Alva Restaurant Manager, Jim Clemons organized the first of what would become an annual Alva Tradition. His plan included a $25.00 registration fee, and a $5.00 spectator fee. It was open to all classes interested in participating. The event was to be held at the VFW Supper Club on the Woods County Fairgrounds in June of 1999 with a number of residents expressing interest and making plans to attend. However, Mother Nature made a surprise appearance bringing high winds and tornadic activity to Alva and surrounding vicinity the night before the show. As a result of the storms passing through, attendance was scarce with 18 cars in all. From this experience, the Alva Big Cruise and Car Show was born.

Founding R.A.C.E. (Race and Cruising Enthusiasts) members Mike Dunker, Larry Smith, Norville Ritter, and Myron Bradt decided that Alva should have a really great car show and began rolling around ideas to make this dream a reality. After a Saturday night race in Wichita, Kansas Ritter, Dunker, and Smith dropped in on the free car show at Lake Afton. Inspiration struck. This was the basic format they were after: no entry fees, no spectator fees, and a relaxed atmosphere. After they returned home, they began seriously recruiting members for R.A.C.E. and fund-raising. Financially assisted by donations from the Tourism Tax revenues and local community support, the Inaugural Alva Big Cruise and Car Show was launched on the first weekend following Labor Day September 2001. It was free to the public, free to participants and an instant success with 62 cars. The burnout contest was held in the V.A.P. parking lot. Lots of trophies, merchandise, and cash prizes were handed out. This was not a bad turnout for short notice and word-of-mouth advertising.

The 2nd Annual Big Cruise and Car Show was held at the Woods County Fairgrounds. It was a two day affair starting Friday night and culminating with Flame-out contest downtown on the Square Saturday night. The show also boasted a Stereo Competition with chamber bucks and trophies for all categories, both vehicles and audio. KXLS Radio and B.O.S.S. Music provided a backdrop of cool cruising tunes. The Alva Area Chamber of Commerce came on board to co-host festivities including the ultra-cool Big Cruise through town the Friday night before the show and ending with the drawing for prizes from local Chamber merchants. A U.S.A.C. Stereo competition was held on Sunday. Attendance this year was 118 entrants. We were rapidly out growing our present location. R.A.C.E., with encouragement from the Alva Area Chamber of Commerce, opted for a change of venue and date in order to not compete with the Woods County Fair in September. The date was changed to the 3rd weekend in September and would move downtown.

Big changes were in store for Cruisers. Location is EVERYTHING! This year the show was held in Downtown Alva on the Square, which proved to be an ideal location. There were 20 hours of live music, food and merchandise vendors and cars, cars, cars! Despite the heavy rainfall in the entire rest of Oklahoma and Kansas, attendance was at an all time high with 170 entrants. Additional excitement was again provided with the Flameout Contest, Burnout Contest, and a new contest the Go & Whoa, held under the lights on the downtown streets. The cruise ended with a midnight drawing for $650.00 cold hard cash. This year, the event carried over to a 2nd day with the Racers for Christ devotional service, stereo contest, and more car show awards presented on Sunday afternoon. The downtown location provided a naturally convenient venue for the display of entrants and great central location.

4th Annual show went great. Beautiful weather and beautiful cars. This year R.A.C.E. added a model car contest, bike drags, wheel chair races, and frozen T shirt contest. The burnout contest was huge and Miss Cruise and Car Show gave away 650.00 dollars cash to some lucky cruisers at 11:00 p.m. sharp on Saturday night. The local band Munkyz Uncle rocked the Saturday night crowd until midnight.

This year R.A.C.E. brought in a chassis dyno that all show entrants could make a free run on. The dyno was busy from morning till evening (even the Oklahoma Highway Patrol took a turn). Another highlight was monster trucks crushing cars. A poker walk was added and proved quite popular.

The Mike McClure Band took a break at 11:00p.m. to hand out $800.00 cash to the crowd.

Saturday’s modeling contest and Sunday’s bike drags continue to grow. This is a great way for kids to be involved.

We’re getting ever so close to the 200 mark. This year we had 193 car, motorcycle and truck entries.

THE SLIGHTLY INSANE BIG CRUISE

FRIDAY night caught R.A.C.E. staff a little off guard.   Three times as many people showed up for the pre-registration cookout than ever before (we ran out of food twice).  Spectators stood slack jawed as cars, trucks, cycles, and etc. did impromtu burnouts past the police station on the closed loop cruise route.
SATURDAY dawned the gorgeous weather and a flood of entrants. 238 had entered by noon, joined by the countless others that didn't bother to register.   We had lots more motorcycles this year.   This year awards were given for the top three dyno pulls. It looks like you better bring 500hp to contend for the award. Rock band Locomotive played at the burnout contest.   That along with expanding to Pro and Amateur ratcheted up the intensity. The Grizzleheads played until 11:30 p.m.
SUNDAY'S Stereo Contest was bigger, better, and louder than ever.   One of the R.A.C.E. members broke down and bought the latest and greatest sound testing equipment.

CENNTENIAL CRUISE

Governor Brad Henry named the 2007 Big Cruise and Car Show and Oklahoma Cenntenial Festival Event.   It gave the car show a theme for t-shirts, trophies, and etc.   However the theme should have been BIG.   There was a BIG monster truck (The Barbarian) getting BIG air.   There were BIG engines getting BIG numbers on the dyno (786).   The biggest engine vehicle we have ever had entered in the burn-out contest (a hot rod Winnebago) and made BIG smoke.  

IT'S A GAS (giveaway)

$4.00 gas prices had the R.A.C.E. staff shaking in their Nikes. A $15.00 gas incentive was offered to anyone comeing 35 miles or more. Would anyone show up?

Holy hot rods Batman! Cars, trucks, and bikes rolled in from all directions. Registration was up 4%. The long distance award went to Georgia.

FRIDAY night there was a full on super comp dragster to cruising the streets.

SATURDAY afternoon the stunt riders from Speedchannel Superbikes wowed the crowd. SATURDAY night the Winnebago broke and the Wenzel brothers claimed their 3rd burnout title. The band rocked the street. Miss Cruise and Car Show, Ashlynn Frey led the late nite cruise.

SUNDAYS free breakfast crowd ran out of pancakes. Some fantastic stereo comp contestants abused their stuff. Larry gave away more prize money than ever to all the winners. We ended with a water balloon fight. WHAT A WEEKEND!

NEW FOR 2009

Earlier start time on the Saturday night cruise. New swap meet location. C.B. power contest.