It's Langley's largest event of the year, and one of the grandest mixed car shows in Canada.

The reason why the annual, 100 per cent volunteer-driven Langley Good Times Cruise-In has been such an enormous triumph isn't just its main attraction: the several hundred vintage and buffed up cars, trucks, and motorcycles that are parked along the downtown streets the second Saturday of September.

It's the people who are the true drivers of its success - the crew of volunteers, and the auto enthusiasts who make a short journey from across the block, or a pilgrimage from across B.C., Washington State, and beyond to enjoy the show 'n shine.

On Saturday, the sun shone and the thermometer rose, and from all accounts, everyone had a good time.

Riccardo Sestito, in his swan song as the Cruise-In Society's president, said there were roughly 1,700 entries, and people continued to pour into Langley's downtown core throughout the day.

By Monday, Sestito was admittedly exhausted from what was a busy weekend. He said all went smoothly, with no major incidents to speak of.

He said Cruise-In volunteers had to turn entries away.

"More cars showed up than we had room for," Sestito said. "I strongly recommend that [owners] pre-register next year. Once we have numbers by mid-summer, it helps to determine the size of the show."

On the subject of numbers, Sestito estimated the total visitor count was similar to past years - in the 100,000-plus range.

"It was hard to tell because the marketplace was so big," he said. "It was busy all around the downtown core."

The always-popular In-N-Out Burger stand, which travelled all the way from California, attracted countless hungry patrons who waited for up to two-and-ahalf hours to snap up the burgers.

Every cent of the sale of the In-N-Out food - just like all Cruise-In proceeds - will go to the show-and-shine's three charities: Langley Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Association, and Langley Stroke Recovery.

"At the end of the day its all about community," Sestito said.

One of the key money-makers for the charities is the Ultimate Garage raffle, sponsored by Lordco Auto Parts.

Mike Coates, raffle organizer and manager of the Lordco Auto Parts location at 5825 200th St., reported roughly 1,900 tickets being sold.

A North Vancouver resident won the grand prize, a total of $19,977.12 worth of tools and toys that included a 9,000-pound four-post hoist, a TCA 36" industrial cabinet, and an air compressor.

While he wasn't able to sell all 2,400 tickets available, Coates said he had a great time.

"I loved pushing for the charities," Coates said. "It was lots of fun and the weather was great."

Just how much money was raised from Cruise-In was not known at press time.

tlandreville@langleyadvance.com