Cruise-In brings a variety of vehicles, motorcycles

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The first Saturday of the month provided an opportunity for car and motorcycle enthusiasts to showcase their pride and joy June 4.
An estimated 100 cars, trucks and motorcycles were parked on Ste. Maries and Jackson streets as part of the five-hour weekend event.
John LaRose, Sr. parked his 2021 Corvette across from City Tavern, in front of the Perry County Courthouse lawn.
“It’s the hardest car I’ve ever had to get in or out of, (but) I don’t mind it,” he said.
No stranger to owning Corvettes, LaRose, Sr. also owned a 1988 and 1998 model. LaRose, Sr. explained he wouldn’t get a newer model Corvette unless a drastic change or update was done.
The 2021 model has the engine in the back, and LaRose, Sr. said it more of a European style . The previous year, in 2020, was the first year that this was done with Corvettes.
A total of 12 paint color options were available for the 2021 version, and LaRose, Sr. went with the red mist variety. His other two Corvettes were also red.
Michelle LaRose participated in Saturday’s Cruise-In by driving her white 1993 Jeep.
“I just decided to give it a try today and be out and be somebody,” LaRose said.
She considered bringing her Jeep to the Mayfest car show earlier this year, but Saturday was
the first time she brought the vehicle to a show.

She has owned the Jeep since Mother’s Day 2021.
“I used a stimulus check to get it,” she said. “It’s all original, the motor and everything, the seats.”
Kenneth Bilderback of Percy, Ill. brought his 1972 Malibu Chevelle, which he has owned since 1978.
“I’ve been here before but not lately, this is the first time this year,” Bilderback said.
He has two trucks and another car. His mother, Carol, traveled with him to Perryville Saturday.
She admitted her son has worked on a lot of vehicles, but knows the Malibu is unique.
“This is probably the first good one he’s had,” she said.
The original color of the car was silver. “About every body part has been changed,” Bilderback said.
The vehicle has 388,000 miles on it, though it has had a series of changeovers.
It’s on its third or fourth transmission. The white seats have been reupholstered about five times. The original engine, which had more than 170,000 miles on it, has been replaced.
The color, a dark red, is from a 1989 Mercury Cougar.