Cruise-in draws classic car fans

It was shades of the movie “American Graffiti” Saturday as the Pharoahs Mississippi Car Club drew vintage autos for a cruise-in at the Union County Library.

The club, fashioned on the car club in George Lucas’ classic, began in the western part of the United States but has been growing and now has a presence in Mississippi.

Many of the vehicles belonged to Union Countians but the cruise-in also attracted non-locals as well.

Although cash prizes were offered, it was more of a friendly get-together with attendees gathered in the shade under trees to just talk about cars and visit with each other.

According to one history, the club actually saw its origins in 1957 in Modesto, California when some students wanted to start a group called the Faros. The principal threatened them with expulsion but they tried again, more successfully, a few years later when they were in junior college.

George Lucas incorporated the club into his iconic movie that came out in 1973, apparently because he was friends with one of the original Faros.

The group disbanded shortly after the movie came out but interest in classic car clubs has seen a resurgence and growth in recent years, particularly as the Pharoahs.

The club hopes to have a similar event on the third Saturday of each month through September. Travis Kitchens is president of the group.