By Chuck Vranas – Images by the Author
Nothing’s better than the heavy scent of high-octane fuel combined with the thump of a hot cam on a spring day to welcome back outdoor car shows to a new season. After a long winter of wrenching on your ride, it’s time to open the shop doors and hit the streets. If that benefit just so happens to add in the bonus of plenty of sun and surf matched with the ability to meet up with a huge grouping of like-minded owners and their high-horsepower rides, it sounds like the makings of pure muscle car heaven.
Kicking off the year in grand style, the 35th Annual Cruisin’ Ocean City, located in Ocean City, Maryland, brought with it the heavy rumble of exhaust, complemented by an endless stream of Bowties, featuring everything from turbocharged LS engines to supercharged big-blocks. The charming little seaside community was the place to be with well over 3,000 registered car and truck owners rolling into town to cruise the 10-mile strip and check out just what makes this event so cool.
The sights of perfectly manicured beaches were accented by old-timey amusement arcades and rides with plenty of neat places to stop and get a bite, echoing times of decades past. After picking up your credentials at the convention center, it’s a short hop down the strip to the “Inlet,” which serves as the epicenter for the weekend’s festivities. With the ability to accommodate up to 1,500 vehicles, it’s the perfect place to check out many of the region’s hottest muscle cars, hot rods, customs, and classis trucks showcasing a kaleidoscope of colors shimmering under the sun. Thanks to a fun-filled event schedule, there are plenty of exciting mini-events happening across the strip throughout the weekend. One of the most sought-after tickets is getting a chance to participate in the early morning cruise down the historic boardwalk that stretches for miles while being cheered on by plenty of fans lining the route.
But wait, there’s even more events within the event to check out at the number of venues, including the Atlantic Hotel, Beach Bum West-O, Tap-house West OC, Forgotten Fifty Distilling, Grand Prix, Seacrets, Northside Pit & Pub, Green Turtle, Jay’s Café, Gold Coast Mall, and Papi’s Tacos, to name but a few. The Cruisin’ team always brings plenty of great entertainment and celebrities to the weekend, and this year it included a concert by Micky Dolenz of The Monkees, as well as meet and greets with WWE Superstar Sgt. Slaughter and Avery Shoaf from Rust Valley Restorers.
Typically, most events call it quits by the end of the day, however at Cruisin’ it’s time to catch your breath, grab dinner, and head out on the strip while massive crowds line the sidewalks to check it all out well into the night. The promoters generate even more excitement with numerous trophy award ceremonies and scheduled entertainment. This is one show that’s always sold out in advance, so plan ahead for next year! Check it all out at specialeventpro.com.
