundreds of us cruising down Riverside Blvd in Spokane, Washington, in the mid-70s.
Muscle cars, vintage hot rods, and custom vehicles of all kinds just wanting to see and be seen on a Saturday night.
If you’re looking for the simplicity and purity of a bygone era in American hot rodding, you should mark this event on your calendar. You can get more information through Facebook at Cruz-In at DQ/Walmart-Midway 2019 & 2020.
One thing is for sure; the Fonz would approve.
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