IN THE COMMUNITY
Early 20th century antiques meeting today’s dream cars
When Steve Goodbread drives Main Street on Fort Myers Beach, his Corvette Z06 turns heads. “It was a dream come true,” Goodbread says of his 2015 two-seater, showing the deep red interior of the 650-horsepower machine. Goodbread’s car and more than 100 other classics roll in to the Parrot Key Caribbean Grill on Fort Myers Beach on first Mondays, October through April. It’s where owners eagerly talk about their “baby” at the monthly Caribbean Cruise-In. Charles Snider, marketing director at Salty Sam’s Waterfront Adventures, says vehicles can date to the early 1900s.
A Corvette enthusiast, Jerry Harber, who owned some 50 Corvettes in his lifetime―his friends, in fact, called him Corvette Jerry―started the car show more than 10 years ago. After Harber’s passing in June, the show continues in his name. There’s an additional raffle at the event to benefit the Comprehensive Cancer Center’s nurse education account at the University of Chicago. “My dad was always very thankful for the nurses who gave him outstanding care,” says Brad Harber, Jerry’s son. “This really does mean a lot to honor him this way.”
The Caribbean Cruise-In runs 5 p.m. through 8 p.m., but many owners arrive earlier, chat and grab dinner at the restaurant. Attendance and registration are free. There’s a drawing for prizes.
David Hulsey shows a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado passed down by his folks. “This car has been all across the country,” he says, “from Hawaii to Florida, and has a lot of history and memories attached to it.”