'This is pretty amazing': Thousands of cars, spectators fill Ravenna for Cruise In

Thousands of classic cars − and even more spectators − cruised Wednesday into Ravenna for the 10th annual Octane Nights on Main Street Cruise In .

Tricia Krause, owner of Mongoose Motorsports, said there are only 4,024 spots available for cars to park. All of those spots were full at 3:30 p.m.

About 1,000 cars couldn't find a space, so there was a steady line of vehicles drove along Main Street, in hopes a parking spot opened up. Because vehicles were only allowed to drive west on the closed street, drivers slowly drove along in a "rolling cruise," so others could see their vehicles.

"It's picture perfect weather," Krause said Wednesday.

Spectators were encouraged to take a bus from Portage Area Regional Transit Authority, which picked up people at Ravenna High School or University Hospitals Portage Medical Center and dropped them off at Freedom and Main streets. However, many spectators found other parking options.

Mongoose Motorsports and Portage Trim offered VIP parking spots for spectators again. Summit Racing sponsored the VIP parking, which was expanded from New Milford Drive to Hazel Drive. Those who paid $25 in advance were guaranteed a parking spot, plus a gift from Summit Racing. VIP spots sold out the first day they became available.

The cruise in was founded in 2014 by Tricia Krause's late husband, Gary. The event has been held every year except 2020, when it was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Months later, Gary Krause died from COVID.

The Ravenna Rumble took place at 7 p.m., when motorists started their engines in unison in honor of Gary Krause.

Car enthusiasts came from many directions. Some came from Portage County, while some even attended from out of state.

Shane Faulds and his wife, Brenda, brought their '72 GMC from Canada. The couple lives about 100 miles northeast of Toronto.

Shane Faulds said he's owned the truck for 36 years, and is used to taking it on long drives. He has driven it to Arizona and Florida, and recently went to a car show in Syracuse, New York. He heard about the Ravenna event through Facebook.

"It's excellent," he said.

Joe and Linda Biniak of Randolph brough their 1970 Ford Mustang. The couple said they have owned Mustangs since 1970.

The couple has been bringing cars to Ravenna since the event first started in 2014.

"There's a vast array of cars, and you get to meet a lot of people," Joe Biniak said. "It's amazing that it keeps growing and growing and growing."

Tim and Kathy Cookson of Canton brought their 1967 Chevy Corvette for the first time.

"This is pretty amazing," Tim Cookson said. "There's a lot of people here, especially for a Wednesday. If it was Saturday, they'd probably be lined up all the way to Akron."

Reporter Diane Smith, who has been reporting on the Octane Nights Cruise-In since 2014, can be reached at 330-298-1139 or dsmith@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: 'This is pretty amazing': Thousands of cars, spectators fill Ravenna for Cruise In