JOPLIN, Mo. — One of the features of Joplin’s Boomtown Days was a car show.

Many Independence Day celebrations featured just as many displays of racing stripes alongside stars and stripes.

It’s hard to get through a weekend without coming across a car show or cruise-in -- unless you spend the entire weekend inside. Cruise-ins are a summer staple that are so popular that they extend through late fall in Southwest Missouri.

Maybe it’s our proximity to Route 66. Maybe it has to do with our interest in racing.

“There’s one every weekend somewhere across the area,” said Mark Cupps, owner of Macs Convenience Store. The 32nd Street business happens to be located right next door to a large, abandoned parking lot -- perfect for its cruise night held every third Saturday.

The Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Bike and Car night from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday on the square. Later that day, Culver’s in Webb City will host its regular cruise-in, from 6 p.m. until dark.

“They are really all over the place,” said Mike Myers, a DJ who runs a cruise-in every first Saturday at Woody’s Smokehouse in Airport Drive. “I think people just like to get out. It’s free, and fun to go to.”

The cruise-ins are just like they were back in the golden days of the automobile -- only there is a lot less cruising and a lot more parking, Cupps said.

“We’re trying to be in the spirit of our younger days,” Cupps said. “That’s the great thing about organizing a cruise-in. Most of the time it’s not that organized.”

Cupps remembers cruising as a young man in Neosho. He and many others used to cruise Neosho’s square -- Cupps drove a white ‘64 Plymouth with a hemispherical engine (aka a “hemi").

The love of cars bit Cupps fiercely. Since those days, he’s owned a different ‘64 Plymouth, a 2002 Corvette convertible, a ‘68 Plymouth Roadrunner, a ‘68 Dodge Coronet RT and a ‘67 Mustang convertible. He also has owned a rare ‘65 Plymouth Sport Fury Indianapolis 500 Pace Car convertible -- one of only 35 ever made.

“This is the worst addiction to have,” Cupps said. “Once you’re bitten, you can’t get rid of it. There’s no Cars Anonymous.”

There are plenty of people around who appreciate hearing things like that. The Macs cruise-in pulls an average of about 100 cars every month.

“The highest we got was 170 registered,” Cupps said. “We see new people that come in from all over. Last week we had a bunch from a national Maverick club come.”

These people love cars, too. They appreciate anything, Myers said, from a diamond in the rough to a glittering jewel of a jalopy.

“Some people will come out with an old rustbucket, and that will get looked at more than anything,” Myers said. “Some will sit out in the sun all day at a car show, then go to a cruise that night.”

Cupps said there is a difference between a car show and a cruise-in. Car shows are a tad more formal and usually have registration costs associated with opportunities to win many more prizes or contests. There are judges, trophies, and stricter rules.

Cruise-ins are more informal and don’t have such strict judging criteria. Or big prizes, for that matter.

Culver’s and Freddy’s give out coupons for free custard and other prizes. Most offer a live DJ playing music, 50/50 pots for charity and other door prizes.

But it’s not those things that draw people to cruise-ins. Cupps said not even the cars are the main draw of such events.

“I’ve met friends I’ve had for more than 30 years,” Cupps said. “The only common thread is our love of cars.”



Want to cruise?

If you have some nice wheels, or if you simply want to see some, there are plenty of cruise-ins held across the weekend. The Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Bike and Car night from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday on the square.

In case you miss that one, don’t worry. There are PLENTY more. Here’s a brief list of what we found, and there are no registration costs for any of them:

~ Bradbury Bishop Deli: Held from 5:30 to at least dark every second Saturday. Events include DJ Tom Moore. 201 Main St., Webb City. Details: 417-673-4047.

~ Culver’s: Starts at 6 p.m. every fourth Saturday. Events include DJ, giveaways, games for kids and appearance of Scoopie. Madison and MacArthur, Webb City. Details: 417+673-1222.

~ Freddy’s: Starts at 7 p.m. every third Friday at the parking lot behind the restaurant. Events include DJ, 50/50 pot and door prizes. 1503 S. Range Line Road, Joplin. Details: 417-659-8115.

~ Macs Convenience Store: Held from 5 p.m. until dark every third Saturday. Events include DJ Jimmy Beaver, 50/50 pot, door prizes. 2703 E. 32nd St., Joplin. Details: 659-8253.

~ Waylan’s Ku-Ku Drive-In: Held at 6 p.m. every fourth Saturday. Events include DJ and games. 915 N. Main St., Miami, Okla. Details: 918-542-1696.

~ Woody’s Smokehouse: Held from 6 to 9 p.m. every first Saturday. Events include 50/50 pot, DJ Mike Myers and giveaways. Highways 171 and 43, Airport Drive. Details: 417-291-5820.