Ruddell’s annual ‘Cruise In’ set for Friday

It’s the silver anniversary for the annual Ruddell Cruise In, slated for 5 p.m. Friday, July 9, at 110 S. Golf Course Road in Port Angeles.

The event begins with live music from The Works setting set the tone for the evening’s activities. There will be a celebrity benefit dunk tank, with proceeds this year going to support Captain Joseph House Foundation. Burgers and hot dogs will be offered for a nominal charge by the Knights of Columbus.

The Fog Town coffee trailer will be on site serving various coffee drinks, and the Port Angeles Whiskey Wagon will also be on hand serving a variety of cool and refreshing beverages.

Attendance is free and the event is open to the public.

And, of course, the cars.

“We expect this year’s event to be the best yet with hundreds of cars,” dealer Howie Ruddell said. “We are usually full within an hour of opening the gate and expect the same again this year.”

He said that, based on the registration and responses, organizers expect to see 2,500-plus people at the event.

Members from number of different car clubs are expected, and individuals are welcome as well. Co-hosting the event is the Old Timers car club from Bremerton.

“We expect not only local cars, but some from across Washington,” Old Timers chairperson Jerry Scott said. “This is both a great event and a big one too, and with some good weather, we are expecting this year’s Cruise In to set another new attendance record.”

Parking will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Four trophies will be awarded for a Best of Show, People’s Choice, Heritage, and Farthest Distance Travelled. A variety of door prizes totaling more than $4,000 will be handed out during the event this year.

Because of the limited number of spaces, project cars (those not completed) and post-(newer than) 1986 cars are not allowed.

The Ruddell Cruise In was started in 1996 by the late H. “Mac” Ruddell with the help of Old Timers car club then-chairman Jerry Scott of Bremerton. After success in the initial years, the car club and the dealership forged a long-term relationship and the event has grown significantly since its inception.

The Friday night Cruise-In is a free event that kicks off a weekend-long event for the Old Timers Car Club. Those interested in registering for the entire weekend-long event can do so Friday evening with The Old Timers for an additional fee that includes a T-shirt and features a Saturday Rod Run and a barn dance and meal in the evening at the Clallam County Fairgrounds. The theme for the weekend-long rally this year is “Grease.”