Bastrop’s Heroes & Hot Rides: Inside a 400-Car Main Street Takeover for Veterans

Engines, honor, and a Main Street that turns into a living museum—this is how a small Texas town makes car culture feel like a civic holiday. We sit down with the Bastrop Car Cruisers to map the two‑day plan: a laid‑back Friday cruise‑in and a sold‑out Saturday showcase capped at 400 cars. They walk us through the choreography you never see—numbered curbs, early‑morning parking crews, tight coordination with police and fire, and a judging system that keeps 33 classes fair by sending the same judges to the same cars. The result is a show people trust, and it fills fast.

Bastrop’s character powers the experience. Main Street is dense with restaurants and boutiques, the museum opens its doors to veterans, and the courthouse memorial anchors a veterans march led by bagpipers and ROTC. Proceeds fund veteran services, local food pantries, and automotive scholarships, backed by sponsors like Craig’s Jewelry and Covert Chevrolet and a long list of donors fueling a silent auction. It’s a reminder that great car shows don’t just entertain—they invest back into the people who make them possible.

We also take a detour into the “good old days” of buying a car with real window stickers from a Mach 1 Mustang, a C3 Corvette, and more—when destination charges were $74, $5 bought antifreeze, and $188 got you a four‑speed.

Then we hand you five fall routes tailor‑made for sports cars and copilots: Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherohala Skyway into Nantahala, Talimena Scenic Byway, Arkansas’s Pig Trail, and Scenic Highway 7. Curves, color, and small‑town stops turn miles into memories.

Love cars, community, and a great story? Hit play, subscribe for more deep dives into real car culture, and share this with a friend who needs a road trip. Got a favorite small‑town show or fall route we should cover next? Tell us—your tip might be our next stop.

The Lupe' Tortilla Restaurants
Lupe Tortilla in Katy, Texas

Gulf Coast Auto Shield
Paint protection, tint, and more!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

---- -----
Want more In Wheel Time car talk any time?

In Wheel Time is now available on Audacy!

Just go to Audacy.com/InWheelTime where ever you are.
----- -----
Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider for the next episode of In Wheel Time Podcast and check out our live multiplatform broadcast every Saturday, 10a - 12nCT simulcasting on Audacy, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and InWheelTime.com.

In Wheel Time Podcast can be heard on you mobile device from providers such as:

Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Podcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Podcast, iHeartRadio podcast, TuneIn + Alexa, Podcast Addict, Castro, Castbox, YouTube Podcast and more on your mobile device.

Follow InWheelTime.com for the latest updates!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/InWheelTime

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inwheeltime/

https://www.youtube.com/inwheeltime

https://www.Facebook.com/InWheelTime

For more information about In Wheel Time Podcast, email us at

info@inwheeltime.com

Chapters

• 0:00 Live Show Kickoff & New Backdrops
• 1:23 Meet Bastrop Car Cruisers
• 2:44 Two-Day Show Overview & Schedule
• 4:25 Downtown Takeover & City Vibe
• 5:45 Growth, Museums, and Family Appeal
• 6:45 Wildfire Recovery & Community Spirit
• 7:40 400-Car Cap, Sellout, and Logistics
• 9:08 Judging System & Classes Explained
• 11:05 Club Cars, People’s Choice, and Layout
• 12:17 City Coordination, Safety, and Parking Ops
• 13:40 History, Mission, and Fundraising Impact
• 15:02 Veterans March & Ceremony Details
• 17:10 Small-Town Charm & Regional Draw
• 18:35 Sponsors, Donors, and Community Buy-In
• 20:05 Dates, Entry Process, and Street Closures
• 21:35 Segment Close & Transition
• 22:00 Ad Break: Tailpipes & Tacos
• 23:35 Ad Break: Heroes & Hot Rides Spot
• 24:20 Jeff’s Car Culture: The Old Car-Buying Days
• 28:30 Window Stickers, Options, and Prices Then