Originally Posted by
Hotroddeuce
It was Pete Whiteside and myself who organised the first Preston/ Riversway cruise and it attracted about half a dozen vehicles if my memory serves me.I got the lads from Blackpool to go and Pete chased up others from around the NW.Word soon spread and the numbers steadily grew and we moved over the road from the small car park onto Morrisons car park.Pete and Sandra approached the manager and got the ok as long as the shoppers were not inconvenienced and no silly antics by the cruise attendees.
All was well for a few years and cars came from far and wide, even had a few Swedish HotRods turn up one Friday night.A couple of hot hatch type cars snook in and parked up one night and behaved themselves,next a couple more and the tailgates went up and dance music was blasted out.One night Pete had to remonstrate with one of them for driving like an idiot in the carpark.It was about this time I stopped attending as the laid back atmosphere had changed and you were constantly looking out for the idiots to do something stupid.
Eventually the management at Morrisons had had enough and stopped the cars from using their carpark so it was moved to the Lea Gate pub just up the road.This venue was always used previously after the meet at Morrisons along with the OK Diner across the road when it was there.The traffic lights at the exit of The cruise lead onto a dual carriageway all the way to the pub,and cars would pair up and race the full length.The move seemed to breath new life into the meet and it attracted a good selection of cars and great people and the " Hatch" problem went away.
I got out of going and missed a couple of years if not more.I went over one Friday in my then 40 coupe but could not find a space due to modern cars and hatchbacks and did not recognise a soul.We turned around and went for a drive instead.I do not know if this was a one off or if that is the norm these days,none of the lads from around here attend any more for similar reasons.It used to be a meet up for Hotrods and American motors but was killed by its own success and too many stock cars from spectators and hatchback hang ons.
This is entirely my own take on things and others may well have a different standpoint.I hope it gets back to its former glory,as we had some amazing nights there......as with most things,you only miss it when it's gone.