D.A.R.E. CRUISE DRAWS 2,000

TORRINGTON - Around 2,000 people strolled Main Street from 5:30 p.m.
to 9:30 p.m. Friday night checking out more than 300 show cars to
help the city's Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program.

"We had many more cars this year," D.A.R.E. Officer Chris Donovan
said as he directed the display vehicles to their parking spots.
"Last year we had 180, this year we are over 300."

The 17th Annual Friday Night D.A.R.E. Cruise, sponsored by the
Torrington Police Department, Gary's Hilltop Auto repair, Price
Chopper, Royals' Garage, J&M Suppliers and The Yankee Pedlar Inn, is
the main funding event for the D.A.R.E. program, Donovan said.

"It is nice to see the city come out to support the kids," Board of
Education member Valerie Royals said. "It is an excellent program.
Both of my daughters were in it."

The national D.A.R.E. program was founded in Los Angeles, Calif., in
1983 to give kids the tools to avoid drugs, gangs and violence. It
is currently in 75 percent of the nation's schools and also has
chapters in 43 countries serving an estimated 36 million children,
according to the organization's Web site.

The money raised through the car show will supplement funding from
the city budget to enhance the program in Torrington, Donovan said.
The local program added three units that were dropped in the
national program a couple of years ago because the nine city
D.A.R.E. officers felt the items were important, Donovan said.

Display cars paid $10 each to show their vehicles and compete for
nine trophies. Each car received a certificate and dashboard plaque
for participating.

New Hartford resident Brian Atwood and his wife were among those
admiring the vast array of classic, muscle and show cars.

"We heard about (the show) and came out," Atwood said. "It is a good
night out."

Atwood's favorite car was a 1932 Ford with an Ardun Hemming motor.

Donovan, who organized the event with fellow D.A.R.E. Officer
Richard Dowd, said they considered moving the event to the Timken
parking lot, but decided to keep it downtown for the "nostalgic feel."

Scents and Sensibility on Main Street owner Jorge Coelho agreed.

"Events like this bring out the best in people," Coelho said. "It
reminds me of the old fashioned gatherings (in the city)."

Three members of a local car club displayed their vehicles.

Mike Box, 27, Chris Hughes, 23, and Gary Clinton, 30, formed the
Higher Image Car Club three years ago to find others interested in vehicles.

The club now has about 15 members that get together for shows and
other outings, Clinton said.

"We go to shows in Massachusetts to show respect to the other car
clubs," Box said. "The more guys and nice cars you have (in the
club), the better your club looks."

Box, who works as a detailer for Torrington Honda, displayed the
1995 Honda Civic that he has been working on for three years.

"It is my winter projects," Box said. "I like Hondas."

Box paid $2,000 for the car and has since put another $11,000 into
it including hydraulic lifts for each wheel of the car.

For his efforts, Box took home the Best Import trophy Friday night.

Not all the people displaying their cars competed for trophies. Some
were looking to sell.

Len Dube displayed his 1994 Harley Davidson motorcycle, side car,
and a unique casket trailer. The trailer Dube wants to sell for
$1,600 contains a real 20-gauge steel casket he said was used by
motorcycle clubs to transport tents and coolers to various outings
back in the 1960s.

"It is for sale," Dube said. "I've only had lookers (so far)."

In addition to the entry fee, donated hot dogs from Price Chopper
and beverages from J&M Supply were sold to benefit the program.

Police Chief Robert Milano spent most of the show cooking and
selling the hot dogs.

"The best hot dogs in the world," Milano said.

Donovan said this year's show should make more than the $3,000
raised last year.