History of the Cool Cruise

The inaugural Cool Cruise was presented March 2000 in an effort to promote the quaint Old Town La Verne downtown business area to potential shoppers.  With just three months of preparation time and a very limited budget, La Verne Public Works employee L.D.  Johnson and other City staff members organized the event.  The first Cool Cruise event presented 175 hot rods and classics, mostly local enthusiasts.

Acknowledged as a success, the downtown merchants group and La Verne City Council appointed L.D. as the event promoter and authorized two events annually, one in spring and the other in late summer.

Consistently growing in number of participants and spectators, Cool Cruise quickly evolved to include vendors, live entertainment and increasingly larger crowds of spectators.

In 2002, due to late summer heat, the Cool Cruise was evaluated and modified to one event only, presented annually the Saturday prior to Easter.

With each event, the spectator interest, participant registration and positive reputation of Cool Cruise evolved resulting in it becoming one of La Verne's largest community events.

Today's Cool Cruise

Now regularly presenting over 1,000 exceptional quality hot rod and classic vehicles, representing registrations from all states west of the Rockies as well as previous participants from as distant as Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and even Michigan, Cool Cruise has become one of Southern California's premier hot rod events.

With the banner of Cool Cruise, a gathering of hot rod’s finest, Cool Cruise continues it's dedication to present quality hot rods and classics in a relaxed friendly family atmosphere that takes place on the beautiful historic streets of Old Town La Verne.