It certainly was a great night for coming on out to a Cruise-In at the Sonic, I was not quite sure why the car count was so low on such a beautiful night, then I did some research from our past, that is right this Cruise-In has a lot  of history, after all it has been around more than 8 years at the Sonic and even longer if you count the 4 years downtown Saint Cloud. Anyway here are a few statistics from the last few years.

1st week of October 2007 – 42 cars - 50/50 $76
2nd week of October 2007 - 60 cars - 50/50 $95
3rd week of October 2007 – 42 cars - 50/50 $85
4th week of October 2007 - 39 cars - 50/50 $80

1st week of October 2006 – 40 cars - 50/50 $86
2nd week of October 2006 - 55 cars - 50/50 $80
3rd week of October 2006 - 42 cars - 50/50 $85
4th week of October 2006 – 75 cars - 50/50 $110

1st week of October 2005 - 4 cars- Rainout
2nd week of October 2005 – 40 cars - 50/50 $88
3rd week of October 2005 – 62 cars - 50/50 $105
4th week of October 2005 - 110 cars - 50/50 $174

Interesting isn't it? Even with the beautiful Fall weather October isn't a very strong month until after the "Snowbirds" make their way back to Florida. So it looks like tonight's car count is actually the biggest 1st week of October we have had in 3 years. This hobby of ours is very finicky, it can be influenced by so many factors, on one side there are Cruisers that live for the weekly events, then there are the ones that only come out when they remember to do so. The biggest influence is, all of those chores around the house and the fact that we had such a wet Summer, now it is dry enough to get some of these things accomplished.

On our trek to Saint Cloud, Bill, N2WFU called on the radio to mention that he and Virginia, W2VEJ, her mother Audrey and the boys, Trevor & Mr Lucky were on their way to the Cruise-In for their first time this season, in the retired NYPD Radio car, they have just gotten back from their summer in New Jersey. Welcome back! They would park just after we backed our '61 Corvair into our favorite spot, just to the North of the DJ rig, we choose this spot so we are easier to find for registration. Chris would park his '75 Formula 400 it's place of honor by the DJ Rig just after "Mustang Mike" arrived with the DJ rig. Tony & Marianne would arrive in the "Black Beauty" and take their favorite spot across from the DJ rig. Paul got to be the first under the big shade tree with his '58 DeSoto tonight, Jean would join a little later in her '36 Ford and Bill with his Blazer. Kristen, KJ4BST would bring out the Cooper, Tom & Edna would be out in their Corvair 8 door Greenbrier, Ed & Evelyn would make it in their '63 Corvair convertible. After all today was the Birthday of the Corvair, the first one rolled of the line October 2nd, 1959 for the 1960 Model year. There were also 2 other '64 Convertibles that were brought out by Steve Mc, K4SKM and Ron, that were parked almost across from ours.

Regular spectators like Dennis and Francine, Pat & Alan, Coy, Bill the Photographer, Danny and Ed, WB8BHL with his son Christian were out for the evening. Dan from Wisconsin is back for the season in his '57 Chevy. I have used up too much of my space today so the I do not have the room to list every one. All of the "Die Hards" that spent the hot summer with us were in place for the evening as well. you all know who you are, this event wouldn't be one at all if it wasn't for you. Next week I will get back to my regular story style.

We did have more than 60 cars and the 50/50 Ended up being $95, Bert Brown, Cruiser #54, was holding the winning ticket for that, he donated $10 to this newsletter, Thank You!  The 'Cruise-A-Matic" rolls over to $150 for next week. Francesco Hernandez, Cruiser #721, wasn't out tonight, AWWWW.