PILOT MOUNTAIN — The temperatures were comfortably cooler for Saturday’s season-ending cruise-in, but the cars and crowds were again out in large numbers, continuing a trend that has built throughout the summer.

“I thought it went really well,” noted Mount Pilot NOW representative Jerry Venable, a primary organizer of the events. “The weather couldn’t have been better and we had more people coming in earlier. By 4:30, every spot reserved for our classics was full.”

Particularly pleasing for organizers was the continued influx of first-time visitors finding their way to Pilot Mountain. A sampling of classic car owners found a mix of regular participants along with several who had heard of the cruise-in at other events and decided to see what had prompted the buzz of conversation.

Venable cited a pair of weekend examples showing how the series’ reputation has spread. One involved a 16-year-old young man from Columbia, S.C., who suffered from Scoliosis. A car enthusiast, the teen had read of the series on the Internet and desperately wanted to attend. While his parents were unable to make the trip, a group of eight other couples from the area had traveled to Pilot Mountain last weekend and brought the youth along during a long weekend visit. Learning of the story, Venable had made a point of spending time with the young man.

“He was really excited,” Venable noted with a smile. “He said it was even better than the Web site.”

A vacationing couple from Oregon was among other first-time visitors. They were visiting in the area and had heard others talking of enjoying the cruise-in.

“They said this was the best part of their whole vacation,” Venable said.

Venable also was pleased by several visitors who have compared the Pilot Mountain event to the large “Shades of the Past” car show in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

A valuable new addition this summer was the YVEDDI “Good Time Charley” trolley service. The brightly colored vehicle offered a free downtown shuttle service to visitors from the Key Street PART parking lots. Starting slowly, the service gained in popularity throughout the summer, helping to free some of the limited number of downtown parking spaces.

“The trolley has been a big help,” Venable noted. “It’s a great way for visitors to see the cars, especially at night. We’ve already reserved it for next year and we’d like to see another one added.”

A sampling of merchants revealed enthusiasm for the cruise-in series and eagerness for more of the same.

“It’s been a wonderful thing,” noted Becky White of the Mount Pilot Emporium. The gift shop, in the heart of the downtown area, is one of several businesses that have seen a positive impact from the series.

“I so appreciate the town having this and the good job that the Pilot Mountain Police Department does during it. Of course, it benefits the merchants to have people coming in from all over the state. That’s so good for us. And we have people come in weeks later who say they found us at a cruise-in, liked us and wanted to come back.

“And I enjoy them,” she continued. “I get excited about the cruise-ins.”

Shirley Cox of This ‘n That agreed. The small store, with its eclectic variety of items, is another that has benefited by the influx of cruisers and spectators.

“I think it’s great,” Cox said. “Businesses get new customers and the customers get to enjoy the beautiful cars while getting to know our small town and its quaint little shops. During the summer, this is an important part of our business. It’s been very good to me.”

“With so many coming in and spending a weekend,” Venable noted, “we’re continuing to see an increase in dollars spent both here and throughout the county. It benefits our hotels, restaurants and businesses.”