Despite recent retirements and shifts in leadership, the Cadiz Cruz In continues to find new life — and new faces hoping to lead it into the next decade, and beyond.
During Wednesday afternoon’s Cadiz-Trigg County Joint Parks & Recreation meeting, board members unanimously approved the expense of a $2,500 gift to the new coming non-profit, unnamed at this time, that will oversee the car show’s continued existence — with the cost likely going to pay for insurance premiums on the monthly gathering.
The decision came after a thoughtful presentation from Tim Rouze — a former law enforcement agent retired from the West Coast, who said he came to live here about four years ago because, for one thing, he’s “a major car enthusiast and car collector.”
Over the years, he’s come to love the Cadiz Cruz In, and he was sad to hear it was potentially shuttering for good.
When Benji Harper, and some others, approached him about gathering a group to keep it going, Rouze said it was “a no-brainer.”
Much like their show cars, Rouze said there are plans to “modify” the shows in different ways.
For starters, they know, nationally, that today’s younger generation is losing interest, and they want to bring back the youthfulness that car shows used to have.
Rouze said they know their group is starting at “ground zero,” but have already gotten some minor financial commitments from the City of Cadiz, as well as Cadiz-Trigg County Tourism, in order to launch efforts as they have always existed.
Yearly insurance, Rouze added, would be no less than $1,200-to-$1,500 if events were held on a relatively monthly basis, but that those prices were consistently fluid depending on the show’s scope, and that early quotes were in the $2,000-to-$2,500 range.
Rouze said they want to keep car shows free to the public, as well as in the Cadiz downtown.
A native of northern California, Rouze said once a group name is selected, he will submit their social media and other content to the American Car Culture Association for affiliation and in order to be a part of their growing national newsletter.
On average, Rouze estimates 60 to 70 cars regularly participate in the Cadiz show.
In other parks & recreation news:
+ Director Jeff Hunter confirmed that the Fourth Annual Trigg County Classic disc golf tournament, sponsored by Parks & Recreation, as well as others, will be held Saturday, March 21, at the Trigg County Recreation Complex. Check-in runs from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., followed by a mandatory players meeting and a first-round tee time around 9:15 a.m.
Tournament director Shawn Groton and staff will oversee two rounds of 18 holes, with much of the course featuring wooded play and the remainder open with mature trees. The event includes $750 in added cash to the professional purse, plus cash closest-to-pin contests and an ace pot.
Registration caps lift March 16, after which remaining spots will be first-come, first-served. Amateur payouts will be store credit to the Nashville Disc Golf Store. Lunch will be available on site from JT’s Wingz and Thangz, and the player pool has been increased to 90 entrants.
In preparation, “Cadiz-Trigg County Parks & Recreation” disc drivers and putters have been ordered and delivered to the City of Cadiz.
+ Chairman Matt Ladd, as well as member Lucas Hale, noted that in the very near future, they would like to see a gathering of their caucus, as well as county and city leadership, in order to lay out a full comprehensive plan of wants and needs for future growth.
+ During their special-called January 5 meeting, discussions sprang from the Trigg County Chamber of Commerce Leadership class about the possible development of a new downtown stage. The current Renaissance Stage, again, has been condemned and deemed unfit for use. It will be demolished at some point this year.
Parks & Recreation unanimously approved the expenditure of $5,000 for new engineering plans on the space.
Furthermore, Hunter was asked to purchase two trash cans to be placed on the Trigg County Recreation Complex Disc Golf Course.
