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21st Annual Cruisin' Ocean City - Sun, Surf, and Hot RodsJune 06, 2011 By Chuck Vranas
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Once the winter weather passes and the warm temps is back there's nothing quite like the adrenalin rush you experience when taking your hot rod or custom out for a road trip, especially on the East Coast. Now in its 21st year, one of the neatest shows across the country to have earned the reputation of being a true driving event is Cruisin' Ocean City, in Ocean City, Maryland. The bitchin' seaside community opens up its 10-mile strip to more than 3,000 enthusiastic car and truck owners for an extended weekend every May, leaving the scent of high octane juice hanging heavy in the air. The weekend kicks off at "the inlet" which serves as the epicenter for the festivities. Bordered by perfect beaches and wicked surf; parking for 1,500 vehicles disappears by 10 AM on Saturday but turns over regularly due to other fun mini-events along the strip. The inlet features a traditional old timey amusement park complete with a Ferris wheel and scream-worthy haunted house. There's also a neat boardwalk that stretches for miles laden with loads of retail shops and food vendors hawking an endless array of fried goodies and sweets. There were also countless sponsor exhibitors including General Motors Performance Division, Summit, Meguiar's, PPG, and K&N Filters to mention but a few to check out. Every year you can count on meeting celebrities at the show and this year you had the chance to meet Danielle Colby Cushman from TV's American Pickers who spent plenty of time meeting her legions of fans. One of the cool portions of... One of the cool portions of the event is being able to participate in the early morning cruise down the historic Ocean City boardwalk as you are greeted by cheering fans lining the beach. Once you head out from the inlet to hit the strip, a stop by the Convention Center always packs a number of treats with this year including a chance to check out TV's original Batmobile as well as a live collector car auction by Express Auctioneers inside the Convention Center, a special indoor car show, and numerous vendors. There was also a number of other mini-events happening all day long including shows at Hooters, the Ice Cream Castle, and Phillips Crab House to mention but a few. If this sounds like fun; you're only half way there 'cuz once the inlet get-together closes for the evening, its time to tank up, grab a bite and head back out onto the strip for even more festivities. It's easy to feel welcomed with thousands of cheering fans greeting you from sidewalks, hotel balconies, parking lots, and multi-level garages as your odometer spins wildly. This year, there were plenty of traditional rides mingling with stoke, muscle cars, and Pro-Mods on methanol. You could hear the roar of healthy V-8 stalking the main strip well into the morning hours. This is one event that keeps the excitement flowing all weekend long till its time to head home. You can check it all out at www.specialeventpro.com.  It was a rare moment to catch...  It was a rare moment to catch Peter Guida's fresh Rolling Bones-built '29 Ford roadster at a standstill. Filled with wickedness, it featured a Y-block V-8, nasty rake, and quick change rear.  Nick Webber's'46 Chevy hauler...  Nick Webber's'46 Chevy hauler was chopped 2-inches, given a 3-inch cab stretch, and handmade stretched and widened rear fenders. Plenty of power comes from a 540ci Merlin block breathing through Valley Head Service 32-valve heads topped with a custom sheetmetal intake.  It's always a treat to see...  It's always a treat to see the Moonkist T with its blown 396ci Rat capped with a trio of Edelbrock quads reflecting in the sunshine. Rich and Sharon Hoefling's classic T is always a real crowd pleaser.  Steve Kopchinski's timeless...  Steve Kopchinski's timeless '50 Ford custom was masterfully designed and built by Tom Cutino featuring a perfect chop,'54 Ford headlights, '53 DeSoto grille, and custom Ford side trim. The white pearl gloss and deep maroon scallops complete the vibe.  Another soup-job seen cruisin'...  Another soup-job seen cruisin' the boulevards well into the night was Gary Hunter's stoke Six Deuces Speed Shop-built '30 Ford coupe. It featured a killer chop, hot Chevy mill, and vibrant blue accents.  Scott Hutchinson's '29 Ford...  Scott Hutchinson's '29 Ford was channeled hard atop a custom chassis, filled with a Chevy small-block topped with an Edelbrock X-1 intake capped with six deuces, and coated in polished black suede.  Sometimes a small car can...  Sometimes a small car can make a big impact with endless innovation and allure. Roger Purdy's fresh '61 Nash was owner-built featuring a custom chassis, immaculate body and paint, and a 540ci Merlin block capped with a custom sheetmetal intake.  There were plenty of cool...  There were plenty of cool customs in attendance including Kevin Napier's copper metallic RideTech-bagged '63 Ford loaded with a 390ci V-8 rolling on American 5-spokes.  Danielle Colby Cushman well-known...  Danielle Colby Cushman well-known for her role on TV's American Pickers show as on hand all weekend to meet and greet all of her countless fans.  Powered by a '66 Ford 289ci...  Powered by a '66 Ford 289ci mill, Ed Hatter's '27 Ford T was coated in purple pearl and rolling on American 5-spoke wheels.  Gassers like Bobby and Cindy...  Gassers like Bobby and Cindy Walker's '55 Chevy are loaded with attitude. Theirs had all the right stuff including a mile-high frontend, radiused rear wheelwells, fenderwell headers, and a vintage race interior.  One of the most radical customs...  One of the most radical customs of the weekend was Pat Guthrie's '50 Ford with its heavy 5 1/2 inch chop, 4 1/2 inch section, and 3 inch channel accented by canted quad headlights, '50 Merc grille and a '53 Ford front bumper.  Larry Martello's '58 Ford...  Larry Martello's '58 Ford wagon was stunning with its slammed stance, Rocket wheels, deep maroon gloss, and custom tube grille.  Nothing 'sez lets surf better...  Nothing 'sez lets surf better than Jerry Campbell's stoke wagon with a vintage long strapped to the roof, tasty torch-job, and exceptional wood accents.  Dipped in a vat of coral shine,...  Dipped in a vat of coral shine, Jesse Fielder's '31 Ford roadster was bitchin' with its dressed small-block Chevy, nifty nerf bars, flipper caps, and ivory pleated bench interior.  Sometimes it's the most subtle...  Sometimes it's the most subtle cars that catch your attention like this classy Ford coupe with its subtle paint, perfect stance, and old-timey feel.  T-buckets are cool and Victoria...  T-buckets are cool and Victoria Bowles' tasty Ford was packed with loads of prime parts including an all-black body, detailed Chevy small-block, and white rolled interior.  '55 Chevy's make reet customs...  '55 Chevy's make reet customs and Dewey Dick's cruiser featured a 230ci six with an Edmunds 2-pot intake, nosed and decked body, louvered hood, and chrome reverse wheels.  Nothing say's seductive like...  Nothing say's seductive like Jason Stilling's lipstick red dropped '61 Caddy rolling on wires capped with fat whitewalls. . . 'nuff said!  Jerry Conklin always wow's...  Jerry Conklin always wow's the crowds with his effervescent candy lime gold '51 Chevy Fleetline with its 4-inch chop and customizer's book of body restyling.  We really dig Gary Baeshore's...  We really dig Gary Baeshore's '50 Chevy with its polished suede body, red scallops, louvered hood, and windshield visor.  Darrell Davis dressed his...  Darrell Davis dressed his '65 Riviera with a coating of white pearl topped with ghost flames, 20-inch Foose wheels capped with Nitto rubber, and a built dual-quad fed 401ci Buick Nailhead.  Steve Ramsey's '56 Chevy was...  Steve Ramsey's '56 Chevy was perfect with its black and white body, matching bench interior, and Boyd Coddington wheels.  Corry Hunter, owner of Six...  Corry Hunter, owner of Six Deuces Speed Shop, had his '65 Chevy II looking vicious thanks to a ground-hugging stance, Astro Supreme wheels topped with 1-inch whites, and Bellflower tips out back.  Defining mild custom, Larry...  Defining mild custom, Larry Roche's '52 Chevy Styleline had razor sharp body lines complimented by a deep forest green coating by Richard Glymph, and a rolled tan bench interior.  Nobody had more fun over the...  Nobody had more fun over the weekend than Jim Wallace with his tasty black suede '50 Ford coupe rolling on steelies topped with wide whites.
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