Florida is just so amazing at times, just a week ago we were struggling to have temperatures near the “Seasonal”. The high’s only reached about half. Another Canadian visitor, an “Alberta Clipper” is what the weatherman called it. He was also promising that we would have rain all day today in over 70% of their viewing area, that was until last night when they changed the chances to 30% and then only for after 10:00 PM. This influences many of the “Cruisers” and spectators on whether or not to journey to our “Home Town”. Then there is the core group of Cruisers that wouldn’t miss a chance to come out on a Saturday, Like Me and Linda or Emil that drives all of the way from Palm Harbor every weekend and some Wednesdays or Tom & Bunny that most times bring 2 cars from Summerfield twice a week and sometimes even on a Friday night. O.K. so we might be a little crazy but we know what we like. This week would even be the second week in a row that Mike, N4HHA was able to break away from work and bring his ‘64 Corvair out to play.

Anyway I will start at the beginning of the day now. We would arrive just after 1:00 as usual, Lee would greet us at the gate with his warm smile. The streets were already quite full of guests popping in and out of the stores. We would be right behind a “50’s Flash Back” and Hudson that was the first to arrive for the HET Club meeting on the bricks of “Deac Hundley Avenue”. They have done this for several years now, in January and we always look forward to seeing these great cars and their owners. Dave would sign us in right as we made the turn at the “Clock”. Mark was walking towards us, his Nova was in his spot of choice, Steve Mc, K4SKM was parked under the carport in his Model A. Bob, the “Head Loon” had his Mercury parked in his decade spot. Cris & Larry were next to him in theirs in the “Tweety” VW. As we made our way to Block 4 we spotted Emil’s “High School Flame” in a spot he likes to call his own. Linda would shuffle the cones so we could cross over to our spot.

It wouldn’t be long before Bunny in her ‘68 Fairlane and Tom in his ‘66 Malibu would arrive, Jim and Joy would be riding with them. They too like to come to Old Town when they are “Snowbirding”. Bill & Doris would stop by for a chat before heading up to join the “Under the Stairs Gang”. Jeff would arrive in his ‘59 Signature series Edsel and take a spot near the “Beer Tent”. Linda & I would take our first trip to the top of “Trophy Row”, We spotted most of the “Redline Rodders” in place, Karen & the Kids would be behind the stairs, Darrell would have his ‘66 LTD next to Bob’s ‘40 Buick. Block 1 wasn’t occupied yet but we could tell that today we would have a lot more cars than last week. We would make our way back to Block 4 just in time to let the little Saint Cloud parade in, Dan Z was in the lead with his ‘62 Chevy Biscayne “409” car“, Dave & Nancy in the Vintage T-Bird and Ron in his ‘41 Packard One Twenty Coupe. They would park around Jeff.

Charlie would bring Emil back about this time and Larry, WA3PGL and Linda, KA3BRP would stop out to visit and too join us all for dinner. Graham, G4HFG, from Oldham, England, would check in over the Old Town repeater, Ian, G4ZPZ, from Manchester, England, would check in over the 443.1 to see who was in town. T Rod, KT4ROD would check in on his way to work. The spectator crowd was growing in anticipation of the nights event. There were folks from Holland, Germany and the UK that stopped by early in the day.
We would head up to “Flippers” just a few minutes early as I spotted a few cars come in and wanted to drop off the Newsletters. Mike, N4HHA would arrive in his Corvair as we would make our way past the Cruise office, Richard was on duty in the Kelly’s shack. Emil would call to say Mike had arrived and they would head up as soon as he was situated. The 3 Amigos were parked but the top of Block 1 was still a little sparse but it was early. We all chose to dine alfresco, Tom, Bunny, Jim & Joy were just finishing up as we arrived. Angie would be the one elected to wait on us, John was there and Gina would come out for her normal greetings. We had quite a table full, Steve Mc, K4SKM would walk up with Charlie and Emil. Laura, NO4OO would call to say that she was going to join us on her lunch break. Fred was spotted making his way into town about that time so we would have a spot for him by pulling the 3rd table into the line up. While dinning it was nice to see all of the cars arriving, Dick & Gert in their ‘36 Ford would follow John & Sandy in their ‘55 Chevy. John & Rich would make it to the patio about the time we were headed back to the cars. The dozen or so of us would split up on the way back down. Laura would head back too work.
We would visit with the latest arrivals, Nilda, Nancy, Laverne, Lynn and Lori would have joined the “Under the Stairs Gang” by now. Bert was spotted by his ‘66 Comet wagon and the area above the stage in Block 1 was becoming a little more occupied.

Once we made it back to Block 4 Larry & Linda would head home, Mike & I would head up to the repeater site and attempt a change out of the Duplexer. Cordele would accompany us to the upper level. “Red Racer” Ted, KE4TTE hadn’t made it out yet so we were unsure if we could get in to the cabinet. He called while we were upstairs and said he was on his way to Old Town. We would leave knowing we could finish this job later.

I have to take the time to Thank Old Town once again for allowing us to have our club, “Old Town Amateur Radio Cruisers” repeater on the air right here in our “Home Town”. I know that a lot of my readers do not know what Amateur Radio is but that is OK. You will someday. It was the only way to get information out of Haiti in the first days of their disaster, some of our members are even manning HF radios for health and welfare messages along with logistics with the Red Cross , The Salvation Army and “Disney Emergency Amateur Radio Service”, the Disney Employee radio club. I will also remind all of you that if you are interested in Amateur Radio, HAM Radio, just ask any of us that you see with the radios that are not Old Town Staff.

Anyway Ted would arrive and Mike and I would go back up and change out the device. Then we would stop by and visit with Mike Singer, KJ4GNI in the Blue Room, The “Queen of Doo Wop”, Lori was up there as well. We have got to get the antennas for the wirles microphones up on the tower so we can have the “Roving Reporter” back on the streets. Now the streets were filling up with lots and lots of spectators, We would stop to chat a bit with “Big john, Roger and Mike. Tony & Marianne would be in the “Looney Bin” with them. Always good to see them out in their SS454 Monte Carlo. Nick & Fran along with the Kids and latest grandchild were out by now as well,, still no work on the Coupe’s engine and the Vega has been sold already. Tom had arrived in his ‘68 Mustang, he parked it across from us,. Tom & Chris would arrive in the ‘68 Camaro and park nearby. “Cigar Bob”, driving his “Humpback” ’36 Ford, was followed in by “Bo” in his Corvair. I would take a run to the General Store and visit with Winston for a few minutes. Lori would arrive in her ‘Cuda and park next to Tom. Neil & Elaine would take a spot near the carport and Tony & Donna took the other spot under the carport. The night was lining up quite well, lots of cars and people to look at them, Even Craig would stop out for a while and vist with us and check out all of the cars. Inspector Gadget, Bill, N2WFU would come in over the repeater from New Jersey, he took a quick trip up there to see the grandkids but he will be back in Florida on Monday. One day he hopes to get time to Cruise again. I know the “Boys” are missing it, Trevor and Mr, Lucky that is.

The rest of the night just flew by. Filled with the legends and Myths of these great cars we all love, again spinning the yarns that make the fabric of nostalgia.

Esther would stop by with the flag winners just after 8:20, the Cruise Staff would direct Derrick Wood in his '64 Corvette, January 2010 Cruiser of the Month, who was then followed by the HET Club that was showing off the Hudson's on Deac Hundley all day then the rest of the Cruisers out of their parking spots into the line up, Mesha & Chris 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, radio "Jingles"  gave 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", Allan announced the Flag Winners as the rest of the 145 cars in cruise formation cruised past, delighting a chilly crowd of cheering spectators along both sides of the Avenue. "Rain or Shine" or even Snow, 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", Kool Kats, 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 #276 is on sale, still only $2
1023 375 129 68
 

See you all "Out There"