Ocean County Car Club To Celebrate 30th Anniversary

LACEY, NJ — A popular local car club is celebrating 30 years in 2024 with a special car show and a fun lineup for the season.

The Sentimental Cruisers Car Club of Ocean County will be celebrating its 30th anniversary year with a car show “A Car Culture Show Case” on July 6 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Lacey Township High School 73 Haines Street, Lanoka Harbor.

According to the club:

The club started back in 1994 at Joey’s Sweet Shop in the Waretown Plaza (which is currently the Waretown Post Office). Three guys (Bob Zimmerman, Tommy Davis and Dave Bourgeous) were cruising around Manahawkin in their old cars and later met up with Rich Karwecki. One day the group stopped in at Joey’s Sweet Shop for ice cream. The owner enjoyed the cars and encouraged the group to return and hang out. That was the place to be on a Sunday evening! Soon others joined in (John McHale, Ken Flatt, Bob Micki, Tom Engles, Dave Blintliff and Pat McMahon). Plans were started to create a club for the area.

The club began in Aug. 1994 and grew to 20 members. At one point, it had 85 members, and now sits at 68 members. Most of the original members are still on the roster, though some have since passed.

Joey’s Sweet Shop closed and the club moved on to the Burger King in Lacey Plaza and moved the cruise night to Fridays.

When Burger King closed for renovations the club moved to other area locations, then back to Burger King when they reopened and remained there until Burger King closed in 2019.

Sentimental Cruisers came to find a new cruise night (Fridays April through October, 5 p.m. to whenever) location at the McDonald’s in Berkeley Shopping Plaza (417 Atlantic City Blvd, Bayville) on Route 9 N.

In addition to cruise nights, the club hosts several car shows and cruises throughout the year with a focus on working within the community to support local charities, while looking to promote enthusiasm for the collector car/truck hobby.

For additional information on the club or events go to the club’s website: sentimentalcruiserscc@gmail.com or on Facebook: Sentimental Cruisers Car Club I Forked River, NJ

The club’s 2024 event calendar includes the following events/activities:

April
Spring Kick Off 4/13 at the Lacey Township High School- Charity is Ocean of Love
Friday night cruises at Bayville McDonald’s- continuing through October

May
Plumsted Grill- 5/5 – Spring Cruise
4th Annual Lacey Rotary Club Show 5/18 at Lacey Township High School- Charity is” Rotary Club Of Lacey”

July
“A Car Culture Showcase” - 7/6 at Lacey Township High School- Charity is “Deborah Hospital”

August
Island Heights Vol. Fire Co. - 8/10 at Wanamaker Field Island Heights- Charity is “The Island Heights Fire Co.”

September
Cruise to Plumsted Grill - 9/15 – Fall Cruise

November
Veterans Show - 11/9 at Veterans Park in Bayville
2nd Annual Cruise to Plumsted Grill and Toy Drive - 11/24 – Charity is “Natalia’s Purpose”