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Happy Holiday's to All. It has been another great year of Cruising here in Central Florida, No Cruise-In tonight or next week. See you all Next year on January 3rd, 2008 for our 8th year in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

With “Mustang Mike’s Saint Cloud Thursday Nite Cruise on hiatus, I thought I would share a few thoughts with you.

This “Hobby” or the “Other Woman” as it may be called is a lot more positive than most people give it credit for. Here in Central Florida it’s just not a night out with the Boys or the Ladies, or a stop to lift a few brews. The Venues that we are privileged to have to “Cruise” to are very Family friendly. The Thursday night Cruise-In that I usually report on here is at “America’s Drive In” next to the place everyone shops. Is there a better way to go shopping? Bring out the car, get it set for showing, visit a while with friends, make new ones, get a bite to eat then go get that shopping done. Be sure to be back before 7:45 and see if those tickets you bought will let you take home a prize or even some cash. Or enjoy the entire Cruise and do that shopping when the drawings are over, you know, answer all the questions that the spectators have about your little piece of rolling history. Check with me, Bill, N2WFU, Mike, N4HHA, John, KG4BFJ or any other HAM just what it is to be involved with another hobby close to many of the other Cruisers. Maybe even talk with a spectator over the radio that is getting a “Color” report of the event in England or up in Wisconsin.

Be sure and check on the progress that Don R is making on his “Eloise” project or “Just what is Dan Z or Big John driving tonight?”. Share a few stories or jokes with Bob, Paul or Bill.

What is Linda and the others in the “Knitting Kruzers” working on now. Wonder if they could do a Car Cover in stripes? Hear statements from Cruisers, “It’s Cold tonight” at the same time you see spectators in shorts & T-Shirts sweating.

For me and Linda it is all about the people, we have made some wonderful friends, some, even though they do not live here or have moved away will be lifelong friends because of this mutual love for the Cars and the memories that they bring back and the new ones that have just been made. It is the “Cruisers” enthusiasm that continues to bring people into this “Family”. There are some like Linda & I that live to bring out our car, visit with the people and spread the word on this great Hobby. You don’t have to have the Biggest, Badest, Fastest or Oldest. It doesn’t have to be worth a Million, unless of course you want it to be. It is the diversity of particular examples of “Rolling Automotive History” as much as it is the diversity of the owners “Cruising”. Some people hear us talk, that is before they know us, that think we head out to Sea 3 times a week. We encourage them to come out and
see what it is all about. It doesn't take them long to be “Regulars” as a spectator and most end up joining the ranks as a “Cruiser”.

I know that I am sharing my thoughts with the regular readers of my newsletter, “Cruisers” but the audience is a lot larger than just that. Over the last several years there have been 4 websites tied to this publication that not only mirror what I write in these pages but it also contains reports from other “Cruisers” about more shows around the country, that are visited by thousands of people Worldwide to keep up with our adventures. I try to keep these pages relevant to just the 4 regular events. Once and a while when space permits I will sneak in a story from Dusty or Ron and maybe even one from Jennifer. They all play a big part in this community, the people that come out and enjoy the same things we all do. Every week.

Then there is the whole “Old Town” experience this one of a kind, Rain or Shine event that has been going on for nearly 18 years on a Saturday Night and 10 years on Friday Night. Besides the fact that this place reminds me of the small town I grew up in, in Central Wisconsin, it feels like a “Home Town”, the merchants, 75 Shops I might add, the 8 Great Restaurants and the “County Fair” never leaves town with 18 Thrilling Rides and Games for children of all ages, whew! I haven’t even gotten to the best thing about it. The Cars! That’s right, Cars, Friday Nite brings you the cars that are 1975 to current, with special restrictions. Hundreds of them every Friday night, Live Music on Stage and the people that own the cars, everyone of them willing to share any information about what they are driving and why. What makes it so cool or so Hot for that matter. Bill and Doris Moore are the reporters on the street, they bring us just what was going on. Who came out , the winners of the coveted Checkered Flags as well as any other Good News. You will find them on the Bricks on the corner by the A&W” in their ‘79 T-Bird or their ‘87 S-10 pickup.

Now Saturday night’s. well lets just say Saturdays. it starts at 1:00, we usually arrive before 2:00. We hang out down in Block 4, behind the “Black Market Minerals”. Many others from the Wednesday & Thursday Cruise-In’s as well as the members of FACACA end up with us, there might even be as many as a dozen or more HAM radio people stop by. Spectators from all over the world have learned about us because of the Radio thing. Yes, I guess some might say we are also the “Geek Squad”, a nickname given to us by a fellow Geek! Anyway it is all about the friends, old ones and the ones we are about to make. Yes I spend a lot of time wandering around hawking this newsletter but it’s circulation is growing to the point that I might have to have a distribution point as well. I kinda like the personal touch of “Dropping them off”.
Even though Linda and I walk the Bricks all night long the time just flies by. The music that comes over the PA speakers later turns into “Old Town Radio” 87.9 FM. Mike Singer, the “Voice of Old Town” is still recuperating and will make it out a few times while doing so, always plays a great mix of Nostalgic Music and Radio Jingles that would take any one back in time. The live bands on Stage always draw a crowd as do the “Dukes” on their street corner just behind where we park.

It doesn’t seem to matter how many times we make that turn on to the bricks from “Kids Town”. To see that crowd of people waiting to cheer us on. Just Amazing!

Linda & I will usually sneak out the front and head home as part 2, the drawings take place, I made a promise to myself, that by the time the winners of the Flags made it home they would find their name on-line on the day’s story page. Now of course if we would win a flag then I have coverage on the last part of the evening.

Thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings, just some thoughts I wanted to share with you.

If you would like to share a favorite story or thoughts on “Cruising” in these pages, drop me an e-mail with them.

See you all “Out There”
 

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