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2010 Cruisin' Ocean City - Twenty Years Of Nonstop Cruisin'Ocean City Celebrates Two Decades Of Drivin' Fun With Hot Rods From the November, 2010 issue of Street Rodder By Chuck Vranas
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Nothing could be more motivational to kick off a new rodding season than the promise of sun, sand, and surf, combined with the sounds of big-inch mills along one of the most legendary boardwalks in the country. For 20 years Cruisin' Ocean City has rocked the coast of Ocean City, Maryland, with irrepressible zeal like no other car show around. Scott Hutchinson's '29 Ford... Scott Hutchinson's '29 Ford was hammered to the ground with a 3-inch channel and 15-inch rear kick. Loaded with custom fabrication and fed by a six-deuce small-block, it caused plenty of double takes with its radiator stashed out back. This neat coastal community of 8,000 residents has it all when it comes to hosting an event where car owners can drive the tires off their rides. It's obvious when you pull into town and the local gas stations have their signs up advising they have plenty of CAM2 available that this is indeed a serious weekend. With Jerry Dixey at the helm of the '10 AMSOIL/STREET RODDER Road Tour, it was the perfect destination for him to start laying down the miles on the new Shadow Rods XL27 roadster pickup. There's nothing like pulling into town with 3,000 other registered car owners who are greeted by townsfolk literally rolling out the red carpet to welcome you to their own personal paradise. Once checked in at the convention center you walk back to your car with credential and event program in hand. It is like stepping into the past and being a kid again with a map to the biggest candy store in town. To kick off your visit in grand style, it was a must to head to the absolute end of the strip known as "The Inlet", which acts as the cornerstone of the weekend's festivities. With its breathtaking views, The Inlet is surrounded by both deep ocean and manicured beaches, making it the perfect spot to haul out that longboard and catch some serious waves. Having parking for up to 1,500 cars, it readily fills up by 10 a.m. Thanks to the numerous venues scattered up and down the strip, parking spaces usually turn over quickly. Roy Lind tore down his '33... Roy Lind tore down his '33 Ford pickup in 1958 to build a hot rod but never got to complete it. His son, Brian, resurrected the project with sharp bodywork, mile-deep Washington Blue gloss, a 347ci Ford V-8, and Billet Specialties wheels. Once settled, you had the chance to check out a multitude of vendors, including Miller Electric, GM Performance Parts, Ford Racing Performance Parts, and Summit Racing to touch the tip of the iceberg. As you made your way across manufacturers' row, there were plenty of scorching rides to check out, including Corry Hunter's fresh jet black Deuce or Steve Garrison's wicked '29 Ford roadster. One of the many exciting opportunities offered to rodders is the rare chance for an early morning romp down the historic Ocean City boardwalk as a part of the daily parade happening Thursday through Saturday. The boardwalk stretches for miles and is a mind-numbing flashback to simpler times with its countless shops, campy eateries, caramel corn and funnel cake vendors, arcades, and amusement rides, including a spooky haunted house and Ferris wheel. While knee-deep in the festivities you'd swear you were a kid again still wearing cuffed jeans and a pair of PF Flyers. It's not every day you come... It's not every day you come across a gow job like Burt and Annette Chapman's '31 Ford roadster pickup linking a restored body to a hot 'banger topped with a Roof 101 Cyclone intake and OHV conversion by Secrets of Speed Society. Leaving The Inlet and heading downtown (since this is a driving event) to visit the convention center with its packed mini-event, the streets are filled with everything from stoke 'banger-urged hot rods to Pro Street alcohol-fed beasts with their mountainous high-strung V-8s wailing from light to light. On Friday, the convention center played host to a collector car auction by Express Auctioneers as well as a trip down memory lane in the evening with The Four Tops performing all of their top hits in the main ballroom. Throughout the weekend up and down the strip, there were plenty of other happenings to head to, including ones at Hooters Restaurant, Harley-Davidson of Ocean City, and Phillips Crab House, to name but a few. Every year the event promoters treat visitors to a special celebrity and this time the crowds lined up throughout the weekend to spend time with one of Hollywood's legends, Henry Winkler, well known for his role on TV's Happy Days as well as his numerous children's books. After Ed Johnson and his dad,... After Ed Johnson and his dad, Walt, finished chopping the top 3-1/2 inches and sectioning the body 1-1/2 inches on their '30 Chevy coupe, they laid down a tasty Valencia Orange coating. Once the daylight fades away you'd think it was time to call it a day. In Ocean City it was time to reenergize yourself, top off the tank, grab a bite, and head out on the strip for plenty of non-stop cruisin' as crowds cheered you on as you wove through the streets shoulder to shoulder with some of the East Coast's finest machines. Even after you retired for the evening, you could still hear the sounds of raucous big-inch thunder until the wee morning hours making its presence known. By the time Sunday rolled in it was time for the legendary awards presentation at The Inlet where what seems like a trailer load of awards and trophies are handed out to eager car owners. Once again there were well over 100,000 visitors throughout the weekend proving that this is one event that grabs your attention and won't let it go. If you haven't experienced Ocean City before, mark your calendars for 2011 and be sure to hit the road for one of the hottest horsepower festivals in the East. You can check it all out at www.specialeventpro.com.  To give his '30 Ford coupe...  To give his '30 Ford coupe the early '60s feel, Gary Hunter chopped the lid 3-1/2 inches, added blue glass, parked a 355-inch Chevy between the 'rails, and set it rolling on chrome reverse wheels.  More doors can be downright...  More doors can be downright slick if they look like Justin and Holly Benson's '52 Chevy. Coated in black and gray it rolled on Rallye wheels and was slammed with Firestone 'bags.  The beach was the perfect...  The beach was the perfect backdrop for William Pelkey's '34 Ford coupe with its nasty rake, scorching flames, Halibrand rollers, and numerous custom touches.  Having owned his '59 Chevy...  Having owned his '59 Chevy since he was 14, Shane Miller recently transformed it into a stoke custom with a two-tone spray job, custom interior, aggressive stance, and Coys wheels.  It takes a real artist to...  It takes a real artist to take on a great original design. Jerry Michael sliced 5-1/2 inches from the roof of his '49 Ford, then sectioned it 3 inches, and Z'd and C'd the frame to bring his devilish custom to life.  Since Jacklyn Hennen had to...  Since Jacklyn Hennen had to miss her college graduation to work the event (her family owns the show) you can imagine the surprise she got when TV legend Henry Winkler called her to the stage to present her with her diploma.  The strip was alive till the...  The strip was alive till the wee hours of the morning as we caught Pat Guthrie's radical '50 Ford custom well past midnight.  The flame job on Dana Geesey's...  The flame job on Dana Geesey's '48 Chevy hauler stopped us dead in our tracks with its amazing colors and flow. It's a great calling cared for his business D. Geez Graphics.  Jim Wagner's '30 Ford roadster...  Jim Wagner's '30 Ford roadster is all soup job from its 6-71 huffed DeSoto Hemi to its old timey scalloped body, Moon caps, and whitewall slicks.  While visiting the convention...  While visiting the convention center we came across the recently restored milk wagon. Currently owned by Richard and Robin Meyers, it personified the '70s show rod era.  Bryan Wilde has owned his...  Bryan Wilde has owned his '56 Chevy since he was 15 years old. He transformed it into a dual-quad-fed, big-block 454-powered custom wearing DuPont Indigo Blue and ivory gloss rolling on American Racing wheels.  Proving his car was built...  Proving his car was built for the long haul, Larry Way motored in after a 14-hour drive from Ontario with his Brandywine Pearl '40 Chevy rolling on American Racing wheels.  We really dig Thomas Chimienti's...  We really dig Thomas Chimienti's '49 Ford drop-top with its traditionally louvered hood, classic spots, skirts, and Caddy caps with bullet centers.  T-buckets personify excitement...  T-buckets personify excitement and George Heinsman nailed the look with his metallic blue '23 Ford. A dressed small-block with zoomies, Cragar S/S rear wheels, and vintage Mustang taillights keep this T reet.  Jeff Kraemer's '38 Ford sedan...  Jeff Kraemer's '38 Ford sedan was dazzling, drenched in bright orange shine, rolling on Radirs with the perfect attitude.  Laced with evil, Tom Lewis'...  Laced with evil, Tom Lewis' '51 Chevy custom was whacked 6 inches to give it a sinister look while a 454ci Rat lurked under a 3-inch sectioned hood.  Barry Michael has owned his...  Barry Michael has owned his '58 Impala drop-top since 1961 and it's the ultimate beach cruiser with its cavernous pleated interior, '50 Buick grille, 283ci mill, and Radir wheels.  A stunning hot rod has all...  A stunning hot rod has all the right parts in the right places like John and Lauren Rose's Dove Gray '40 Ford coupe, where their combination works perfectly.  We caught Jerry Campbell's...  We caught Jerry Campbell's stoke Deuce at the Hooter's cruise-in looking nifty with its laid-back windshield, hopped-up early 'vette small-block, and tasty red wires.  No car exemplified the horsepower...  No car exemplified the horsepower lurking in Ocean City for the weekend better than Rob Schatz's '65 A/FX-themed Plymouth with its wild injected Hemi V-8 and nosebleed stance.  Tony Bono's '34 Ford sedan...  Tony Bono's '34 Ford sedan was scorching hot thanks to a combination of a perfect chop, flowing fenders, Billet Specialties wheels, custom nerf bars, and IFS.  One of the coolest As we found...  One of the coolest As we found on the strip was Jesse Fielder's '29 sporting a white rolled interior, peach scalloped body, and flipper caps.
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