Cruisin' The Coast 2018: Best Car Show of The Year

Well the 2018 version of Cruisin’ the Coast is in the books and all we can say is the event just keeps getting better. Maybe that’s why USA Today named Cruisin’ the Coast Best Car Show of the Year for 2018. For one full week hot rods, muscle cars, restored cars, and Tri-Fives fill the Mississippi coast. It’s a car lover’s paradise. Rolling down Route 90 keeps you skirting the coast and there are rods, customs, muscle cars, and pickups heading in every direction.

Each of the 10 towns on the cruise list is unique in its own way, which makes “getting your ticket stamped” well worth the effort. For registered cars, if you drive to each designated town and get your entry card stamped, you are in the running for the big prize money drawings. Of course there is a lot more to it than getting a paper ticket stamped. We are talking great seafood, antique shops, boutiques, and scenic seaside towns to enjoy. There is also the big burnout contest in Pass Christian on Thursday night, live music at every venue from Tuesday through Saturday, so it is no wonder this event has grown over the years from an initial event of under 1,000 cars 22 years ago, to the monstrous Cruisin’ the Coast 2018 that recorded 8,444 registered cars in attendance.

Rather than being captured in a fairgrounds, this event takes place over a 45-mile stretch of coastline. The fun starts early and cruisin’ goes on well after dark. This year Mississippi served up plenty of sunshine all week long. It was a bit warmer than normal, but a continued soft breeze off the Gulf kept things pleasant and the evenings were simply perfect roadster weather.

Included in the 8,444 cruisers was the STREET RODDER Road Tour, with Jerry Dixey leading a larger-than-average number of cars into Biloxi. The new United Pacific Industries 1932 Ford pickup was looking good cruising the beaches. The group has reserved parking in all the different towns during the week, so there is a definite advantage to being a Road Tourian.

This event is so much fun, so laid back, that the week is over in a flash. You could have taken in the autocross, gone to the Blessing of the Cars, had a great breakfast for charity, attended the sock hop, had your car in a parade, bought a car at the Vicari Auto Auction, searched for parts at the big swap meet, hit a couple casinos, gobbled a few Shrimp Po Boys, checked out cars for sale in the Car Corral, and taken in a burnout contest, and guess what, you still wouldn’t have done everything Cruisin’ the Coast has to offer. We attend a lot of rod runs and one thing we noticed about this event is the larger-than-normal number of couples. The event has so much to offer many of the ladies have put this one down as a “must-attend” event.

Speaking of towns we would like to give a shout-out to some folks. First to the over 1,000 volunteers in those yellow T-shirts, thanks for making the event run so smoothly. Your work and pleasant demeanor does not go unnoticed. We also want to thank all of the residents of the area, including the following cruise locations: Diamondhead, Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, Edgewater Mall, Biloxi, the town of Biloxi, D’lberville, Ocean Springs, Gautier, Pascagoula, and Moss Point. Thanks for sharing your beautiful area; hopefully we left it as we found it.

For those of you who managed to put it off again, that makes 22 great events you’ve missed. But all is not lost, the countdown to the 23rd running of Cruisin’ the Coast is already underway and that event will be held October 6-13, 2019. You can get all the information required online at cruisinthecoast.com. We’re not sure how they will do it, but we know next year will be even better than this year. We’re counting the days and we hope to see you there. SRM

PAINLESS PERFORMANCE TOP 100 Tech Tip
Changing From a Three-Wire alternator to a One-Wire Alternator Part 2

On late-model cars and trucks equipped with internal regulated alternators, the switch is pretty simple. Remove the connector and wires plugged into the side of the alternator and cut off at the main harness tape and secure or just tape and secure the harness out of sight in case someday they may want to be used again. Check the output of the new alternator compared to the old one to be sure the original output wire will be heavy enough for the new amperage output.

Caution: An add-on high-output charge wire kit like the Painless PN 30709 is recommended.

Note: A charge light can’t be used with a one-wire alternator system.

John Creveling | 1957 Chevrolet Nomad | Columbia, TN

The Chevy Nomad was basically a factory-born custom so there is little need for heavy mods. A shaved hood, single-bar grille, and smoothed bumper go a long way to improving on an excellent design. With a Dakota Digital–monitored LS motor underhood, Vintage Air inside, and RideTech coilovers this wagon is built to haul.

James & Donna South | 1948 Willys Jeepster | Tuscumbia, AL

The Willys Jeepster may just be the ultimate beach cruiser. A nicely detailed Chevy 350 and 700-R4 trans replace the flathead-four underhood and the PPG Sunset Bronze suits the square line perfectly while trim pieces and the chassis have been treated to Rhino-liner. Heidts IFS and QA1 shocks smooth out the road and it all rolls on American wheels.

Donnie Tanner | 1932 Ford 5-window coupe | Wilmer, AL

In this day of hammered lids a stock height roof is a real standout. The proper stance is brought about by a 4-inch dropped axle up front with a Currie rear suspended by Carrera coilovers out back. The traditional approach continues inside with S&W gauges, black leather, Lokar shifter, and Vintage Air. Underhood a tri-power fed 350 Chevy couples to a 350 tranny. It all rolls on American salt flat wheels, making for one wildly understated Deuce.

David & Margaret Hickson | 1955 Chevrolet convertible | Mobile, AL

Get to the beach and we start thinking top-down cruisin’. Cruisin’ is easy with a nicely detailed LS1 coupled to a 4L60E. Suspension remains basically stock with the addition of sway bars and disc brakes from Summit Racing. Billet Specialties five-spokes add a performance look, while inside leather bucket seats, Vintage Air, and a custom console complete the creature comforts.

Don & Kathy Colliau | 1950 Plymouth Suburban | Dexter, MI

Load up the station wagon and head to the coast! The ride from Michigan to Mississippi was hastened by a 5.7L Dodge Hemi underhood. The super-rare two-door wagon body remains relatively stock and rides on Fatman suspension. Inside leather-covered buckets and Chrysler air conditioning keep things comfortable. The A580 tranny is shifted by a Challenger shifter and it all rolls on American Racing wheels.

Erwin Worden | 1950 Chevrolet Fleetline | New Orleans, LA

Midnight Blue is the hue, PPG is the paint, although many people walk by believing it’s black. The Chevy Fleetline was sleek in 1950 and shaving the decklid and dropping the stance enhanced the look while a detailed 305 Chevy provides motor-vation. Inside ivory- and gray-covered bucket seats, a custom console, Lokar shifter, and AutoMeter gauges complete the package. Mustang II suspension and 17- and 18-inch Coy wheels keep the fastback rolling down the road.

Don Bunch | 1950 Mercury | Morristown, TN

Describing this Merc is like reading a pocketsize Rod & Custom. Nosed, decked, rounded hood corners, 11 DeSoto teeth, smoothed bumpers, frenched headlights, Lincoln taillights, and a chopped top. Yes, this is a classic custom, and underhood a 350 crate motor hooks to a 350 turbo tranny. Inside S&W gauges, Vintage Air, and lots of lush leather make this car so comfortable it has been driven coast to coast twice.

David & Anne Nelms | 1935 Chevrolet coupe | Fitzgerald, GA

That outrageous candy red paint glowing in the Mississippi sunshine stopped us in our tracks. Below the beautiful House of Kolor paint we find subtle mods like custom hood sides, frenched taillights, and shaved door handles. Inside this all-steel coupe is powered by a 350/350 combo and rolls on Heidts Mustang II suspension. Inside linen leather combines with aluminum accents, VDO gauges, and a tilt column to make this a great road car.

Ron Westmoreland | 1961 Chevrolet Impala | Gulf Breeze, FL

This 1961 Chevy bubbletop may look conservative but there was a lot of work fitting those huge rear tires. The bumpers are painted with a special PPG metallic paint, giving the car the feel of a drag car “lightweight.” The side trim has been treated with the same paint. Underhood a 5.7L LS moves the car quickly while Wilwood brakes slow things down. Inside red interior, Vintage Air, Dakota Digital gauges, and a column shift complete this stunning package.

Keith & Jody Fox | 1927 Ford coupe | Hahnville, LA

Great cars age well. With that thought we could not resist selecting Boyd’s beater. This coupe was built on his TV show and then driven to the NSRA Street Rod Nationals in 2006. The defining feature is the reshaped quarter window and overall craftsmanship. A basic hot rod, it runs a dual-quad fed 283/Powerglide and a Magnum front axle and 9-inch rear with drums on all corners. Vintique steelies and caps complete the look. Yes, Boyd Coddington knew how to build a hot rod. It is hard to believe he left us 10 years ago; we miss him still.































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