Cruise-In to Summer Memories

Bob and his wife Karen honor Robert at a recent Avon Summer Cruise-In. 

Boys and cars. That’s how Bob Hale and his dad, Robert Hale, bonded. Bob would tag along with Robert as he showed his cars in Indianapolis, first at The Suds on the southside, later at Bill’s Fabulous 50’s on the westside. 

Bob recalled the number of times they would drive back to Avon and say, “Wouldn’t it be cool if we had a closer place?” Although the two knew about the monthly First Friday Cruise-In on the Danville Square, they set their sights on a weekly gathering. 

And so the two began organizing. First, they needed a space. They approached the Lowe’s in 

Avon about using the front parking lot and they agreed to Saturday evenings from 6-9 p.m. from May through September. 

Next, the Hales looked for a charity that could benefit from the generosity of attendees. They landed upon the Indy Honor Flight, knowing that donations would send veterans from central Indiana to Washington D.C. to see the monuments. 

With the location and charity secured, it was time for the cars. 

When the cruise-ins started in 2017, Bob wondered about attendance. 

“Originally, we thought it would be great if we could get 40-50 cars per week and due to word of mouth, it very quickly grew to more than 200 weekly and occasionally more than 300 cars.”

An Avon Summer Cruise-In motto has surfaced over the years. 

“If it’s cool, bring it. If it’s not cool, definitely bring it.” 

Bob shared that this event is perfect for folks who like cars and car culture. 

“You might have a $200 car, but if you think there’s something cool about it, chances are someone else at the cruise-in will think it’s cool too. Everybody’s welcome.” 

Since 2017, the Avon Summer Cruise-In has raised over $50,000 and sent 101 veterans to Washington D.C. Through 50/50 raffles and additional donations from Lowe’s on Memorial Day and Labor Day, the results are a source of pride for Bob. 

Sadly, Robert passed away on June 15 and Bob is currently looking for someone local to take over running the cruise-ins. 

Interested in helping keep the Avon Summer Cruise-In alive? Email Bob at rjhale1974@aol.com.