NORTHFIELD — Come Friday evening, classic car enthusiasts will shine up their hot rods and cruise to the Northfield Drive-In for a special double feature of two classic auto films, “American Graffiti” and “Bullitt.”
The Now and Then Vehicles Club, a nonprofit club made up of 85 passionate car enthusiasts and operated out of Brattleboro, Vt., organized the event. According to club President Bruce Gauld, the event is designed to give auto enthusiasts a chance to display their cars while enjoying a retro night at the movies.
“It’s mostly just a get-together for people to have a good time and show our cars off,” he said. “We’ve been talking about it for a while and one of the members (Norma Arsenault) suggested we contact (the Northfield Drive-In).”
Though the Northfield Drive-In closed for the season after four-movie marathons last Friday through Sunday, Gauld said the drive-in’s owners loved the idea of a “Drive-In Cruise-In Double Feature” and allowed the club to use the facilities.
“There are so few drive-ins around anymore and classic cars are really the same way,” Arsenault, herself the proud owner of a 1968 Mustang, said. “I just thought it would be so cool to get a bunch of classic cars and go to the movies, and see old movies like what we grew up on.”
“American Graffiti,” a 1973 film directed by George Lucas, follows the adventures and personal dilemmas of West Coast teenagers on their last summer night together before venturing off to college in the car culture of 60s California. The 1968 film “Bullitt” starring Steve McQueen features a San Francisco cop who is determined to track down the hit men who killed the witness in his protection, and features one of the earliest classic car chases.
Gates to the drive-in open at 6 p.m. Friday and the first film, “American Graffiti,” will start at 7:30 p.m. The double feature costs $9 per person or $20 per carload. The Northfield Drive-In receives all proceeds. And the plans are for the snack bar to be open.
Gauld said that while people are encouraged to arrive in classic cars, they are not required.
“Most of the members of the club will go, but we’ve had a lot of outside interest, too,” he said.
Arsenault hopes husbands and wives will come to remember their first drive-in movie dates, and grandparents will bring their grandchildren so they can experience what life was like in the mid-1900s.
“If the turnout is good, then we’re going to try to do it every year,” she added.
Gauld encourages advanced registration for the event, though he said movie goers are welcome to simply show up.
The event has a rain date of Saturday. Gauld encourages those interested to call Northfield Drive-In, contact him or check the event’s Facebook page (bit.ly/2ciDEZX) in the event of rain.
The Northfield Drive-In can be reached at 603-239-4054. Gauld can be reached at 802-380-4322.