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Ammon Stolfzfus, 37, of Quarryville, picks up the latest issue of Cruise Letter, a publication made "By Cruisers, For Cruisers," outside of the Markets at Shrewsbury Friday night. Stolfzfus works at Penn Dutch Kitchen's outside booth during Cruise Nights. When asked if he ever checks out the cars himself, he replied there's never any time.<br />&middot; <a href="http://w2.ydr.com/forms/sendPhoto.php?photo=29425">E-mail photo</a><br />&middot; <a href="http://ydr.mycapture.com/mycapture/lookup.asp?originalname=082407-km-amish-cars-1.jpg.jpg">Order photo reprint</a><br />
Aug 25, 2007 — Stop by the Markets at Shrewsbury on any typical business day and you'll have a relaxing time wandering through aisles of mostly Amish-made merchandise.

But one Friday of every month - from April through October - that peace and relaxation is shattered by the distinctive roar of hot rods and muscle cars as they take over for the Friday Cruise Nights.

The glittering beasts of the road invade the market grounds by the hundreds and even more people come to look at them.

The event began four years ago to draw people to the market, Alicia Herbst, marketing and events coordinator for the market, said.

And it appears to have worked.

More than 1,000 people flock to the market for the cruise to chow down on food while walking through rows of classic American muscle, Herbst said.

It's a who's who of cars from America's automobile history.

Everything from classic Chevys to modern Mustangs, including the car you're least likely to see at such a souped-up gathering: a 1915 Milburn electric car.

Jeff Hammers, the general manager of Penn-Dutch Restoration in Glen Rock, picked up the car this week in Canada to restore it for a client in Paris.

The car, which can reach a whopping speed of 20 mph, was designed and marketed for women who had a tough time turning the crank to start a gas-powered car.

"It's perfect for city driving," Hammers said. "You hardly ever go faster than 20 in a big city."

The event officially begins

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at 5 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m., but many car owners get to the markets in the midafternoon, vying for a good spot to park their prized car.

Rich Merryman drove his "'39 Ford on steroids" from Forest Hill, Md., to check out what the fuss was all about.

"This is just a great show," he said while polishing the bright yellow coupe. "You meet people you've never met before, and you're friends instantly."