7th Annual “All Fools Day” Car Cruise

Our 7th annual “All Fools Day” car cruise was on April 1 this year, note that the first cruise was on also on April 1. Twelve cars total were on hand to start the cruise from the Fire and Ice Park here in Grants and head to the Bibo bar for their great green chili cheese burgers for lunch. The weather was beautiful with no wind and was warm and sunny. (NO FOOLING). One car, a 2019 BMW convertible went with its top down the entire cruise.

We started with signing in and getting a score card for the dice roll that challenged each driver to roll dice at each stop and spell out… I’M… A… Car…F…O…O…L. The six sides total would spell this. A playing card was also drawn for a poker hand. Pictures at the drive through followed and we then headed to Skyway east of town for fuel if needed and another dice roll and card draw. From there we cruised old 66 east and past the silver bridge, then cross over I40 and on to the Whiting Brothers sign where we would roll dice again and draw the 3rd card. Being the 7th year of the cruise and knowing the 7year wedding anniversary is copper, I had pennies to give individually, one to each driver that was the same year of their car starting with 1955, then 1955, and then 1959… 1959… 1973 ect., and the pennies were in turn pitched toward a line drawn in the sand and the closest penny to the line without going over was awarded a set of “fuzzy dice “to hang from their car’s rear–view mirror.

Then east again on the “Mother Road” to Villa de Cubero, where we would do the 4th dice toss and card draw. To our surprise and enjoyment there was a fund- raiser bake sale at the store front. Some bought cookies and fudge to both enjoy and support their cause. Back on the road and east to the Budville Trading Post for the last card draw and another dice toss. The poker hand was settled here, being won with three of a kind, and again “fuzzy dice“ were awarded to the winner. I had brought along a small hula girl model that was common on cars dashboards years ago and surprised the ladies with the option to win her. All awed and asked “HOW”! I reached over the bed of our ’59 pickup rail and retrieved a hula-hoop. With eyes wide open and grins on the ladies faces and in turn with hips a-swinging, June Kershner led the event for the laughing and cheering crowd that would select a winner for the figurine. Then on to Bibo.

We backed our cars side by side in front of the ancient and historical BIbo Bar for a group photo and then went inside to order the famous and always delicious “GREEN-CHILICHEESEBURGER”… one we all waited for, cruised for, and displayed our humor for. Ummm, Uummm, Ummm. The bar was silent save for the beverage slurping and munching of this much needed meal. Conversations were void as we all enjoyed the lunch.

As conversations restarted, I knew all had finished eating then spoke up for all to hear. MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE… MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE, we need to finish our dice roll to finish the “I’M A CAR FOOL” game and award the coveted mardi-gras style jesters hat. In turn, one by one, dice were rolled and then my wife Evelyn yelled, WE HAVE A WINNER, (hmmm in a fool’s game?”) Mr. Art Gebeau has rolled his dice and completed the requirements for and is now to be crowned for his achievement!

I stepped forward and Photos by Roger Siegmann retrieved the rolled up hat from the plastic bag in my jacket pocket and produced the crown of fools for all to see. I reached up and removed Mr. Gebeau’s ball cap and attempted to place the crown upon his noggin. So swelled with pride was he, that it was a snug fit. The crowd cheered and clapped at the ear –to ear grinning this year’s” All Fools Day” king of fools.

“FOOLS and CARS”