We would head for Old Town just after 1:00 in the Dodge, It was going to be a beautiful afternoon and evening. The Sunshine State Cougar Club would be in Town since 10:00 and would occupy the area along the fence between the stage and Thompson street. This would be the clubs annual event. Emil, KJ4GNH was in the line up in his ‘48 Ford. Steve Mc, K4SKM was ahead of us a bit in his ‘64 Corvair. Mike, N4HHA would still be held hostage at work.

Lee was at the gate when we arrived, he greeted us with a smile and invited us in to town. The bricks were already bustling with spectators and the stores seemed to be busy.

Today the OTARC (Old Town Amateur Radio Cruisers) would get the repeater placed in it’s home and on the air on it’s new frequency. 442.100Mhz. Emil would help Ted move the cabinet up the stairs.

Anyway as we made our turn by the clock we spotted Dave who was ready to register us. Big john would have a Chevelle in his parking spot and the head Loon, Bob would be out in his ‘64 Comet and Cris & Larry would be in their VW.

Gary was chatting with Steve Mc, in Block 4 when we pulled across Florida Plaza, Emile was parked just where he likes it. It wouldn’t be long before Bunny in her ‘68 Fairlane would arrive followed by Tom in the ‘66 Malibu. Larry would join us in Block 4 in his ‘41 Studebaker. Mike would be in his ‘68 Fairlane as well. Linda & I would then take our first trip up “Trophy Row”, most of the Redline Rodders were in place, Darrell had his ‘66 LTD next to the stairs. The Bleacher gang was right where they like to be. The Amigos were in their spots and Bob & Jeri were near the top of Block 1.

After we got back to Block 4 and rested for a while, Ted called to say he was bringing the cabinet and to meet him for the transition. Emil and I went over to lend a hand. Linda joined in later. While we were setting it up we heard that Bunny was being escorted to the “Cruiser of the Month” parking area. Congratulations Bunny! Tom would join her with the ‘66 Malibu. T Rod, KT4ROD, would be the first to check into the repeater with a HT from work, Ed, WB8BHL would check in from his Explorer from Downtown Orlando. It was time to head to “Flippers” for dinner. Dave D was in town by now in the “Mint Julep”, Newt was out in the ‘65 T-Bird. Laura would come over during her lunch break and join us. Angela would take good care of us. All of the Early Birds would make it to Restaurant corner and head inside and over to Tex-Mex Express. The cars kept on a rollin in while we were there. Dave would bring out his ‘63 Avanti and join us in Block 4. Steve Mc had moved his car up to be near to Dave D at Allan’s request.

On our way back to the cars we would visit with the latest arrivals that included Lynn who was out in her ‘48 Ford pickup, Lori who is still using her scooter would be by the stairs along with Pablo & Nilda. We would even run into Bill & Doris that were setting up for the evening in front of the stage. Of course they were all harassing Eddie from the band. Bob would have his ‘65 Ambassador in his parking place. I guess he hasn’t won the lottery yet, he said he’d give me that car if he did. Linda & I would stop up to see Mike Singer, KJ4GNI in the Blue Room. The club still needs to assist in the running of the cables for the wireless microphones for him yet. A few more things to do with the installation but it will all come along. Graham, G4HFG from Oldham, England would join us over the radio, he and Collin, 2E0RIG want to start that contest over again, where they guess how many cars will make it out to Old Town tonight. Last time we played it we had radio operators from several states and countries giving us their guesses.

Once we were back at the cars we were missing 3 of our line up. Lost them to other parking spots and again congratulations! Dan Z would bring his ‘62 Chevy 409. Tom & Chris would be in their silver Camaro and park near the Beer Tent. I would wander about town several times checking out the cars and visiting. Steve S would take one of the vacated spots next to us with his ‘55 Chevy. Will & Amy would have their ‘66 Lincoln down and across from us. Tommy was nearby in his ’41 Willys. Gale was right across from us in his ‘34 Ford 3 window coupe. When Bob, “Bo” and John arrived just before 6:00 in the ‘70 Monte Carlo, ‘36 Ford and the ‘66 Mustang they ended up parking all the way around the Roller Coaster. By now the audience had grown and was nearly Cheek to Cheek. With the mix of cars that were in town tonight they will not be disappointed.

With the Holiday season rapidly approaching us we all need to remember that our car cruises do not take any time off. Mustang owners, the first ever “Pony Show” will come to Old Town the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Old Town will make it’s transition very soon, they go all out for Christmas and it is always Warm and Fuzzy just like you would like to have it. The Toy Cruise is coming up very soon. Remember to bring an unwrapped toy to benefit the children of Osceola County.

Wanna catch a good Movie? Remember Linda and Mike Singer’s articles on “Pirate Radio”? A movie of the same name has opened in theaters. We have seen it and it is a good caricature of just what went on during that era, well most of us lived it but were unaware of just what our English counterparts had to go though to hear the music of that revolution.. The sound track is great and will spur as many memories as our Cruises do.

As usual the rest of the night flew by.
 

The next thing I knew Esther would stop by just after 8:20, with the Flag Winners, the Cruise Staff would direct the November "Cruiser of the Month", Bunny Jaggers in her '68 Ford Fairlane 500 on to the Cruise Route for the first time during her reign,  followed by Tom, her proud husband in his '66 Chevelle, the Sunshine State Cougar Club, then the rest of the Cruisers out of their parking spots into the line up, Chrisanne would bring them to Block 4 that becomes the staging area for Old Town's signature event. The rest of the cars from the top 3 Blocks would join in behind them. Mike Singer, KJ4GNI, who had been at the controls of the "Blue Room" all day, playing a mix of nostalgic music and radio "Jingles" would give the safety announcements, played the National Anthem, "Wolfman Jack", then proclaimed, "It's the Saturday Nite Cruise", for tonight's running of this tradition. The Cruisers made their way to the "Bricks" of "Deac Hundley Avenue", Mike announced the Flag Winners as the rest of the 264 cars in cruise formation cruised past, delighting an extremely large crowd of cheering spectators along 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", "Wound 'N Around", Pepsi, Roberts Brothers, the Pearl Factory, the Gold Hut, the "Tropical Breeze", Tex Mex Express & "Flippers" just to name a few. Thank you to Allan, Ron, Gary,  Lee, Dave, Esther, Vic, Nikki, CJ, Mesha, Chrisanne, Deputy Asa and the entire Cruise Staff and fellow Cruisers for making our Saturday in "Town" a fun and safe one.

Newsletter #266 is on sale, still only $2
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See you all "Out There"