Flashback Cruz… 500 Car Invasion at the River!
Photos & Story by Bob Roseberry
Bend — The 2008 edition was the 23rd Annual Flashback Cruz and that’s a lot of water down the Deschutes! This writer has no way of knowing what it was like in the beginning, but, this year there was a multi-block lineup of entrants, in place even before the vendors got set up. Drake Park, where the event is held, has a 500-car limit and this year that number was up by 10 AM! This is where pre-registration comes in handy, of course, but that’s another subject altogether. Five Hundred is the biggest crowd yet!



Of those 500 cars, a predictable majority were from Bend, and the surrounding area, but a surprising number came from west of the Cascades, both Oregon and Washington. There were a couple bylined “Arizona” and several from California. Impressive though this is, it’s gotten to be standard for the Flashback Cruz, which draws repeat customers every year, while adding more each time. So what draws them? Well, an outstanding rod run, and car show, obviously, but the City of Bend sure helps, with the Old Town district in walking distance, with restaurants, and shops. The weather is a factor and, in this regard, Bend always delivers. It’s dry, east of the mountains, ranch country, which always feels good, especially to us mossbacks from the west side, where even the summers can be damp.
Although the Drake Park show is on Saturday, the Cruz is actually a three day event, starting with the Friday “pre Cruz”show and shine at the North End Baxter Auto Parts, followed by a (what else?) cruise, to a live music dance at Drake Park. On Saturday, after the Awards Ceremony, the action goes on the road, at least as far as Old Town, where the streets are closed for a downtown “Cruz” and street dance, again with live music. While most events would be wrapping up at this point, these guys have more planned. For those who can find an early cup of coffee, they can join the convoy to Mt. Batchelor for the Car Olympics, where participants can find how well, or how badly, they can maneuver their car while juggling potatoes!



If all this sounds good to you, it’s all going to happen again in 2009, which brings us back to “Pre-Registration” again. Seriously consider pre registering, so you’ll be guaranteed a space in “The 500”. It’s too much fun to miss!