Click here for Ted's Photos, Page 1 (001 to 050)
Click here for Ted's Photos, Page 2 (051 to 100)
Click here for Ted's Photos, Page 3 (101 to 150)
Click here for Ted's Photos, Page 4 (151 to 200)
Click here for Ted's Photos, Page 5 (201 to 250)
Click here for Ted's Photos, Page 6 (251 to 300)
Click here for Ted's Photos, Page 7 (301 to 350)
Click here for Ted's Photos, Page 8 (351 to 400)
Click here for Ted's Photos, Page 9 (401 to 450)
Click here for Ted's Photos, Page 10 (451 to 500)
Click here for Ted's Photos, Page 11 (501 to 550)
Click here for Ted's Photos, Page 12 (551 to 600)
Click here for Ted's Photos, Page 13 (601 to 650)
Click here for Ted's Photos, Page 14 (651 to 700)
Click here for Ted's Photos, Page 15 (701 to 750)
Click here for Ted's Photos, Page 16 (751 to 800)
Click here for Ted's Photos, Page 17 (801 to 816)

The day started off very early, who could imagine what the "English Moors" appearance of the pre-dawn, late spring day would have to offer the Classic Car enthusiast. We met Mike, N4HHA and Kristen, KJ4BST, in their '63 Corvair Spyder, at the top of the "Hill". Steve Mc, K4SKM would be coming out just a little later in his '64 Corvair. He was working the event. I personally have been going to Auto events at Old Town off and on, for over 20 years now, starting way back during the original AutoFest's of the late 1980's, frequented "Little Darlin's" from it's opening right through to it's replacement with "Wolfman Jack's", most recently Linda and I have not missed a Saturday night in over 5 years and have long since adopted the place as our "Home Town". A place we can go to meet up our "Family of friends" once a week, for a days worth of Free entertainment and fellowship.

We pulled to a stop on Florida Plaza just as the Sun was rising, about 6:15, there were only a few hundred cars ahead of us. Some had been in line since early Thursday. Most of the Cruisers that I write about all of the time were ahead of us. Many cars from out of the Central Florida area along with more from out of State and even Canada. This was going to be a big Cruise. A few changes to the opening were going to be tried, in attempt to save fuel and time at the conclusion to the days events. The first thing was to pre-register the cars that had been in line prior to the 9:00AM opening, the second thing was to assign the over 350 prizes, to randomly picked, by computer, registration numbers. These prizes would be awarded at time of pre-registration and registration.

The gate opened at 9:00 and the line started to move, this was only a 25 minute crawl for us, I know it may seem like a long time but last year we were closer and it took well over an hour. As we approached the gate Lee & Jennifer greeted us with smiles and handed us our "Goodie" bag. Just a little further down we were given the registration number of 146, we were on the odd side of the bricks, there was a second line on the even side. As we made the turn by the clock we spotted "Big John" in his favorite spot in a Chevelle, Kathy and Chrisanne were at the prize table. We then made our way to Block 4 and it looked like it was already filling fast, it looked as though our favorite place was occupied. Then, a surprise  we saw the "Decades of Cruising" Sign perched on a cone in our favorite spot. We later learned that we were one of 7 that was awarded this honor. WOW, Christmas came early for the 7 of us. Thank You, Old Town. We were able to squeeze Mike & Kristen in next to us. The day was set. by 10:00AM there were 350 cars in place for the days event. GREAT JOB done by the Cruise Staff. It was time to take advantage of some of the "Cruiser Specials" that were offered by the merchants in Town. We headed to Checkers for one of their $2 breakfasts. There were no open spots in the top 3 Blocks or the extension above Block 1. We chatted with many of the regulars on the way up, Mark, Ken & Mike were in the top 3 spots. They were 3 more of the "Decades" recipients. We talked with Butch & Jennifer that were on  "Deac Hundley Ave". "Lucky Louie" joined us for breakfast. Bill & Doris would stop by early to visit as would many others congratulating us on our "Decades" sign.

I am going to write the rest of this a little differently this week. Everyone that I mention on a weekly basis was somewhere on Trophy Row or Victory Lane, many of the previous "Cruisers of the Month" were on the bricks of "Deac Hundley Ave." The Cruise Staff that took such great care of us included Allan, Joe, Lee, Ron, Gary, Kathy, Dave, Esther, Mesha, James, Nikki, Sarah, Frankie, Bratt, Greg, Steve Mc, Charlie, Miguel, Chrisanne, Joey Z. across the street in the parking lot were Albert, Ben, CJ. A Bus service ran every 15 minutes, all day and all night long for our spectators. We headed up a little early so that we could catch Dwight Icenhower and the "Rhinestone Revival's" first set. It was quite a spectacle. He arrived at the stage in Warren's Pink '58 Cadillac El Dorado. Of course he was escorted by Old Town's version of the Memphis Mafia, Gary and Dave. What a great performance of the Early Years in his Tribute to the King.

Amateur Radio, HAM, radio operators from all over the world were checking in to find out just what was going on and when we headed out for dinner and were joined by many more form the local area that attended the ARRG.US meeting at Flippers around 3:30. Graham, G4HFG, in Oldham, England, while in England, was the net control for the "Talk In " for the locals gathering for this event. Linda, K4EIO, myself, K4SLB were ushered into the dinning room by Jane, there was a large table for us. T Rod, KT4ROD, Ted, KE4TTE, Mike, N4HHA, Kristen, KJ4BST, Larry, WA3PGL, Linda, KA3BRP, Ed, WB8BHL and Laura, KI4ZJX were in attendance. Tony, K4AVD and Sharon, WB4ACE former Cruisers of the Month, now living in Wisconsin would be with us over the radio.  This group is the parent group of the newly formed Old Town Amateur Radio Cruisers, more about this to come. The meal was great, the service provided to us by Jane was exemplary. Especially considering that there was a party going on out on the patio with 30 or more people and our group inside was quite large as well.

How could such a long day pass so quickly, I don't have space to print all of the nearly 1300 Photos taken by our friends but you can see every one of them on line and each one tells it's own story. I did get up to see Mike Singer, "Mustang Mike" and Emma were running from the Blue Room to his DJ rig at the bottom of Block 4 off and on all day. Mike & Kathy T were in "Town", from Tennessee, they had been honored as June 2008, "Cruiser of the Month" for their 16 plus years as this events Directors. Justin from Palm Bay and his folks were out, many people that we see only for this event were back for the day. Tracy Parkinson, her mother Nadia McCarty along with friends, Norma Poucher and Jean Fisher, dressed in Poodle skirts, visiting from Ocala, were celebrating her Dad, James McCarty's 80th birthday. Dwight Icenhower would go on 3 more times to capacity crowds. Wallace, a subscriber from Ohio, would experience his first Annual as a spectator. News is that he hopes to bring a car down when he is in Florida. If not he will still keep reading about us and make his way to us when he can. "The Duke's" were set up on their corner, drawing a large crowd.
 

Mesha stopped by with the "Flag Winners" just after 8:20, Mike & Kathy T our June 2008 "Cruiser of the Month" were in the back of a '58 Chevy convertible were led by Lee & Gary, followed by Dave Dean's '57 Chevy with Dwight Icenhower and Dan Haggerty as the "Marshall's" of tonight's event and the rest of the cars from the top 3 Blocks to block 4 that becomes the "Staging Area" for Old Town's signature event. Mike Singer who had been at the controls of the "Blue Room", playing a mix of nostalgic music and radio "Jingles", gave the safety announcements. Played the National Anthem, "Wolfman Jack" proclaimed, "It's the Saturday Nite Cruise", for this the 937th and 18th Anniversary running of this tradition. Bratt & Lee would lead the Cruisers up the even side of "Deac Hundley Avenue", Mike Singer announced the Flag Winners as the rest of the 765 cars in parade formation, made the turn by "Kids Town" on to the "Bricks", delighting an extremely large crowd of cheering spectators, on both sides of the Avenue. "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.

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 "General Store", the "A&W", "Out of this World Embroidery", Pepsi, Roberts Brothers, Race Depot & "Flippers" just to name a few. Thank you to Cruise Staff and fellow Cruisers for making this our 289th consecutive Saturday a fun and safe one.

During the closing ceremonies, shortened by the giving of the prizes on registration, Kudos, Allan, "Big John" on behalf of the "Family" that are the Cruisers of Old Town, presented Allan a plaque for his Leadership and foresight that has enhanced this tradition over the last year as well as making the participants truly a family. He also presented another to Joe for his continued participation and leadership. Allan would then receive a "Thank You, for all you do", award from Tracy, the Special Events Manager of Old Town, on behalf of Old Town. Allan would Thank the Cruisers for the continued support and a special Thank You to Bob Melendy and "Big John" for supplying a specially modified scooter for Bill Lamping so that he could be with us today and to get around while his leg mends. Dawn & Dave would present the New Saturday "Cruiser of the Month" jackets to Mike and Kathy T. this new one sports the '47 Ford Coupe that we all remember them cruising. Dwight Icenhower would then come back to the stage for his last set, in the white jump suit. Most importantly it didn't rain! Yes it was warm but there was a breeze, what a day! All I can say is Thank You to all that made it what it was. Please stop by the website and look at the photos, I can not do this event justice with the written word. Next year come on out and see it for yourself.