Hundreds of classic cars and spectators attend last DL Cruise Night of 2023

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Wednesday evening marked the final DL Cruise Night along West Lake Drive in Detroit Lakes for 2023.

The monthly summer classic car rally along the shores of Detroit Lake has drawn hundreds of vintage vehicles from across the lakes area and west-central Greater Minnesota region.

The events have been hosted by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce as a way to increase tourism to Detroit Lakes throughout the summer, but, if you talk to some of the car owners, it’s the vehicles themselves and the socializing with the classic car community that draws people in.

Myron Dybing, of Detroit Lakes, used to drive a 1950 Chevy, nicknamed the Lavender Lady, but he drove his 1959 Chevy Impala to the event Wednesday and said there is just something special about fixing up these classic machines.  

Attendees view classic cars during the final DL Cruise Night of 2023 on West Lake Drive in Detroit Lakes on Sept. 13, 2023. (Michael Achterling / KDLM)

“The engine was froze,” said Dybing. “The body had a couple rust spots. The floors were gone, which was typical, but he said, ‘otherwise, it’s solid.’ So I went and looked at it and, yeah, the floors and the trunk were gone, but you can buy all of that through reproduction, so I bought them all and welded them in.””

It took Dybing four winters of work to refurbish the ’59 Impala and, some days, things got a little messy.

“I’d come in like a mess because when I ground out the floor down there and all that old dirt and rust that was there, I’d come in black from head to toe. You don’t come in the house to eat lunch. You eat it out in the garage.” he said.

Attendees view classic cars during the final DL Cruise Night of 2023 on West Lake Drive in Detroit Lakes on Sept. 13, 2023. (Michael Achterling / KDLM)

Rick Weaver, of Fargo, is part of Valley Vintage Car Club and drove his 1989 Pontiac Firebird to the cruise night. He also showed off a custom feature that sounds when someone gets too close to his 80s classic.

And, although he couldn’t pin point the exact moment he became interested in classic cars, he’s always enjoyed taking them apart and putting them back together.

“I don’t know, I’ve always been interested in cars my whole life,” said Weaver. “I worked in a shop for a few years and I’ve always been involved with it. Taking it apart and putting it back together. I love working on cars.”

Myron Dybing said he also loves seeing the faces of kids who get jaw-dropped by the variety and colors of the vintage machines. Adding, he thinks these events could inspire the next generations of classic car owners.

“If I see a family coming, and they’ve got a daughter or son that’s looking, I’ll pop the door and say, ‘climb in,'” said Dybing. “I go, I’ve got two rules, nothing sharp in your back pocket and no grease. Otherwise, you can climb in, look, see how it feels and get a little interested. “

With many of the muscle machines being put away for the winter following the event, many of the drivers are already looking forward to next year’s DL Cruise Nights, the first of which will be June 12, 2024.