If you enjoy Cushman motor scooters, or just enjoy the sight of men and women reliving their childhoods, Snyder will be the place to be Oct. 12-14.
The 35th annual Texas Cushman Club State Meet will be held at The Coliseum and is expected to attract upward to 100 Cushman scooter enthusiasts, organizers said.
Cushman scooters were built between 1936 and 1965 and developed an avid following. The scooters are lightweight — usually between 250 and 300 pounds — and were advertised to get up to 75 miles per gallon.
The Cushman Model 53, built during World War II, was designed to be dropped by parachute with U.S. Army Airborne troops during the Normandy Invasion.
By the mid-1960s, however, scooters such as the Cushman faced competition from motorcycle companies.
“Honda and companies like that came along and put us out of business,” said Brent Landry, president of the Cushman Club of America.
Although the company long ago stopped making the scooters, they remain popular among enthusiasts, many of whom will visit Snyder.
One of the major reasons for the scooters’ enduring popularity is simple nostalgia.
“A lot of us grew up with those scooters,” Landry said. “Now, you’ve got a bunch of old guys out there reliving their childhoods.”
The number of Cushman clubs is growing. Aside from the national organization, there are several state clubs like the one in Texas.
“Texas doesn’t have the biggest club in the nation anymore — I think the one in Ohio is bigger,” Landry said. “But I still think our’s is the best.”
The state meet will feature rides to Colorado City and Lake Alan Henry, show scooter judging, scooter games, a scooter sled pull and an ice cream social.
The event is free to the public.
“Just come on down and talk to us,” Landry said. “We’ll be more than happy to show you what they’re all about.”
The full schedule is available online at www.texascushmanclub.com