Classic Car Lovers are Cruisin' to Memories Restaurant this Summer

For most of the year, most Hartland-area drivers keep their classic cars tucked safely away from snow, ice and rain. But as soon as the sun starts shining, these enthusiast take out their prides and joys to enjoy the popular summertime tradition of "cruising."

Many drivers are just looking for a place to go, according to Daniel Schifko, manager of in Brighton, and to be able to drive the cars they have put so much heart and soul into.

"People just like somewhere to drive their car and someplace to visit," Schifko said. "We have a very laid-back set of people. They come out mostly just for the fellowship."

Every Wednesday night starting at 5 p.m. until dusk, Memories Restaurant hosts Classic Car Cruisin' through October. Schifko says that around 30-40 cars can show up on a weekly basis when the weather's nice.

"Some years, we've had rain every single Wednesday," he said. "This has been a good year so far."

Schifko is a classic car owner himself, and understands the desire to show off his 1972 El Camino 454SS.

"I drive it around town for fun," he said. "If gas were cheaper I'd drive it further, but it is a big engine and it drinks a lot of gas."

Schifko says his restored car took 4 1/2 years to complete and is a "numbers-matching" car which means things such as the engine, transmission and drivetrain are all original.

"Almost every part on the car is original with the exception of a couple trinkets," Schifko said. "I found it in the Hartland area and realized what it was and tore it down to the bare metal and put it back together exactly how it came out of the factory."

It's a car from an era he says he always wanted to own, and his favorite part, despite the gas prices, is driving it.

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