Cruisin'

Do people in this city still cruise up and down 8th Street?  This is in Saskatoon, of course, and I'm curious if people still, in this day and age, still cruised up and down 8th Street East on Fridays and Saturdays?

Not to put a number on my age or anything, but when I was a teenager, if you didn't find us playing games at Krazy Leo's, you'd likely find us cruising up and down 8th Street.  Back and forth, up and down, maybe taking a break at the (then) Superstore parking lot, to gather and chat with other people wasting their time cruising the stretch of asphalt and rubber.  There were races from traffic light to traffic light and you could be assured that the police were always out in full force, handing out speeding and stunting tickets or busting youth for underage drinking and driving.

At the time, you could still burn a U-turn at the far end of 8th Street, at Arlington Avenue, if I recall, at the intersection where Ruckers Arcade and Taco Bell now sit across from one another.  It was the last legal U-turn at a set of lights, in Canada, if I remember correctly.

For hours upon hours, we'd be out there until the early hours of the AM, when we'd finally head back home or to a friends house, where we'd partake in party favours and alike.  It was fun times.

Nowadays, with gas prices being so high and kids more interested in burying their noses in their phones and devices, do they still head out on Friday and Saturday nights to cruise up and down the boulevard, meeting up with friends?  Kids being as dumb and irresponsible as they are, I could definitely see them wasting mom and dads petrol, just to make a good showing, but do they?

I worked last night and my travels took me across 8th Street at Preston Avenue, quite a few times.  It wasn't until later, when I noticed a lot of classic cars roaming the area, with a culmination of some classics further south on Preston, at the Market Mall parking lot.  Rows of parked classics, lining the parking lot and later collected at the old Superstore parking lot, where we'd park as teens.  Thus striking the query, "Do people still cruise Eighth Street?"

Cars of all makes and models, new and old, streaming the street with their vibrant colours and curvy shapes.  A true spectacle to see, if you're interested in that sort of thing.  It certainly made me wish that I had a classic car to contribute to the scene.  Ultimately making me want to return my beautiful Bella back to her former glory, a goal which I've set for myself for next spring or summer.

Many nights we'd head to 8th Street, as teens.  I was usually stuffed into the backseat of my friend Greg's 1978 Chevy Camaro, windows rolled down, blasting Krokus from the stereo, "Ballroom Blitz" cover, if I'm not mistaken or vintage AC/DC.  I'd be freezing in the backseat, blown by the cool evening breeze as we cruised up and down the half mile or so of road.  It's now a fond memory that recently returned to my brain, so I'm celebrating that fact, too.

I know that there's a Cruise Weekend coming up soon, where most of downtown is shutdown to traffic and where the largest collection of hot rods and show cars come to display their artforms.  I've not attended in years, but wouldn't mind attending, just to see all the cars in their splendor.  It's a culture that I've admired since I was a wee boy, but I know absolutely nothing about mechanics and feel dumb when I see owners displaying their wares for all to see.  So much love and dedication put into each project, just to make them unique.  I admire that.

Is cruising 8th Street still a thing to do?  I don't know, but I wouldn't mind, getting together with a couple friends, once Bella is returned to her former glory, pop that top down and cruise up and down eighth for old times sake.  Relive some of that former glory.  Anyone wanna join me?

My beautiful Bella in all her glory.