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We arrived at 3:45 to an almost deserted Trophy Row Gary's HHR was parked and waiting for its friends to arrive, we parked our '61 Corvair next to the stairs. Allan and Gary arrived in their Karts to fill us in on the arrangements for the evening. Not only was it to be a night of entertainment Old Town was hosting the Hospitality Industry, Guest Services representatives. Tracy,  Jeri, Vic, Marilyn & Mabel were working the registration table on Water Street. Bill & Doris would be the first to arrive after us in '79 T-Bird, Wolfman & Sue in the be next in the Wolfwagon. Dave & Mesha  would make their way through the gate in the '83 Grand Marquis, Esther followed from her day job in her Daily Driver. Mike Singer, KJ4GNI would make it to the "Blue Room". With the top gate locked Joe in his '88 Ranger Pickup made his way around to the Florida Plaza entrance. The Poinciana Kid was the next one to park his '85 Camaro. "Mustang Mike"  would be out in his daily driver. Chris parked his '72  Formula 400 next to us. Laura would arrive in her '98 Firebird shortly afterwards. "Red Racer" Ted, KE4TTE would take a break from his work to stop and see us for a while. The weather was threatening us, dark clouds and distant lightening. Bert & Ernie would take the place next to the stage in the "Elvis Tribute" PT Cruiser. Pep & Nancy would make it up from Lakeland in their daily driver Bob N would travel through some tremendous rain to make his way to us in his '36 Ford Humpback Tudor. James in his '67 Firebird was just ahead of him. With no working wipers on her truck Lynn would be in her daily driver. Ron & Nancy with their daughter Karen and Grandson Brandon were in the spectator crowd along with Anna, Jasmine and many now familiar faces that I don't have names for yet, OK that I can remember yet. It was nice to see Jim & Lorie, Emma who became a Grandmother just a day ago, was out in her daily driver. Jennifer of WJBJ was amongst us tonight, always good to see her at Old Town but she didn't bring the F-85, maybe the next time.

By now the crowd of Guest Service representatives was filling Water street and their party was well underway, Jeri was tending the bar on the corner. We would have Laura take an order to Flippers to bring back to us when she finished dinning. Linda & I were going to be busy. Doug would park his '78 El Camino next to "Wolfie" as Allan called him tonight, Pablo & Nilda would be out in their '96 Taurus, Butch would bring out his '84 LTD and Ken & Wanda would be in their  '78 "Indy Pace Car" Corvette.

The "Blue Suede Review", Paul, Jimi, Peter and Shawn were ready to start playing and just after 7:00 Dwight took stage and the entertainment was coming at us live! Meagan, Bill, Karen & Gidget and Arne were at their posts. Dave in his '84 Bronco II would arrive shortly after the music started. Dwight invited Mesha on stage to sing a duet followed by Mabel, Marilyn's baby sister that didn't make it to Hollywood, singing Hound Dog.

Right after Mabel's rendition of Hound Dog, "Mustang Mike", Bob and I Would take the stage for our drawings. We invited Marilyn & Mabel to join us to be ticket pickers, a fine job they did. The 50/50 of $92.00 went to Cruiser #23 Wolfman. The "Cruise-A-Matic" rolls over to  $70, Cruiser #217, Bob Butler wasn't out tonight, AWWWW. "Cruiser of the Week" went home with Laura Pennington, NO4OO, Cruiser #73, in her '98 Pontiac Firebird. She wasn't near the stage when it was announced, she was "Net Control" for the weekly Polk county ARES Net over her Amateur radio from her car but she doesn't miss a Wednesday Night at Old Town. She received her plaque at the end of the drawings.

Many if us hung around for the second set, Glenn & Stephanie would come out in their  '08 Mustang Shelby and Mike, N4HHA & Annette, N4HHI '63 Corvair Spyder, they were celebrating their 25th Anniversary with us at the Cruise-In. Congratulations! Have fun on the Sea Cruise you are headed out on next weekend.

Thank You to Old Town for inviting us out every week, to the Old Town Merchants association for sponsoring "A Tribute to the King", to Tracy Old Town's events director that brought us the "Rock at the Clock" event and to Gary & Dave our own TCB guys for giving us the time that they do and to all of the Cruisers that are starting to come out on a Wednesday Nite. Come on out, "Rain or Shine!" Cruisers, if you don't want to bring out the car because of the weather come on out anyway, lets build the audience on our own. Remember good entertainment and good friends makes a great evening in our "Home Town".

Cruisers, Please enter from the Florida Plaza end from now on, the top gate may be locked so that we can control the parking a bit better.

Newsletter #210 Is on sale this week.
 

Steve's Photos
Mabel sings Hound Dog! - On YouTube
Dwight Icenhower sings CC Rider - Burnin' Hunk of Love - On YouTube
Dwight Icenhower sings a duet with Mesha - Love Me Tender - on YouTube

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