This past April 5th, 2025 morning snow really wasn’t a surprise, as we typically get snow during the first part of the month, but we had hoped for calm, clear weather to enjoy on our 9th annual “All Fools Day” car cruise. (I thought to myself: only fools would go out on a day like this), I smiled as I asked my wife Evelyn if she had our 1989 Suburban packed to start the cruise. She had and we left the house about 8:45 AM to head to the Fire and Ice Park in hopes other car cruisers would show up for today’s event.
Two cars were already there as we pulled up and within minutes five more showed up and we started handing out games. Poker run: each would draw one card at each of the five scheduled stops. Then a dice roll with hand crafted 3” x 3” foam rubber dice with: I’m a ….car... f…o…o...l spelled on each of the six sides. A prized jester hat would be awarded after the last roll of dice at the Bibo Bar, after a lunch of famous Green Chili Cheese Burgers. Yum- yum!
Each rolled dice and drew a card and marked it on score cards Evelyn had made and handed out. Next we lined up for pictures of cars and fools at the Route 66 drive-thru. From there we headed east to Skyway for another dice toss and card draw. I had taken an empty 5 gal. bucket to roll dice in as the wind was brisk. From here we drove onto old 66 and east across the Silver Bridge and across I-40 to the vintage Whiting Brothers sign where we tossed plastic dice and awarded the hiroller with Rt.66 ball cap. What a fitting prize awarded here on the “Mother Road”.
On to Villa de Cubero store for another poker hand card draw, and dice roll, and then to Budville Trading Post to do it again and a ladies hula hoop contest to win the charming hula girl dashboard doll. A couple revolutions of the hoop proved Susan Barela as the winner of the hula doll. Denise Chavez placed second and was awarded the hula hoop. All were entertained at this event, then on to Bibo!
We went in the historic Bibo Bar and were happily greeted by the on shift personal and seated at a table about 15 feet long. All ordered lunch: many opting for their famous burgers. I DID! We finished the poker hand and Wayne Colburn won the fuzzy dice with 2 pairs! Small prizes for all including calendars from our local Oriellys and a beautiful tiedyed apron courtesy of Ian Smith at the Double 6 Gallery.
All enjoyed the great food and as conversations started up again, I knew most were finished eating, and we needed to finish the main event: the crowning of this year’s “All Fool’s Day Car Cruise” winner.
In turn… one by one…. each rolled their dice and marked it on their score card.
Then suddenly I heard: “We got it”! Mr. Johnny Montoya has successfully completed the dice roll spelling out:” I’M A CAR FOOL”. All applauded and I then retrieved the jesters hat from my jacket pocket and had Johnny remove his ball cap and I crowned him as the 2025 Cruise and Car Fool! He then raised his hand and proudly proclaimed “I Am a Fool!” All 18 cruisers applauded as another fool was crowned! On- hand guitar player Steve Boyer playing background music struck up Alan Jackson’s song Tall-Tall Trees with the chorus: I’M A FOOL, FOOL, FOOL FOR YOU!
“FOOLS and CARS”