Munising Bay Cruisers: Annual car show returns with weekend of events

For more than a decade, the Munising Bay Cruisers have brought classic cars, community members and visitors together to support local veterans. This year, the organization’s annual car show will return with new additions, special milestones and a tribute to one of its longtime members.

The 14th annual Munising Bay Cruisers Car Show will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, in the grass lot just north of the roundabout in Munising. The show will feature classic vehicles and awards while raising money for veterans organizations. Proceeds from the event will help support the All Veterans Memorial, Wounded Warrior Project and U.P. Honor Flight. 

“This year is going to be special in several different ways,” Munising Bay Cruisers President Gary Bovan said. 

Among this year’s additions is a tribute to longtime club member Gail Djerf, who died the morning of last year’s car show. Djerf had been involved with the organization since the beginning. A special award will be presented in her honor, along with a tribute to her family.

The Munising Bay Cruisers will also recognize the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 100th anniversary of Route 66. 

This race season, the Munising Bay Cruisers sponsored driver Bernard Penegor and his car 22P at Sands Speedway. Penegor and his race car will be another addition to the show this year.

The partnership is closely tied to the organization’s mission of supporting veterans. Penegor is a veteran who served six years and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. He uses his race car to raise awareness of suicide among veterans. 

“Their sponsorship this season meant everything to me, along with my race number 22P. The inscription stands for how many veterans we lose a day to veteran suicides,” Penegor said.

He explained that over the last five years, he has lost three friends to suicide and is exhausted by the losses. Working with the Munising Bay Cruisers has allowed him to combine his involvement in racing with his desire to support veterans. 

“My experience with Munising Bay Cruisers has been nothing but excellent,” Penegor said.

Over the past 14 years, the show has developed a loyal following with Bovan estimating that 30% to 40% of participants come from the Lower Peninsula. Some of the participants have returned nearly every year, planning one of their vacations around the annual show.

“It has become a family,” Bovan said. “They become very close to us and everybody that comes to the show.”

For Bovan and the Cruisers, continuing to support veterans remains at the center of the event.

“The future of this event is great,” he said. “We expect it to grow and continue honoring our veterans in the way we know how, and that’s financially.”

The car show is part of a full weekend of events for the Munising Bay Cruisers. Festivities begin Friday with the annual cruise to Grand Marais, followed by a free showing of “Smokey and the Bandit” at 7 p.m. at Gallery Coffee Co. Donations will be accepted during the movie.

Bovan also expressed his appreciation to Mativ Munising Mill for allowing the Cruisers to use the property for the event.