Editor’s Corner: Grapevine Cruise Night ‘makes Main Street fun again’

By Stacey Doud

I got to go to “Cruise Night” in Grapevine on July 19, 2019. It’s an antique (and sometimes not so antique) car display in downtown every Friday night at 604 S. Main Street in the Blagg Goodyear parking lot from about 6 – 9pm.

I was there to support my friend Richard and his 1937 Dodge police car, but I love antique cars and modern speed demons.

Cruise Night was started in April 2016 by Steve and Barbara Trenkle and Ben Flanagan. They grew up in Grapevine, where it truly was like the movie “American Graffiti.”

“We would cruise Main in our cars, then stop and discuss and compare cars and engines. We wanted to do that again. Our motto is, ‘Make Grapevine Main Street fun again’,” Barbara said.

The event has gotten so popular that the City of Grapevine has a web page for it.

The owner of the 1937 Dodge, Richard Borisenko, and I met around 5pm to set up. There was a steady stream of people all night – some were locals that come out to Cruise Night every Friday, and some were tourists in town, walking down Main and happening upon us.

“Texas Rich” from Busted Knuckle Magazine (L) and Richard Borisenko

Car owners swapped stories and chatted with visitors, showing off their labors of love. There was also a representative from Busted Knuckle Rod and Truck Magazine which only features Texas vehicles, unlike the more widespread mags like Road and Track or Hot Rod.

It was a very pleasant evening, and Richard got to show off his “baby,” turning on the roof light, sounding the siren (which is so loud, it freaked people out!) and the undercarriage lights after it got dark. He brought his mannequins, “Bonnie and Clyde,” which were a big hit, especially since the dastardly duo had caused problems in Grapevine way back when. There is a plaque about them at the corner of Northwest Highway (Business 114) and Dove Road.

“Bonnie and Clyde”

The lights on the ’37 Dodge

All of the car owners, without exception, were very friendly and happy to talk about how they had restored their vehicles.

Cruise Night happens every Friday in the Blagg Goodyear parking lot, located at 604 S. Main Street in Grapevine from about 6 – 9pm. Check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/GrapevineClassics/.