ORANGE PARK – The Clay County Cruzers car club is getting ready to hold its 13th annual Back to the Fifties Car Show. The show will be held on Nov. 14 at the Town Hall Event Center on Fleming Island.

“We’re about cars and community,” said Mike Hourihane, president of the Cruzers. “We want to give back to the community, so we hold two car shows a year in the county. In those two car shows, we generate enough money to give contributions to six or seven charitable organizations as well as two $1,500 scholarships for college. Each year we do that.”

The Cruzers began with a husband and wife team in their garage. In October of 2008, they formed the Clay County Cruzers. On three of four Saturdays a month, the group gets together and does scheduled Cruzes within the county at different locations, such as Dick’s Wings, Tom and Betty’s Restaurant or Big Dogs. Two Fridays monthly, there are evening Cruzes at either Freddy’s or Tom and Betty’s.

On the fourth Saturday of the month, they do a breakfast Cruze at Nicole’s on the river. Six times monthly in total, the members of the group will show congregate with their restored vehicles at one of the locations and patronize the eating establishment. There usually are 20-45 cars at any of these events. As car enthusiasts, they gather and enjoy each other’s company as well as share their knowledge, not only with each other but with anyone else.

The Back to the Fifties Car Show in November expects to see more 140 cars. There will be a DJ with music onsite, and the Cruzers will also be giving away prizes. One of the events will have a 50/50 prize, where half of the money will go a winner, and the other half will go to a charitable organization.

“We normally have our car shows at Moosehaven,” said Teri Hourihane. “We have two in the year, one in the spring and one in the fall. This fall one, our Back to the Fifties – this is our 13th – it’s normally at Moosehaven along with our chili cookoff. But given the current environment [COVID-19 pandemic], they’re not going to have that. So we canceled our spring show, and then we found this location in Fleming Island that we think is going to turn out really well.”

The Town Hall Event Center will allow for even more social distancing. The awards and prize giveaways will be held outdoors. Two people will also win awards at the show for best dressed – meaning best dressed in 1950s attire.

Registration is $20 a care through Oct. 31 and $25 afterwards.

To register for the show, visit http://claycountycruzers.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BackToFiftiesRegistration-1.pdf.