A social media suggestion that Great Bend residents revive the tradition of “dragging Main” turned into a flash party Tuesday night. From approximately 7-9 p.m., Main Street was lined with north- and southbound vehicles from 24th Street to 10th Street and on to the Great Bend Co-op. Motorists honked their horns and kept the lanes full. The Great Bend Police Department was called to direct traffic at 24th and Main around 7:45 p.m.
“I’d say it took us 20 minutes to drive from 24th to 10th,” said Linda Pringle, a Great Bend Tribune employee who joined the cruise with her husband Steve around 8:30 p.m.
Another participant spent 45 minutes making the entire circuit.
There were classic cars, motorcycles, vehicles with dogs, and kids on bikes on the sidewalks.
Hoisington residents were also cruising down Main Street in that city on Tuesday, and motorists were renewing the tradition of “Dragging the Gut” in Larned last Sunday, according to reports.
Great Bend participants provided photos and videos, along with some comments on the Great Bend Tribune’s Facebook page, where our post reached more than 11,000 people and received more than 400 “likes” “loves” or “hahas.”
“It was so fun!!” said Nancy Gale.
Morgan Stevens posted, “Cruising Main was SO FUN!! It definitely did my heart good and I LOVED hearing the sound of engines revving and people smiling and honking! Put the street lights on “flash mode” next time. Everybody was so kind, like the road to Shambala ... AND all the doggies!!”
“This was sooo great and was really good for our spirits too!!!!” said Brandi Hertel Sheldon, who posted videos on Facebook.
Those who remembered when cruising Main was a regular pastime said they enjoyed bringing back the old days and seeing friends. The tradition is to honk when you see a friend, although some people just chose to honk away.
“In my day, kids could park on the east side of Main by the courthouse and visit with each other. Sit on their cars and have a good time,” Connie Henderson recalled. “We were not unruly or causing trouble. There just wasn’t any good place to go that didn’t cost money. And gas was 50 cents a gallon. We could drag Main all evening on $1.”
Word is out that the cruise night won’t be a onetime thing. Expect to see all types of vehicles on Main Street around 7 p.m. Saturday.
City Attorney Bob Suelter said dragging Main Street is legal so long as traffic laws are obeyed. The city parks are closed, however, and groups of 10 or more people are banned during the COVID-19 pandemic as of noon Friday. So, the best way to view a cruise night is from a vehicle.
