07/10/2025
With us about halfway through our 25th season, we’re feeling a bit reminiscent. As many know it’s our 25th anniversary. 25 years being apart of our amazing community. But as the years go on and we lose cruisers, we realized not many remember those who got us started. So today we remember those who made us the cruise we are.
In 2000, mayor Tom Sullivan approached Bill Timkey about a car show in Lockport. Now for those of you who haven’t been fortunate enough to meet Mr. Bill Timkey, let me tell you, he is one of the best men you will meet in your lifetime. Bill Timkey was already involved in multiple groups/activities throughout the city. He worked for UPS, ran Pontilo’s Pizzeria, volunteered as an EMT at South Lockport Fire Co., and was also running his own company Timkey Limousines and Car Service. But when he was approached about a car show, there was no way that he could say no, not with how big of a car freak he is. After Bill was approached, he contacted his lifelong childhood friend, Thom Groff.
Thom Groff, at the time, was apart of the Lock City Hot Rods. After hearing about the car show, he took the idea to his club. There Carl Berry, Jeff Wulf, Scott Haseley, and many others began discussing it. In the end the club voted yes and joined in to help. However, they weren’t the only group to want in on this idea. After word got out, the Historical Palace, Rottery Club, South Lockport Fire Co., Sunrise Optimist Club, Molinario’s, Mill’s Jewelry, and many more businesses and organizations got involved.
Now that word has gotten out and everyone’s on board. It was time for the first meeting. At the meeting, one of the first things that Bill said was FUN, FAMILY, FREE. After looking at the cruises around, Bill decided he wanted this cruise to go the extra mile for our community. He wanted this cruise to the be a source of UNITY for the community. At the meeting everyone had ideas. That’s where all of our specialty nights come from. Bill often referred to our specialty nights meeting as “a million dollar idea from two cents.” In addition to picking the night, the discussion of location and day came up. After much thinking, with Rookies being on Tuesday, they decided why not do it the day before. Now that the day was picked it was then time to pick location. That’s when mayor Tom Sullivan offered up Main St. Once all that was decided, it was now time to think of entertainment. Bill, while he knew a lot of people, only knew two DJs and he absolutely made the best choice, Hank Nevins. Hank Nevins, while an amazing a DJ, also came up with “get your cars out of the parking lots and into the streets where they belong”, which may sound familiar to those who listened to WLVL in 2000.
Now that all of the details were finalized, it was cruising time. Volunteers from S. Lockport Fire Co., Lock City Hot Rods, Lockport Auxiliary Police, and many other car enthusiasts helped to barricade off Main Street. The vendors; Sunrise Optimist Club, Molinario’s, and many more were set and ready to feed everyone. Hank Nevins was set up with his music in front of the old Post Office, now Big Ditch Brewery. It was then time for the first cruise of the season.
With the cruise season underway, it was then time for everything that they thought of to come together. Thanks to mayor Sullivan, the Lockport police were at the cruises and helped with traffic control and safety. In addition to the city police, mayor Sullivan also had the city’s street department helping. Not only was Hank Nevins an amazing DJ, but he also introduced us to Terry Buchwald. A fun little random fact, Bill asked Terry Buchwald if he would ride his motorcycle up to preform in front of the Historical Palace Theatre. Not only did the Historical Palace theatre allow Terry Buchwald to preform under their lights. But thanks to Ellen Schratz, Terry Buchwald was allowed to change in their dressing rooms, where many other amazing artists, musicians, and actors have before him. In addition, she also offered the palace bathrooms to all cruisers. We also can’t forget, George Fritz, with Mill’s Jewelry who gave away gift certificates and other goodies at the cruises. Another important piece of the first cruise season was Scrito’s Awards & Gifts, which was owned by Barb Scrito, who made all the plaques for the first super cruise. We would also like to acknowledge Big John and his 41’ Buick. Unfortunately, John is no longer with us but in his will, he left a generous donation for the cruise. Another unfortunate loss was the loss of a firefighter at a Wheatfield fire, a few weeks prior. Fortunately, during that tragic time, the cruise was able to offer some support for the widow and family at our firefighter’s night where multiple fire companies, from all over the county, passed the boot for them.
While Bill Timkey, has left the cruise. He does still have found memories. A significant one being watching all the families together dancing to Terry Buchwald. Bill enjoyed watching the grandparents take their grandchildren, who most likely had no idea who Elvis was, out to dance in the street in front of the Palace and dance so much they’d be sore the next morning. Not only did he start a cruise that would provide 25 years of unity for the community, but he also helped launch Taste of Lockport. A little fun fact; the first taste of Lockport was held at the cruise in a once empty lot, now the home of Lock34. While the cruise has sense moved from Main St, we do still aim to provide FUN, FAMILY, FREE community events to bring UNITY. We hope to see everyone at Ida Fritz park for our 25th anniversary year.
