2009 “Cruisin for a Cure” in-Picture Recap
October 13, 2009 by pikesan · Leave a Comment
One thing I liked (and some might hate) about the Crusin for a Cure car show in Orange County, California is the wide variety of cars filling Costa Mesa’s OC Fair and Events center. Seems like most of the big shows I’ve been to are restricted to a certain year or type of car. Not here!
From hot rods and classics to exotics and muscle cars and even some, “Custom” PT Cruisers ( More on that soon) Crusin for a Cure had a little something for everyone!
Dont’ forget, this show’s for charity. I haven’t heard the final stats, but the show benefited City of Hope to raise awareness and fund prostate cancer research.
As part of the show and like everyone else in the line that was fairly full every time I went by, I got my free PSA screening as a first step to making sure I stay prostate cancer free. Guys could also wait in a short line for a test that’s never any fun, but necessary for early detection of the most survivable cancers in men… the dreaded digital exam. I applaud the guys who took time away from enjoying the show to get checked. I’m sure if Debbie Baker, the lady behind the show, and Ross Kroenert, the Executive VP, could save just 1 life, all their hard work would be worth it.
I got the stats from Debbie:
We raised $175,000 and tested a record 1,166 men which 13% were told seek additional medical from their physicians. (that is approximately 150 guys we saved again) and that is what this show is about. You cannot put a dollar amount on a life or lives we save every year and that is what makes this so special.
So here’s my photo recap of the show. (Click on any pic to see it full size)
This cool coupe was staged outside the OC Fair on Friday before the show. Guys that had been to "Crusin for a Cure" before know that it fills up fast and early on Saturday so it's best to be early or better yet, get there the night before. White walls on red steelies with a triple-carbed hemi. Hard to go wrong there.
Folks come in EARLY! This Barracuda enjoyed the rain-like dew falling from the trees after a morning of fairly heavy fog. My roadster got the same treatment! Standing there, it felt like it was raining.
Another morning shot of this cool, Gasser-styled 1938 Chevy. I guess we missed photographing this car at the Main Street El Segundo show. Here it is now and it was one of my favorites!
Not far from the gasser was this "scary" old Sedan. The Hemi power and style from the more-patina-than-paint did it for me, but those eerie curtains put me over the top thinking, "Coffin" or hearse. Is it me?
Too cool, especially cause my buddy Erock has one, this lowered Ford Econoline was dragging ass all over the fairgrounds. With chrome steelies and whites and a tonneau cover out back, this was a super clean and rarely seen truck. There's more pics in the picture gallery.
This Suburban also caught my eye because of another friend, Mr. Freeze is building a 'burb similar to this one, but he's got a long way to go to catch this lay'd out family wagon. Check out the details under the hood!
While we're on trucks, I saw a few late 60's to early 70's Ford pickups. Rangers and F100's, they were slammed and flat along with shiny and lifted. There's a ton of lowered 60's Chevy trucks out there, so it was nice to see the Ford represented. I bet this is an inexpensive truck to buy and customize. Pops, can I borrow your truck?
If you don't like gassers, you ain't right. Some purists might gasp at a 57 Chevy turned anything but stock, but look closely, it's a 4 door! You know what? Who cares! It's got the right nose in the air stance and looks like tons of fun at a fraction of the cost of a 2 door.
You know how they say the Quad 4 motors look like Offenhausers? They kinda do and to show ya, here's the real thing nestled into a roadster pickup hiding indoors.
To wrap up, I gotta go high class. This 1957 Pontiac Safari wagon fit right in next to hot rods and slammed customs just as it came off the show room floor. Looking at modern cars, I have to ask, where'd all this style go?
I saw this Riv cruising a couple times and had to show it here. I might have to have a low slung, long coupe like this Buick some day. The clean lines and the pure style of the grille and hidden headlights are too cool.
Showing the interior of the Riviera,stock or 100% custom, I'm not sure, but it's right on! I'd want to drive in a car like this every day.
Finally, this 1947 Lincoln Continental Coupe. Is this custom or bone stock? The fact that it's hard to tell makes me love it even more. I should have tracked down the owner of this car to find out more about it. With all the cars, early, late and every build type, this Lincoln was top of the heap.
That’s it! See anything you like?
Make plans to be at this show, the largest one day charity car show in the country, next year. Check out all the cars, get checked for prostate cancer and help a worthy cause. 3 for 3!
MANY more pictures found in the Crusin for a Cure photo gallery.
Did we photograph your car? If so, let us know!
Special thanks to Debbie and the entire crew at Crusin for Cure. I hope to see you next year.
2009 Orange County, “Great Labor Day Cruise”
September 22, 2009 by pikesan · 2 Comments
Story by Devin Squire
(Devin’s all Ford Garage)
Intro: Devin’s back again with coverage of the “Great Labor Day Cruise”. Check out his findings from 2008’s Labor Day Car Show as well. Thank’s Devin!
Well, we made it to the 2009 OCCA Labor Day cruise again. As usual, we had a great time, though we were a little disappointed in the weather. It was hot! Not like Arizona hundred and some-teen degrees hot, but high 80’s to low 90’s, with the humidity, it was HOT. We’re used to going over there to cool off in nice 70’s weather. Not this time. But it wasn’t too bad, & we still enjoyed ourselves.
We took our normal drive up & down Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) from
Seal Beach to down past Laguna & back on Thursday. It’s always a blast to cruise the SURFORD on PCH & watch people check out your ride. Some even take pictures while you’re stopped at a light. We saw a couple of cool rides doing the same thing. And, of course, we had to stop for some fish tacos along the way (mmmm..Wahoos fish tacos). Fish tacos always seem to taste better over there, for some reason. Anyway……. This was the 27th Great Labor Day Cruise! Wow!
There was a “Kick Off Party” Friday evening, with live music from a cool Surf band called “The Eliminators”. Cocktails and an all you can eat buffet were available, too. The ” Show & Shine” officially kicked off on Saturday & Sunday. They had a pretty good turn out for the show, but I never heard what the total was. We registered on Friday morning & our number was 1773, though I don’t believe there was that many cars. I’d bet there was over a thousand hot rods & custom cruisers.
This year “Barry’s Speed Shop” was one of the sponsors, and their crew was running an “Autocross” at the show. Anyone could test their skills and the capability of their rides to maneuver around the course.
That had some entertaining moments! A few spin-outs, etc. (I think there’s some short vids on Youtube)
There’s always lots to see at this show. Plenty of vendors, as well some of the coolest cars you’ll ever see. Everthing from mild to wild. Hot rods, rat rods, traditional rods, muscle cars, lowriders, Kustoms, & trucks. There were fine examples in all of these catagories. Check out all my pictures at the OCCA Great Labor Day Cruise Picture Gallery. Hope to see you there next year!
OCCA Labor Day Cruise
September 28, 2008 by pikesan · 5 Comments
Story by Devin Squire
(Devin’s all Ford Garage)
Well, I just got back from the “Orange County Crusin’ Assoc.’s “Great Labor Day Cruise” in Costa Mesa, California. The weather was great, 80 degrees at the warmest & the 60’s at night. We go there a couple of days early to enjoy some vacation time in southern California. We will spend a day just cruising Pacific Coast Highway, from Huntington Beach down to Laguna Beach, stopping at some of the Surf shops, or stopping at one of the many eateries to get some fish tacos….(Wahoo’s shrimp tacos…mmmmm). Once in a while, I’ll actually take one of my surfboards out in the water & try to surf…key word here is “try”.
OK, now back to the car show.
The car show itself is on Saturday & Sunday, & Monday being the day they hand out awards & trophys. Some of us actually start lining our cars up in the parking lot at the fairgrounds on Friday, so we can be the early birds in to get a good parking spot.
The Embassy Suites in Santa Ana, is the host hotel, & you can see a lot of cool cars just hangin’ around their parking lot. My wife & I spent most of Friday just hangin out there & watching Hotrods come & go to get they’re registrations.
Here’s a short video showing some of the cars coming & going
at the hotel, and a few at the car show.
One of the fun things about this show, is you can cruise the fairgrounds. They have it so you can cruise around & show off your ride & check out the other stuff you might not see. Of course, there’s some big motor rods, you can hear before you see them.
Here’s some of Devin’s Pics from the Orange County Crusin’ Assoc.’s “Great Labor Day Cruise” show
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- 1932 3 window Ford Coupe
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- 1932 Ford gasser
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- 1932 Ford roadster
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- 1932 Ford gasser motor
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- 1939 Ford
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- 1940 Ford
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- 1952 Chevy Custom
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- 1955 Ford wagon
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- 1956 Ford pickup
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- 1960 Ford convertible
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- air bagged party bus
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- Bantam roadster
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- big-motor
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- cool hot rod coupe
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- Ford convertible
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- gasser Chevy coupe
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- GTO El Camino
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- hot rod 40 Ford Ute
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- hot rod 1932 Ford Roadster
