Allen McCutchen works on his 1922 Buick during the newly restored Cruzin Colby Sunday afternoon in downtown Everett on May 28, 2017. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Allen McCutchen works on his 1922 Buick during the newly restored Cruzin Colby Sunday afternoon in downtown Everett on May 28, 2017. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Cool cars converge as Cruzin’ to Colby returns to Everett

EVERETT — Bumper-to-bumper traffic clogged downtown Everett streets Sunday afternoon, slowing cars to a crawl.

And that was just fine with Kevin Echols and the hundreds of car owners who came to show off their vehicles at Cruzin’ to Colby. The annual car show almost was cancelled this year — its 18th since starting in 1999 — but dozens of volunteers jumped in to pull it off.

“It’s just like Friday and Saturday nights when I was in high school,” said Echols, who drove his 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 SC replica.

Like many car owners, he has put hundreds of hours into the sleek, light blue car with classic curves and a powerful engine. Driving the car is “like having a dream and catching it,” he said.

As a student at Bothell High School, he and friends would cruise downtown Everett’s streets on weekend nights in his 1967 Pontiac GTO. “We’d tune up at the Shell gas station, where my friend worked. Then, when he was off, we’d cruise around town,” said Echols, who lives in Snohomish.

Just like then, Cruzin’ to Colby, which continues Monday, is about friends and family, he said. “My son’s in that red and white Camaro. My friend from high school is in that blue truck. And my wife is riding with me,” he said.

More than 600 car owners had registered by the time the cruise started Sunday, said Dale Newman, one of the event’s organizers. “We’ll easily be over 800 cars” by Monday.

Newman and Joel Starr started Cruzin’ to Colby. It ran along two blocks of the street between businesses they owned separately at the time. Once the event was established, a car collectors’ club, Seattle Rod-Tiques, took over organizing the annual cruise. In December, the club announced it would not sponsor the show this year.

Rather than let it fall by the wayside, Newman and Starr took up the task. Thanks in part to a weekend of warm, sunny weather, they expect a record-high number of spectators this year.

There were plenty of jaw-dropping cars rolling through Everett, including an original Shelby Mustang Mach 1, a high performance version of the classic muscle car. Carroll Shelby, the designer, helped define the era of American cars.

Two cars especially impressed Kirk Munn, who helped pull together the tech support for the event: a 1929 Studebaker sedan and a bright orange 1969 Chrysler Road Runner.

The Studebaker “is one of those cars that’s not fancy,” he said, “but it looks really nice sitting at the curb” — and cruising on Colby, too.

Cruzin’ events conclude Monday with a Show ’N Shine from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Colby.

Dan Catchpole: 425-339-3454; dcatchpole@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dcatchpole.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.