Rapids Rumble Car Cruise

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (WFHR / WIRI) – Cars started rolling in for the Rapids Rumble Car Cruise early Saturday, August 9.

The Mid-State Technical College campus in Wisconsin Rapids is a new location for this event, but attendees had no trouble finding it. The cool temperatures in the morning helped set a celebratory mood for participants as they strategically positioned their four-wheeled babies for display. These vehicular masterpieces were available to view throughout the day until the cruise began in the afternoon.

Many of the vehicles that made up the cruise arrived later in the day. Last year the number of vehicles in the cruise numbered around 580. This year they topped it with approximately 590.

History of the Car Cruise

There’s been an organized car cruise in Wisconsin Rapids for many years since the late 1970’s. Originally started by Corvettes of the North in 1977, they continued for the next 44 years according to Joel Holberg. In 2020, Holberg put on a No-Car car show at the Wisconsin Rapids Lions Club.

A group at the show discussed the fact that if the Corvettes of the North were wanting to give up organizing the event, they would take it over. Low and behold in 2021, the Corvettes did. Holberg and several others have now been organizing the Rapids Rumble Car Cruise for the past five years.

Participation

Holberg said the first two years he was part of organizing the event, they only did the cruise.

“We started getting complaints from car guys that they didn’t have enough time from one o’clock in the afternoon to four o’clock to leave, they didn’t have enough time to BS enough with their other car guys. So, apparently there’s car guys out there that like to talk.” says Holberg.

For the past two years and now this year, Rapids Rumble includes a car show in the morning. The fee to participate is just $10. Holberg says people can just be in the car show, or the car cruise, or they can do both. The fee is the same no matter how they want to participate. The funds raised will go towards Wood County Rescue, Andrew Mueller Fund through Giving Back Inc., then all the police departments that are helping at intersections as the cruise goes along the route.

Route for the Cruise

They’ll leave from MSTC and head west towards Baker towards downtown Wisconsin Rapids. At the roundabout, the car cruise heads to Biron with beautiful views along the Wisconsin River. From there, they’ll drive to Highway 54 East to 80th Street South. The cars then drive through the Lake Wazeecha neighborhood, through Kellner, and then west on Griffith and north on 48th before jumping on Airport Avenue. Once they hit 32nd heading east it’s a short drive on County Road W to Grand Rapids Lions Park. The total route is 22.8 miles this year.

Community Involvement

Holberg said keeping this car cruise going is great for the local community. The event brings in show car owners and their families from miles around and even from out of state. Businesses along the route offer specials and invite spectators in to view the cruise as they drive by.

Ron Ebert is the owner of Junkyard Bar and Grill and has loved this cruise since he was a little boy. He’s been involved with organizing since Holberg and his group took over the cruise. As owner of Junkyard for about 5 years, he said this event brings in diversity. The Rapids Rumble Car Cruise introduces new customers to his business and others throughout the area. Ebert said these customers keep coming back because they enjoyed their time in the community and the excitement of the event.