The owner of a Hennessey restaurant is asking for the town’s board to allow an event in April that might bring “normalcy” to at least for one night.

“Restaurants have had hard times,” local Golden Chick owner Tony Blackburn told Hennessey town board members at their Feb. 11

He proposed a free car show Sunday, April 18, from 1-6 p.m. staged by Cruisin’ Oklahoma.

Blackburn said it’s to “bring people to Hennessey. It’s something that will give us a little normalcy that we haven’t had in a long time.”

He said the cars would cruise into town at 1 p.m. and park around town so people can look at cars, eat and go to the park and see friends “especially since they had to cancel the Wine & Chocolate Festival last year.”

Cruisin’ Oklahoma is “a group of car enthusiasts who enjoy cruisin’ the open roads of Oklahoma,” according to its Facebook page.

Blackburn said he has been talking to local business owners and after the meeting said he’d like them to contact him (405-503-8173) if they want more information.

During the meeting, he said Dewayne’s Conoco on Main Street will have a Dino (dinosaur) there and he wants a slow speed area at Sparky’s Eatery on Main and Nebraska streets for motorcycles.

He also gave board members a map of downtown that shows tents and booths in Memorial Park.

Mayor Bert Gritz said he was surprised it would be on Sunday because several of the restaurants aren’t open that day and Blackburn said he’d contact them to see if they’ll be open.

Hennessey United said we could use their stage and big tent in the park,” Blackburn said. “The CAT team is on board to help.”

Blackburn asked if the town would allow them use one of its radio remote times for the event.

“That not the town. It’s Hennessey United,” said Barb Walter, United board member, from the audience.

Blackburn also said they want to have a burnout contest, but didn’t know where and was told there is a burnout pad on First Street west of Main Street.

From the audience, Trustee-elect Harold Shaw asked the mayor, “What’s the town’s liability for something like this?”

“That’s a good question,” Gritz replied to Shaw, who becomes aboard member in April.

Blackburn said they would put signs that they weren’t responsible for accidents.

Shaw said that wouldn’t hold up in court and he’d experienced that when he worked at the Enid Speedway.

Trustee Richard Simunek suggested Blackburn talk with Mike Walters of Friends’ Bar about release forms. Walters has an annual car show and burnout contest in the fall.

“The burnout area needs to be cordoned off,” said Police Chief Ed Cangiano, who said he’d also ask the Kingfisher County Sheriff’s Office to help that afternoon.

Blackburn said he’d talk to a Hennessey firefighter about having fire trucks there, then asked if the board would approve the event.

“That item was only on the agenda to discuss, not to take action,” said Tiffany Tillman, town administrator.

“Every car mustbe street legal,” the police chief told Blackburn. “Every year we get two or three that aren’t.”

Vice Mayor Clif Vogt asked Blackburn if he was going to have enough time to get the event organized.

Blackburn said he will and that Cruisin’ Oklahoma will also be at Hallett Sunday, Feb. 28, and Jared Holt has 250 cars signed up to participate.

The group’s Facebook page shows they will meet in the old mall on the north side of Stroud and leave at 9 a.m. and take Route 66 east to Milfay Road then north through Shamrock, Drumright and Oilton.

Cruisin’ members will also be allowed to “make a few parade” trips around the track.