We arrived about 2:30 Steve dropped me at the office then went to park the car on Trophy Row. Tonight was going to be the Third Annual Golf Cart Cruise and the Second time it was being held in conjunction with the Wednesday Night Rock at the Clock Car Event. Tracy was to give me the rules of a game that was going to be played this evening.

A group of merchants had come up with their own version of a “Treasure Hunt” , every participating cruiser and golf carter was given a game card. The object of the hunt was to visit each of the participating stores and get a stamp on your game card the completed cards would be collected and one was to be drawn after the cruise to win a 32” Sylvania TV.

When I arrived on Trophy Row Gary had his '07 HHR Sherrod in place by the stage and Steve had our '67 Dodge Dart 270 in it’s parking spot. Stan & Maryann arrived in their '05 Escape, Maryann seems to be recovering exceptionally well from her recent surgery. Dave parked his '83 Grand Marquis next to Gary, Mesha & Chris joined him later, then Bill & Doris parked their '07 Buick next to him, Emil made it out in his '48 Ford "High School Flame" to participate in this special event.
We headed to Flippers to eat optimistically hoping that tonight’s event would keep us too busy to eat later, we met Donna & Brian they had scheduled themselves with the evening off to enjoy the festivities. A few cruisers arrived during our meal Fred & Carole in their '78 Fairmont Futura, Jeff & Dawn in their '57 Olds. Ann & Vin in her '92 Corvette, Vin has his car with him this year and plans to debut it on Saturday, Tina & Steve managed to get off work to bring Judy & John out in their '05 PT Cruiser and stay to join in. Working in one of the stores allows Richard in his '99 Neon to enjoy the best of both worlds.

I had to make a second trip to the office to collect the Game Cards, when I arrived back on Trophy Row Darrell had parked his '66 LTD, Bert & Ernie had arrived with Mitchell & Granma in their '66 Comet Wagon, Mitchell wanted to give Dwight some of his Granma’s peanut butter fudge. Tom & Bunny had parked her '66 Malibu and gone in search of food. Rosemary & Dan had parked her 2000 Mustang Convertible. I was stranded in block one for quite a while welcoming cruisers that Steve directed to me they included Dale in his '27 Ford, Mike & Seth in their '92 Sonoma, Gayle in his '34 Ford Coupe, Wolfman & Sue in their '03 F150 "Wolfwagon", Mike & Rose in their '36 Chevy, Ken & Carole with Bob & Lynda in the '54 Sunliner.

Now I had to catch up with those who had parked in block two Ron in his '51 Chevy Sedan Delivery, Charlie, Carole & Kathy in his '02 BMW Mini they led this cruise last year, Pep & Nancy in their '91 Mustang Convertible, Lynn in her '49 Ford Pickup. Don, Pat & Harriett in their '39 Chevy, John & Janice in their '48 Chevy P/U and Gene & Diane in their '28 Studebaker arrived in convoy and went to park by Gayle in block one. Lori brought out her '06 Dodge Charger she is doing great without her scooter, Laura was in her '98 Firebird, Frank & Charlie were in the '68 Corvette, Morris & Sherill arrived in the '50 Ford Coupe, Debbie was in her '99 "Elvis Tribute" Cavalier and "Red Racer" Ted was in his work van.

We were pleased to welcome Jonathen in a '99 Chevy Blazer, Jim & his Mom Melba in a '68 Dodge Charger, Larry in his '41 Nash, Rod & Debbie in an '89 Ranger, Gary & Family in a '69 "General Lee" Dodge Charger and Sean in a 2005 Nissan Xterra we hope they enjoyed themselves enough to come out and join us again sometime. Tim made it out just in time to cruise in his '87 Olds Cutlass bringing the total number of participating cars to 40.

Osceola County Sheriff’s Deputy Heith escorted Cathy and her 20 golf carts decorated for the holidays from Sherwood Forest another 6 golf carts joined in from other areas including Ron a cruiser bringing the total to 26. Deputy Heith stayed in town during the festivities and escorted his holiday convoy safely back home at the end of the evening.
The “Blue Suede Review” had arrived and set up their equipment on stage, Mike had arrived and taken control of the Blue Room, Jan and Sue had set up the memorabilia table for Dwight, Bunny had started selling 50/50 tickets. There was a lot of buzzing in the air as Scotty, Allan, Gary and Dave ensured everything ran smoothly, every time you blinked they were in a different location it seemed. Tracy was taking care of the Golf Carts and the spectator crowd had grown, Dwight and Vicky arrived and the first set of the evenings entertainment was about to begin.

As Dwight ended his first set at 7:45 Steve awarded Cruiser of the week to #41 John & Janice Wood in their '48 Chevy Pick Up. The case of Valvoline Oil went home with Cruiser #70 Stan & Maryann Mull in their '05 Escape.
The $50 Cruise-A-Matic went home with Cruiser #94 Ann & Vin Rozella in her '92 Corvette.

We split the 50/50 jackpot into two $53 prizes that were won by Diane one of our cruising golf carts and Judy a regular spectator.

Now it was time to cruise Allan gave the signal for Nikki to start directing the cars out, Mike made an announcement for the Golf Carters to “start their engines”, Dwight sang the National Anthem and the cruise began 40 assorted vehicles rode the decorated brick street followed by Tracy escorting the 26 decorated golf carts. Santa and the Grinch heard about our cruise and joined in with their motorized sleigh. There was no shortage of holiday spirit in Town shouts of “Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays” rang out as the parade wound its way along the cruise route and back to Trophy Row.

Once everyone was back in their parking spot Tracy enlisted the help of a spectator to pick the winning Treasure Hunt Game Card a very happy Dale Crowe cruising his '27 Ford collected his TV and thanked everyone.

Dwight and the Blue Suede Review took the stage for their second set while we all got our breath back some cruisers went home but most stayed. There was another event taking place after Dwight finished his second set, his fan club had organized a Christmas Party at the Blue Max. I believe all who attended had a great time.

It was time for us to go home after an exceptionally busy but rewarding evening spent with friends old and new, Thank You to all who participated this evening.

“Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to you All”

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 Out of This World Embroidery/Custom Tags, The Old Town General Store, Knives & Things, Toy Time, Electronic Town, The Gold Hut, Kandlestiks, Wound ‘N Around and Old Town Leather, Valvoline, to Tracy Old Town’s Events Director who brings us the “Rock at the Clock” event to Gary & Dave our volunteer TCB guy’s and to all of the Spectators and Cruisers with or without their cars, who come out “Rain or Shine, Hot or Cold” to make this a great evening in our “Home Town”.

See you all Next Week “Same Time, Same Place”



 

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