 Poster for the
Somernites Cruise. |
Show season 2010
ended in the same area of the country that the 1953 Futurliner #10
began its final trek. On April 15, 1953 the final Parade of Progress
began in Lexington, KY at the U of K campus and from Sept. 24-25,
2010 Futurliner # 10 was on display in Somerset, KY. It turns out
there were numerous similarities at the Somernites Cruise 10th
Anniversary show to past events.
Former Paraders tell us of the challenges to keep the
Futurliners and displays in working order and maintained. We
experienced this with #10 when somewhere between Michigan and
Kentucky the wind caught hold of one of the side windows and blew it
out. So throughout the weekend corrective measures had to be taken.
These included parking under the hotel canopy the night rain was
forecasted to covering the window area with plastic, etc. for the
trip back to Michigan.
Friday morning, #10 was escorted to the Pulaski County Public
Library. While here we had an opportunity to become like the former
Previews of Progress that went to schools to do mini Parade of
Progress shows but this time the students came to us. We had
students from 1st grade, 3rd grade and all the way to high school
visit us and hear about the history of the Futurliners. Many others,
even a couple from the Netherlands stopped by that day.
Later that afternoon we moved #10 to the Center for Rural
Development as part of the Wal-Mart Block Party. As day turned to
night we were able to light up the area with the use of the light
bar on top of the Futurliner.
Saturday, we were escorted to the town square where we set up
beside the sponsoring Citizens National Bank. Past and future met up
again as the U of K students had their solar car there, too. Many
spectators took photos of these two futuristic vehicles. There was a
steady stream of visitors to #10 during this 10th anniversary show.
After the show was over, things were packed up and stowed away and
the Futurliner made one final cruise on US-27 back to the hotel.
Here the crew loaded #10 onto the trailer and covered the missing
window area for the trip back.
The organizers and staff of Somernites Cruise were gracious
and helpful hosts, providing us with escorts when moving the
Futurliner, getting sponsorship for our appearance, doing advanced
promotions, providing air-conditioned hospitality rooms at the
library and downtown, and aiding is spur of the moment needs like
getting the proper electrical power to the Futurliner to run the
displays. |
