June 23rd

Once again it was a great day leading to a "Hot Summer Night" at the "World's Largest Weekly Car Cruise". We are very fortunate that we live so close and that we can report on this event to all of you each and every week. We set out today from our spot at the "Top of the Hill" as we call it. Steve Mc in his '41 Willys pickup, Tony & Sharon in "Sunny" their '62 Corvair Coupe, Mike & Kristen would join us at the light before the toll booth in "Linus" their '64 Corvair convertible, it looked like a train with the old Willys as the engine and the 3 Corvairs as the cars. Today is also Amateur Radio "Field Day", so Mike, N4HHA, brought along some HF gear to see if he could make any DX contacts.

As we arrived, Lee was that the gate, Bratt, a little further down was in her normal "Registration Area". We were greeted with smiles and conversation from both posts. We made the turn onto "Trophy Row". It was a little bare at 1:45, I figure it was the heat, well, for one that is why I came to Florida. Ed & Evelyn were already parked in Block 4 and waiting for us and a few other Corvairs that would join us. After setting up, Mike set up his HF gear and started to work some DX, he did manage to make a few contacts. Rich and Joe stopped by, Bill & Doris visited for a while. The late model Corvair convertible with A/C and John in his Mint colored 8 door Greenbrier joined in with us. It was time to deliver the newsletters, we would join the rest at "Flippers" for dinner at 4:00. As we made our way up, we stopped to visit with Kathy, Roger & Sue were out in the "Vette, Bill in his Plymouth, Ron in the old Chevy pickup. Dave had the green '57 Chevy under it's canopy. "Big Daddy" had a '64 Impala convertible across from him. "Big John" had the GT350 in his favorite spot. The "Red Line Rodders" and the "Rat Pack" were in place, Steve was in his Pantera. Bob & Marge in the '41 Buick. Emil had his "High School Flame" a Fat Fendered Ford in his favorite spot. Mike, Mark, Ken & Charlene were at the top of Block 1 in the 'Vette, Super Stock Plymouth and the Camaro. Really they were trying to stay out of trouble. We walked back down to the office to give Nikki her newsletter. We decided to head up the main street, "Mustang Mike" was spotted arriving in his '64 Corvair Greenbrier.

Linda & I beat everyone to the tables and found out that Kris, Kris Jr. and Victoria, Tony's son and grandkids, would join us for dinner. Jane had already heard of her fame when we gave her the newsletter. We were joined on the patio by Ron & Rene. Tony & Marianne would head inside with Bobby G. to eat. By now many of the other regulars to "Flippers" would be making their way in. Just about the time we were to leave we heard Mark's T-Bucket, with the new "Zoomies", loud but nice! The food was good, the service was great, thanks Jane.

It was time to make our way back to the cars. Mark joined in on the stroll to block 4. By this time many more of the Regulars were in place. Roberta had the "Beer Tent" all stocked up and ready for business. Jeff had his Edsel parked a bit to the South of it. "Bo" brought out his '70 Monte Carlo, Bob in his '36 Ford Humpback, and John in his Mustang parked across from us. Ron & Rene's Caddy was on that side as well. Dan & Liz were out in the daily driver along with Kyle & Kristina, they will be going back home on Tuesday, to meet up with "Big Jim" and Jeff. Graham, G4HFG, from the UK checked in over the HAM radio as he does every Saturday for the "Color" of the event. "The Dukes" came in to set up for an unscheduled performance, their gig in Lakeland was cancelled so we got to have them on the corner again tonight. Once it cooled a bit the crowd began to grow quickly, the Cruisers kept streaming in right until the closing of the gate, even a few afterwards. I spotted Larry & Cris making their way down to block 4, I followed them on foot until the made they made the turn by the rollercoaster but I don't know where they went. They were out in Cris' new '64 Mustang. Just so much going on by now it was hard to keep track of it all.

Nikki & Micha, stopped by with the "Flag Winners" and the "Cruiser of the Month", Tony & Donna Fisher in their '68 Mustang were being led to block 4, that becomes the staging area at this time, by Lee, Rich & Bratt. Followed by the rest of the cars from the top 3 blocks. Allan, who had been playing his mix of music from what he likes to call the "Blue Room", got word that we were ready to Cruise so he gave the safety announcements, played the National Anthem. Right on time, for this the 887th running of this tradition, the cars then hit the bricks of "Deac Hundley Avenue", delighting the very  large crowd of spectators. There would be a total of 205 cars rolling by them on this Hot Summer Night.

Thank you Old Town for letting us, the curators of this "Rolling Display of Automotive History", the cars that are the "Stars", to be their guests this evening. Thank you to the Old Town Merchants Association and the Sponsors of this event, Valvoline & the A&W to name a few. Thank you to Rich, Joe, Ron, Lee, Bratt, Nikki, Micha, Ben, and the entire Cruise Staff for keeping us all safe. Thank you to our fellow Cruisers for making this our 239th consecutive Saturday a fun and Safe one.

On to the Flag Winners...

Tonight's random drawing winners that and received the coveted "Old Town Checkered Flag" along with $25 cash, A Case of Oil from Valvoline and a drink from the Tropical Breeze.

Rafael  Roure*
  1955  Chevrolet  Pick Up

Bill  Hammer 
  1963  Chevrolet  Corvette

Richard  Kavehne 
  1939  Ford   

Clint  Olsen 
  1949  Ford  Pick Up

Bud  Hovastravt 
  1972  Plymouth  Cuda

Larry & Cris  Day*
  1964  Ford  Mustang

Kevin  Reed 
  1937  Packard   

David  Falzon 
  1948  Chevrolet   

On to the Photos... after this.

 Here are the Photos.
Click on any photo for a larger view.

Click on any photo for a larger view.

 See you all "Out there"

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