1 minute read
CRUISING 101
Hi gang, show season is here, starting with Salem County Fair Grounds and going all the way to “Flemming’s” in the fall. It’s time to dig out the cars, do some tuning, change some fluids, and put on a good wax job. A lot of thinking will have to be done as events aren’t as easy as they used to be. There used to be a cut-off with the ‘73 cars (cat converters), but now the whole muscle-car class needs re-inventing with 1200 HP Mustangs, 800 HP Challengers and, of course, trucks. So many classes, so few judges, who needs the grief? I mean, it’s easy to get a specialty judge (such as Corvettes ‘68 to ‘73), but what about all the others? Good luck!
There was a time when you would be out working in the yard, hear a vehicle coming, and you would know the vehicle by the sound. Nowadays, you hear trucks or GT Mustangs, Harleys and the rare street rod, they are the only “noise makers.” The new electric vehicles, even a 700-HP Corvette, are quiet. When I was working at a dealership, we used to scare the daylights out of people by coming from behind with a hybrid with not even a WHIRRRRRRR. I was next to a Tesla and an electric Mustang the other day, yeah, they’re fast … but no rumble. “Loud Pipes, Save Lives!” I can’t imagine creating show classes for electric vehicles because it seems all manufactures are going that way. But still, no George Jetson flying car.
By the time you class the classics, street rods, muscle cars, trucks, specialty vehicles and foreign cars, it’s just too many to deal with. A cruise seems to be just a lot easier. For those who won’t bring out their “babies” except for a trophy show, give them the location of the local trophy store. They cost $20.
The upcoming season will have many challenges, to say the least. I’m betting on another hot and dry summer. Get out the water bottles and offer some SHADE! Don’t forget us “old” people by providing handicap parking. And my biggest gripes: An event held at a local ice cream/soda pop store with not enough staff to serve the crowd or a portable toilet that looks like a volcano by the end of the day. Your guest won’t come back if waiting in lines is a big part of their day. As host, you have the responsibility, so keep in mind these things. Also try thanking people for attending.
Don’t forget, you can submit your upcoming events at CruisingMagazine.net.
See you at the events,
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