Bill Kesseler can remember when there was only one stoplight in Auburn and its main purpose – at least for him during his high school days – was to serve as an unofficial starter for nighttime drag races down High Street.

More than 40 years later, the Weimar resident is still idling his classic car engine in Downtown Auburn as one of Auburn Cruise Nite’s long-time participants.

Kesseler has attended Cruise Nite every year since the event’s inception in 1984. That first year, when the event kick-started at Fosters Freeze, Kesseler said he was at each gathering. Since then, he’s made an appearance at least one or two of the nights each year because he loves to display his hard work, he said.

“I get the satisfaction of a finished product,” Kesseler said. “I like the comments people give me, especially when I’ve taken something that I should’ve walked away from and basically save it and give it life.”

He’s built and restored 13 classic cars since he was given his first car, a 1930 Model A, in 1962. Currently he is in the process of restoring six other classic cars.

“It’s a disease,” he said.

The addiction started back in 1962 when his dad bought him the Model A that originally had a four-cylinder engine.

“He thought that would keep me going slow on the roads,” Kesseler said, laughing.

He said he quickly burned the engine out and replaced it with a 239 Ford Flathead V8. So how fast did it go?

“Not very fast,” he said, but the car was his pride and joy. It was also the beginning of a hobby that would turn into a lifelong passion and career.

Since upgrading that first car, Kesseler has spent countless hours restoring classics he’s found in the forest, in junkyards and through word-of-mouth.

Kesseler said there are times when he thinks about how much easier it would be to sit back and watch TV instead of working on his latest project. But, he said, he always finds motivation to go out to the garage.

“It’s a labor of love,” he said. “You get it in your blood.”

He not only works on his own revivals, he also restores cars for others at his Auburn business, Foothill Auto Repair.

“Of course labor is the biggest part,” Kesseler said. “When you work on your own, you get 10 cents an hour. When you work on others, you get $75 an hour.”

Co-Cruise Nite Chairman Dick Kiger has been involved with the event for more than a decade, and said it’s a great place for family fun.

“I’ve always liked classic cars and this is a great event – I just had to get involved,” Kiger said.

Kiger himself has a 1958 Chevrolet. He agreed with Kesseler that the highlight of finishing a project is the recognition he receives.

“When you drive one of these down the street and some guy gives you a thumb’s up, it makes everything worthwhile,” Kiger said.

Tonight’s event will also feature Kiger’s 6-year-old great-granddaughter Alisha Stolze, who is Little Miss Cruise Nite. Stolze will parade down the main drag on a 1948 Ford Convertible.

Tonight, Kesseler said he plans to show off the 1967 Dodge Dart GT, which he found 20 miles above Dutch Flat in the woods, and the 1953 Chevy panel delivery truck he finished. The dart was “hotrodded,” he said, and can reach 106 mph in 13.78 seconds on a quarter-mile stretch, he added.

“Cruise night is a great place to see people you just don’t see daily,” Kesseler said. “Plus, I like to show my work.”

Cruise Nite, now in its 24th year, takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. today on Lincoln Way in Downtown Auburn. About 300 classic cars are expected to be on display.

The Journal's Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment.