Ever realise that things had been happening all around you, yet you hardly noticed? That's me, for I was a young man in the halcyon days of hotrodding and drive-in theaters. I can recall going to drive-in's maybe twice and only seeing rods in "Hot Rod magazine". Perhaps I ignored the theaters because in those years I had no interest in movies, and maybe I missed the hot rod mania because the hobby hadn't really caught on in Canada. I now have an opportunity to catch up with both while those of you who remember can relive them in this extraordinary event.
An article by "Hemmings" tells us that Ryan Cochran, founder of the Jalopy Journal "wants to see hot rods at a drive-in again, so he's planning the first-ever "Hot Rod Cinematic", a combination car show and triple feature drive-in, for June 30." Cochran looked for "the coolest vintage drive-in still in operation in the United States and chose the "Kanauga Drive-In" in Gallipolis, Ohio, right on the Ohio River a couple of hours south of Columbus." His Web site is a little short on details at the moment, including the choice of films (American graffiti just has to be one), but if you and your hot rod are within driving distance, this will surely be the most unique gathering in the history of the drive-in theater.
Interestingly, Cochran is not inviting owners of today's pseudo rods. As he put it, "The "Hot Rod Cinematic" is a traditional hot rod and custom show for cars made in 1965 or earlier. Please leave your contemporary hot rods and customs at home no matter the year… Thanks!"