All About Lightning Rod ProMotions' "Cruise Night Favorite" Awards by Cheryl LeFever

I would like to touch on the subject of cruise night awards. In the past, I have been approached by individuals who had concerns with the way our cruise nights were "judged." Some individuals were unhappy because the old cars were "never" picked, or we "only pick muscle cars," or "why should a new model get an award?," or "that car needs so much work why did he get picked?"... etc. etc. It seems that no matter how hard we try to keep the awards fair, someone always turns up unhappy. Even when I show them that all makes, models, and conditions of vehicles have been chosen in the past (we keep a book, don't ya know). So, in an effort to clear up any misconceptions; here is how and why we do our awards the way we do.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO WIN AN AWARD AT A LRP CRUISE NIGHT?

Anyone who has paid a membership fee to LRP for the current year gets all cruise night registrations and door prize tickets free. Just remember to check in each night. (New member fee is $25.00 and renewals are $20.00 per year.) If you don't want to join the LRP membership, then you can be eligible for the night's prizes and awards by registering your vehicle at each cruise night event for $1.00. (FYI: Your membership fees and $1.00 registrations help to support what we do. I know you all like to be able to have a place to bring your rides to and socialize, right? The cost of insurance, awards and prizes are paid for by LRP.) Our cruise nights are open to any year, make or model of vehicle. Every registered vehicle has an equal chance to be chosen as a "Cruise Night Favorite." Yes, even a new model! (They paid their $1.00 too!)

WHO CHOOSES THE AWARD WINNERS AND HOW ARE THEY CHOSEN?

Let me make this as clear as possible. LRP (Donna, Cheryl, Ray and Ed) DO NOT PICK THE WNNERS. So, please, please, do not complain to us about this. We try very hard not to be involved in this because we do have many friends and know many people of the car community. We don't want to be accused of playing favorites or being partial to any one type of vehicle. (Which, by the way, we still get accused of!) On a rare occasion we are forced to do this job and it is unfair to everyone, incuding our friends. Usually a member of the staff of McDonalds or Arlington Diner will choose, or we might find a spectator to choose. Please don't send your friends to the desk to ask to do this job. If they ask, they will not be chosen. People of different walks of life have chosen our cruise night winners; usually people we don't know. We do this for the very reason that each individual has their own favorites; older people tend to like the older cars, younger people like the newer cars, some people like a car for its paint job or another might like the car for its motor, another might be because it was the car they drove for the very first time in their life. For whatever reason, its their decision to make and that is why the awards are labled "Cruise Night Favorite." What we do do, is to request that the person choosing the winners for the night, choose cars of different generations to spread the awards out. If it APPEARS that more cars of one type are winning, perhaps it is because of the ratio of that type of vehicle in the parking lot. (The more of a particular type of vehicle that is registered, the more that type will be chosen. Makes sense, doesn't it?) Our "Cruise Night Favorites" are never picked because of politics within the car community or whether a person has attended every cruise night, simply because we do not pick them. If your vehicle is picked for a "Cruise Night Favorite," it is because it was truly someone's favorite for the night and should be considered an honor that someone really liked your car. PLEASE NOTE, THE CARS ARE NOT JUDGED. Cruise nights are a social event, not a car show. The awards are for fun and, you guys and gals like them, so we have them. BUT, PLEASE DON'T SHOOT THE MESSEGER! :)

HOW MANY TIMES CAN I WIN AN AWARD AT A LRP CRUISE LOCATION?

I know that there are vehicles out there that are outstanding and catch the eye of the spectator more than others (you know, that bright, candy red, chromed out beauty next to you). So, in an effort tobe fair to all who participate, we have a policy that if your car has been chosen a "Cruise Night Favorite" at a location such as Highland, then your car can't be chosen again at that location for a time out period of 30 days. However, your car can win at another location, such as Arlington, during that 30 day time out period. So, it is possible for a vehicle to be chosen twice during a 30 day period, but at a different location. Keep in mind, however, that even though your vehicle can't be chosen for a "Cruise Night Favorite" during a time out period, you can still be eligible to win door prizes at the cruises. And, sometimes they are really great prizes!

I HAVE ATTENDED ALL OF YOUR CRUISE NIGHTS AND "I HAVE NEVER WON AN AWARD." HOW COME?

Please remember, you need to be registered each night that you come to be eligible for prizes and awards. If your vehicle is not on the night's registration list, it can not be chosen.

Unfortunately, some vehicles may get overlooked by the people or person who are choosing the favorites. You may think that your vehicle is the best thing on the planet, and I'm sure it is to you. After all, we all love our cars! So, why shouldn't it be someone else's favorite! But, if your vehicle hasn't been chosen and you really want it to be chosen for an award, perhaps you can do something to attract attention to it. So, your paint job is tired.. we all get tired with age.. so, why not your car? Make sure it is clean though, inside and out. No cigarette butts.. yuck!! Clean your engine compartment. If your seats need recovering, try putting a temporary cover on them. Spruce up that baby and show it at its best. Hey, you need to compete with that bright, candy red, chromed out beauty next to you!

Kidding aside, though, we really do appreciate each and every one of our friends who attend our cruise night events. We try really hard to welcome every one of you and we hope that you all find our events to be fun and friendly. The whole reason we do the cruise nights is because we love the car community and the old cars. Please try to remember that the cruise nights are really social events.

I can't stress this enough, again please remember that our winners are not chosen due to car community politics or how many times you may have attended. Your complaint to us that you haven't been chosen, while we do sympathize with you, won't help in getting your car chosen for the very reason that it would just not be fair! "Cruise Night Favorites" are just that "Cruise Night Favorites." We love every one of the rides that come to our cruise nights. And, we wish we could present every one of them with an award. It is just not possible. We do apologize if your feelings are hurt because you have not been chosen for a "Cruise Night Favorite." But please know that it is not our intention to have hurt feelings. So, we encourage you to make the most of your ride and please, above all, have fun! And remember, your registration fees allow us to keep the "show on the road" so to speak and we do appreciate your support. - lightnin