I Feel Sorry For You Young Guys............

[auggie56]

but when I was thirteen in sixty three, I had one of the best adventures into my early teenage life, a kid my age could have. My parents when out of town for a month, and I was left with a sitter. Sandy was maybe twenty at the time. She drove a yellow 57' Lincoln convertible, with black leather. She was board one night and had a girlfriend over, to the house. It was a weekend night and late. I don't know what my parents would have said, but Sandy and the friend, asked me if I was wanting to go to "Mels Hamberger Drive-In." I was in heaven ! OMG I was getting to go where all the cool cars are. The burgers, the malts and the fries ! We drove there with the top down with me occupieing the rear seat. The night consisted of ether sitting at one of the speakers stand, nursing a Coke, or driving in one drive, down one isle, a left turn and down the next isle, into the street, make a left at the light, and back around again. The traffic was terrific, with all the cars cruising the same path all night, untill someone vacated a parking spot. We were lucky and got a space, and ordered Cokes and fries. As I sat and watched the endless parade of cars. The guy friends would come up to the car and yack with, Sandy and the friend. I can recall one of them having a mid fifties Olds in white. I was told to keep quiet, as the social contact between young men and woman took place. That was fine by me, there were the cars to watch.

So fast forward to nineteen 67'. I made my first attempt at being cool, at Mel's with that yellow with balk primer spotted 56' 150. Needless to say, I didn't measure up to the collection of muscle cars, that lived at the drive it. Every once in a while, the cars and people all left at once, as two braggards were on their way to see who had the fastest machine. I watched this spectacle numerous times, as the two racers, followed by the crowd, made their out West bound on Monroe st, into the county. (less cops) At the time, the road was two lane, with gravel berm and no street lights. Someone would stage the cars at the starting line, while the crown scrambled to get a good spot to see the race. Some drivers were more mouth than driver, and others were near expert and they screamed off the line.

Time went on and I married in 69' and from time to time I thought of the friends and cars at Mel's. One night a friend picked me up in his 69' Torino. The plan was to hit Mel's for old time sake, and then pool and beers at the local watering hole. We pulled up the same old light, right there on Monroe st, but to our surprise, the was not one car in the lot, not one guy or girl hanging on a speaker stand. Times had changed. The carnage that muscle cars spread on the insurance industry, killed the street racer.

Mel's is now a strip mall, and I pass by a couple times a week. And yes I recall all the spectacle that was a part of my youth, in cars.

So what was it like for you oldsters ?

[PaPa Mike]

We must be about the same age. I remember cruising Shoney's in Raleigh '68 to '72 in my '55 then, 66 Chevelle, and then another '55.
We had one on the south side of Raleigh and one on the north side.
I wore out plenty of tires between them.
We always went to the local municipal airstrip to do our drag racing.
Man those were the days.

[mickeywestsr]

In the late 50's and early 60's we (here in Chattanooga) cruised from Kings Delight to the Rebel. We would "shine um up....start um up and hit the road". Inocent times were great.
This week end is the 1st monthly cruise in Cleveland, Tn. They block off all the streets around the court house square and the cars take over. Last April there were over 700 (yep, 700) rods that showed up. The rest of the year there were just about 400 or so. Its about a 30 mile drive for me and we cruise up old hiway 11.
Yeeeeeeee Haaaaaaaa !!!!!!!!

[chevender]

I feel sorry for the young guys too. In the 70's we used to cruise Hatboro here in south east PA. Then one day they put a no cruising law into effect. One by one every little town around here did the same thing. Soon there was nowhere to go cruising. If you parked the cars in town and just hung out with your friends then the cops would get you for loitering. In a way it's a real shame because kids today have nowhere to go. No wounder they all sit at home in front of the TV playing vidio games. Funny thing is that all of those towns now have cruise nights. Once a year they close off the main street and have a car show. Hatboro is comming up on they're 16th annual on July 26th. Seems they figured out they could make alot of money off those hot rod guys. Guess it's better than nothing, but I sure miss the days when we actually cruised. More than anything I love hearing the cars run and watching the light dance off the spokes of the chrome wheels as they drive by.
Rick

[auggie56]

I have yet to go, but Detroit has the annual "Woodward Dream Cruise." Woodward was the boulevard road where everyone went to be and be seen, with their cars, in the sixties and seventies. Now hundreds of cars meet and cruise the strip, with thousands that sit and watch. Most of the businesses welcome the week long event, some want it to end.

[Shua57]

I am not that old (32) and when I was 16 it was the greatest thing in the world to hit main street and then turn right on the Richmond st then turn aorund at the car wash and do it all over again. Unfortunately I couldn't get my 55 done and sold it for a 81 Monte Carlo (not even a SS). It didn't matter what you drove but the cool kids had muscle cars. Now I don't see anyone cruising. We would pack the streets on Friday nights. Now all I have is the Somernite Cruises every month (1000+ cars) and my own ride to play with.
Josh

[SIDKELLY1]

Our 'cruising' spot was the Varsity (hamburgers/ hot dogs, car hops) on North Avenue--started by a Ga Tech dropout and a big hangout for EVERYONE-The top deck was a continuous parade of cars from all around--meeting and then going to the North Bound entrance ramp of I75 & I85 (which was just to the left of the main entrance to The Varsity) Man--talk about FUN!!!! back in those days, cops would gladly slow down the traffic on I75-I85 to give the cruisers a chance to come off the ramp and show their stuff (NEVER officially, of course!!)--from the Varsity, it was only a short drive down North Avenue to The 'Yellow jacket Drive-In'--The 'Yellow Jacket' is only a memory and The Varsity is no longer a Cruising spot BUT------!!!!!!!!! The Memories live on!!!!!!!

[Bowtie55]

I am only 24 but I have driven a 55 since I was 16 up and down Richie highway here in Maryland. There is a car show every Friday and Saturday with about hundred cars. I still hangout at Ann's Dairy Queen built in the 50's every Friday night drinking a milk shake talking with my friends.


Matt

[fiftyfivegasser]

In the 60's, the thing was to head to the next town over, drive through Skid's curb service joint, leave and drive through Mac Donalds (that was when you ordered from a window out front) and then head to main street. Hang out there for a while and then go back through the previous 2 places. Leave and head back to the next town to a BBQ curb service place and have your food hung on the window. The rest of the evening was talking cars and watch cars leave smoking tires Ahhh, those were the care-free days

[wraplock]

For me it was cruising the "White Castle" on Fordham road in da Bronx! I would pick up my girl in my 62 Vette and head down for some "Belly bombs"! Those were the days when the "Castle" actually had girls on roller skates doing car hop service and burgers were about .14 cents ea. Man, you could buy a sack full for a buck! I always managed to find a pickup race before heading home with a full stomach and the pockets of my jeans lined with somebody else's money!

Today, I still cruise in either my 60 Vette or the 56, but don't live near da Bronx. Still cruise with the same girl, now my wife of 36 years. We hit the Wednesday night cruise-in at the Bear Mountain State park where they average between 400-up to 700 cars every week. Now that is one great cruise! Come on up, it's great!