September 29th

It was a WET day, off and on. In fact Linda & I left the house to head out to Old Town on our own today, in the rain. We actually arrived before 1:00, we had to join in the line up along the frontage road with a few cars ahead of us. The "Regulars" that always manage to line up. We did this so that any of the cars displaced by the "GoVair, Corvair Family Reunion" wouldn't take the spot that we liked to be in. There were 28 coned off spots at the top of Block one on the East side.  Gary greeted us at the gate, Bratt was at her location in front of the "Grim, Haunted House" to sign us in as usual. As we made our turn by the clock the cars ahead of us made their way to the North and South. We would make our way to the vacant Block 4 area and park in our favorite spot behind "Black Market Minerals". At first we were they only ones there. John, KG4BFJ, would come out to spent the afternoon with us. Just after 2:00 we had a new Cruiser pull into Block 4 without registering. I explained the procedure and they drove the great looking '58 Chevy Apache pickup around to the top of Old Town than back down the Bricks. There weren't to many cars coming in yet so they were able to take the spot just down from us where they had been. They commented that they could see why they were to come in that way. It is part of the "Show" here at the Saturday event. Dan Z would arrive in his '63 Corvair convertible, Jeff rode out with him, he was having some work done to the Edsel. Bill & Doris would stop by for a chat and drop off an order for a "Dash Card". We would then experience another "Free Rinse" from Mother Nature. Just after 2:30 Ed the "Corvair Tour Guide", well we called him "Lefty" today, arrived in his '63 Corvair convertible, Evelyn, was piloting her Desert Beige, '64 Corvair Coupe. Ed & Sarah were in the '70 "Short Box" Chevy pickup. They would park next to us. We would wait to deliver the newsletters until we headed up for Dinner. We had delivered most of them last night during our surprise visit last night.

As we made our way to "Flippers" for Dinner we stopped and chatted with the Cruisers that had arrived since we made our way in. Mike & Mark were parked on ether side of Ken during his last week as "Cruiser of the Month". Larry was in the "Looney Bin", Tony & Marianne were up a bit from there, Russ was parked next to them. Dennis was across the street in his 502 'Vette. A few of the "Red Line Rodders" were in place. John had the "Double Nickel Express" in it's spot. Bob & Marge had the '41 Buick out. Ralph & Shirley were under the stairs. It was just the 3 of us for dinner, Jane took good care of us as usual. The crowd was small at the time, they followed us up I guess. While we were eating Pep and Nancy joined us on the Patio in the sunshine, the GoVair  "Corvair Family Reunion" participants all rolled in and made their way to the VIP parking they had reserved. Louie & Linda along with the other Early Regulars had gone inside to eat. On the way back to the cars, as we rounded the corner onto Block 1 we spotted Emil, Shane & Charlie and across the street were more than 20 Corvairs, from Ramp Sides to Coupes. The "Family Reunion Event" was going along quite well for the GoVairs and the attendance was nearly 30 cars, some chose not to join in the Cruise tonight. The off and on rain was surely to blame for that. It was still keeping the car count low. John & Angel were spotted by the Cruise office, they finally bought another Cruiser. It was a VW, a very nice one that was very familiar, Scott had sold his '66 Beetle to them. Welcome back. Roger & Sue were ahead of us earlier today and they brought out the "Lucky 'Vette". Bill was just ahead of us and he was in the '55 Chevy. By now there were even a few more cars down in Block 4, Bob & "Bo" made it out. Nick & Fran in the "Deuce Coupe", Bob and Marge in the '68 Chevelle. Tom in his Mustang.  Doug & Trish in the '64 GTO so the place was filling up. Roger was in his '56 Chevy, Larry in the '50 Chevy. I even spotted Ashley & Shelby dancing to the "Dukes" performance on the corner behind us. We would get yet another, "Free Rinse" before too long. It didn't seem to dampen the spirits of those that were out and the cars kept coming in. Roberta the "Beer Lady" had lots of visitors in her little alcove behind the General Store during the rain. I Spotted Don & Tara along with several others in there as I went to the store after the last shower. Ray & Bonnie had found a spot at the South end of the General Store, the last one under the overhang. There is a photo of the apartment that I was looking at, oh wait, it was the new lining of the trunk in that '56 Lincoln Capri of theirs.

Linda & I would take another walk to Block 1 just after Gregg & Emma stopped by with this Sailor in tow. It was CJ, home on leave and looking good in that uniform. "The Peanut Butter Company" on the Main Stage had the street full of dancers. We would then walk back down "Deac Hundley Ave." instead of back tracking down "Trophy Row". There was a large crowd around "The Dukes" that were Dooo ing what they do so well. Mark rolled his T-Bucket in later than normal, he had been to a car show in Eustis earlier in the day. Craig would stop by for a visit, his Corvair is in need of some paint so he didn't bring it to the event today. Sure was good to see him. I think one of the very last cars to make it to "Trophy Row" was Rodger in his Citroen.

Ester, Nikki & Micha stopped by with the "Flag Winners" just after 8:20. Ken & Charlene Paparella in their '68 Camaro RS, would be led to Block 4, that becomes the staging area at this time, by Bratt, Lee & Dave. Followed by the rest of the cars from the top 3 blocks. Allan made his way to the "Blue Room", to announce the "Cruise", got word that we were ready to Cruise, he then gave the safety announcements, played the National Anthem, "Wolfman Jack" proclaimed, "It's the Saturday Nite Cruise", right on time, for this the 901st running of this tradition. Osceola Counties finest would escort the '68 Camaro followed by the rest of the 196 cars, rolling up the bricks of "Deac Hundley Avenue", delighting, what turned out to be a large crowd of spectators, despite the rain and "No Wake Zones", "Rain or Shine" every Saturday night of the year, there is nothing quite like it for the "Cruisers" and it is always a treat for those watching it from the sidewalks and boulevards.

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.

Bill  Lamping*
  1955  Chevrolet  Bel Air

Shane  Massey 
  1957  Chevrolet  Bel Air

Calvin  Simmerman 
  1964  Chevrolet  Corvair

Shannan  Bunch 
  1967  Mercury  Cougar

Jason  Caldwell 
  1957  Pontiac  Chieftan

Larry  Dunn 
  1941  Willys   

Rodney  Buckingham 
  1968  Oldsmobile  Delmont

Keith  Reed 
  1936  Chevrolet  Pick Up

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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