Bruster's of Culpeper, VA monthly cruise 8-27-2016

Saturday was our 5^th Bruster’s cruise in Culpeper, VA.  Our group, Cruisin For Heroes, manages a cruise with the help of our friends in the Fredericksburg Classic & Muscle Car Club, on the 4^th Saturday of each month.

This month we had about 43 special vehicles visit the Bruster’s lot….about half were first time visitors….which means the word is getting out about the cruise.  Some say it’s the prime location right between Rt. 29 & Rt. 29 Business….others say it’s the awesome 50/50 ladies from the FC&MCC that extort money from the hapless cruisers….others say it the world renowned DJ Chip, that fly’s in just to spin the tunes for us….others say it’s the ice cream Bruster’s has AND the Nathan’s hot dogs.  The Princess says it’s because everyone wants to see if the old crippled guys can last all day walking around in the thermonuclear heat, parking cars, answering questions and talking about Fisher House before someone has to call 911 to have them removed from the asphalt!  I think the Princess is analyzing the deal from the comfort of INSIDE Bruster’s….talking and eating ice cream….can you say AIR CONDITIONED?  But….We did it; we were all standing at the end of the day….a little crooked but still on our feet!  I have only taken most of Sunday to recover from the blistering heat and 5 hours on my feet….whew!

Oscar & Cyndi’s visit was a pleasant surprise for the Princess & I and I got to meet fellow picture taker and Facebook admin; Steve….it was a good day.  As I said above about half the rides were new to the cruise.  I enjoyed seeing the “Hot Rods”….some would say Rat Rods….a couple blurred the lines a little between Rat Rod & Hot Rod….but they all are way cool.    Bob paid us a visit with his cool SSR (http://autoessentials.blogspot.com/2010/02/2004-chevy-ssr-bob-v.html) and an in your face, red & white, 4WD International crew cab pickup….I have seen a few of these painted dark blue with yellow stenciling all over them on Air Force Bases I have visited.  My favorite was the red/silver Pro Street VW….that is one air cooled beast.

About 8PM Jim announced the 50/50 winner followed shortly by the Bruster’s Manager’s choice for the month, the ’58 Chevy 4dr.  We had a lot of Fisher House traffic and gave away some FH brochures….which means we were able to enlighten some people about what they do for our Veterans.  A good productive day for everyone….

Pictures here; https://www.flickr.com/photos/53063560@N05/sets/72157671848269740

 

 

Fredericksburg, VA VA BBQ Cruise 8-26-2016

Friday we attend the VA BBQ cruise in Fredericksburg, VA.  The event is our “home cruise”….we like to be there most Friday evenings.  The people are friendly, the cars are diverse, the lot is easy access for hot rods.  Now if the club could just get the weather to cooperate!  This summer has been a hot one and the weatherguessers say we have another month of the above average heat.  Yaaaaaa!

About 45 special rides visited but the lot still had some empty spaces.  Most of the visitors were the usual suspects but Mr. & Mrs. O’Neil brought out their beautiful ’31 Ford Sedan Delivery to share with us.  They have a couple other nice original rides we see occasionally.

We were busy talking with Rickey & Diane and didn’t notice everyone was gone….I guess the Princess had a lot to say….  This cruise usually stops on Halloween so try to stop in this year….or you will have to wait till next April to watch Rick line dance….

Pictures here; https://www.flickr.com/photos/53063560@N05/albums/72157673055889755

 

 

 

4th Annual Summer Screech 8-14-2016

Sunday we ran the Cruisin For Heroes, 4^th Annual Summer Screech to Williamsburg, VA.  This is a lazy, easy cruise of about 200 miles out and back.  We only travel the back roads of Virginia but unlike the twisty mountain roads this is the flatlands area of Virginia that runs near the Rappahannock River most of the way then follows the York River to near the Chesapeake Bay.  Our destination is always Capt. George’s Seafood Restaurant.  It is THE premier seafood buffet….period!  We cruise on Sunday because we get a discount on the price and can reserve part of a room for our group. 

We usually have 15 or so cars of people that make the journey but the oppressive heat kept most home this year.  We had four hot rods show up and since it was a rain or shine event some came in their daily drivers!  It was interesting that the four hot rods were all Fords….I’m not sure what that means….grinning Since the Princess recently had extensive surgery and was still recuperating she wanted us to take our daily driver too, it has A/C….!  And we were both trying to recover from the heat drain from the day before.

The cruise was uneventful down and back….the food was exceptional as usual….the day was perfect although very hot.  Driving around the Virginia highways, eating at exceptional restaurants….it’s living a dream.  I love this hobby….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FC&MCC 14th annual show, 8-13-2016

Saturday we were going to attend the 14^th Annual Fredericksburg Classic & Muscle Car Club show….it’s always a hoot and we like to support our favorite Car Club.  They work at collecting money all year from their 50/50 at the weekly cruise and the proceeds from their annual show.  They use the money to support local needy families especially around Christmas time.  They have always had a positive impact on the lives of many people in and around Fredericksburg, VA.  In addition to supporting something good….the show is the premier event of its kind south of the Occoquan River.

The club knows how to manage the show so it unfolds like a German railroad.  They always have a gaggle of quality vendors to keep the crowd occupied when they aren’t ogling the rides.  And they have a DJ…..  Calling Chip a ‘DJ’ is like calling the Grand Canyon a hole in the ground!  Chip has taken the pulse of the kind of music we all like….and he actually plays it with few announcements breaking up the sounds.  Without a good DJ an event stutters and coughs along….but Chip keeps everything rolling smoothly.

The weatherguessers said it was going to be hot….this is the first time this year that they hit it right.  The temp was 98 degrees with a 472% humidity reading….making the heat index around 10830 degrees centigrade.  Thermonuclear stuff for sure.  I think I saw some people’s unprotected skin begin to sag….like the ending of Indiana Jones!  The Princess does NOT LIKE the heat….not even a little.  She stayed under the canopy most of the day holding court with anyone that ventured into her realm.  The two of us drank nine, 20oz bottles of water and three, G2 Gatorades.  It may have not been enough.

The quality of the entrants and the diversity of the rides are always over the top.  I think there were about 100 cars registered, which was down from previous years.  No doubt some thought better of sitting outside in the heat trying to drink in as much water as they were sweating out.  I liked the brown ’56 Pontiac the best but there were others that were some of our area’s best examples of hot rodding.  A lot of trucks are showing up at shows & cruises lately….18 trucks and a fire truck attended this show!  I think it’s a good thing. 

The heat began to get oppressive around 1PM and the club mercifully ended the human barbeque when they called the Chinese Auction winners early.  Then the trophies were awarded and the 50/50 winner drawn.  That was when we all dispersed like water on a freshly waxed hood. 

We had wanted to attend the Locust Grove cruise after the show….but….after enduring the asphalt softening heat all day; we decided to go toward the A/C instead.

If you have attended this show before you know it’s a must do show for the year….if you haven’t attended, you need to fix that next year.

Pictures here; https://www.flickr.com/photos/53063560@N05/albums/72157671522602711

 

 

VA BBQ 8-12-2016 Fredericksburg, VA

Friday we invaded Fredericksburg, VA and the weekly cruise hosted by FC&MCC at VA BBQ.  The temp was above 95 with the heat index somewhere around 103.  Few people came out before the sun went down, no doubt because of the heat.  But eventually there were about 25 hearty souls that braved the heat.  A couple rides were new to the cruise….like the green ’50 Chevy PU and the red/silver ’55 Chevy convertible.  And Ken visited with his white El Camino….we haven’t seen him for over a year! 

The club gave out the trophies and everyone motored home….we had to get ready for tomorrow….in the heat.  The weatherguessers were forecasting a heat index of 110….

https://www.flickr.com/photos/53063560@N05/albums/72157669466234113

 

Valley Mustangs Unlimited 8-6-2016

Cruisin For Heroes was invited to set up a Fisher House Foundation information canopy at the 22 Annual Mustang and Ford Powered Car/Truck show in Harrisonburg, VA.  The Valley Mustangs Unlimited Car Club manages the show at the Harrisonburg Ford dealership.  We attended this event a couple years ago and had a great time so when Joe & Dave invited us back this year we jumped at the opportunity.  Since I don’t have a Ford on the road yet I decided to take our daily driver and not have to endure the good natured ribbing about my Chevy truck.  The farm truck repairs were not quite finished anyway from it’s argument with a large unseen pothole we drove through….it trashed a couple ball joints and some other things.  Dave at B&R Customs was putting the finishing touches on the repairs so that also helped make the decision to use the daily driver.  Lou & I would represent CFH at the event so I met Lou at his home and we transferred all our Fisher House stuff to his Ford Escape and motored 131 miles southwest to Harrisonburg, VA.

We set up between the DJ and the Judges canopy….and I knew when they put a trash can near us, we would get a lot of traffic.  The day was warm but as long as the breeze was moving the air, it was tolerable. 

This is a Ford show….put on by a Ford Mustang club….at a Ford dealership!  If you think there would be a lot of Mustangs that registered for the show….you would be keerect.  About 80% of the 95 registered vehicles were Mustangs of one year or another.  A lot of really cool late model Mustangs too….and most were over the top nice.  The judging is a points based system that evens out any arbitrary judging….just the facts ma’am….  It would be difficult to pick out the best Mustang but for me the blue ’72 was special….  I liked the green/white ’65 Ford F-100 with the Boss 9 Shotgun motor….THAT pegged my WOW meter.  I also liked the red F-1 with Flathead power.  There was just too many nice cars to pick just one or two. 

Sometime around 1PM the DJ announced that rain might be coming and the club would try to hurry up the process so folks could get out before the rain.  Then around 2PM the black clouds began to roll over the hills behind the dealership….it looked bad.  The club began to hand out the awards but the rain started when they were….almost…done.  The rain didn’t begin slowly and progress…no…it began in wind whipped torrents….a trash floater if I ever saw one.  Lou & I were alone under our canopy till the rain started….then we had about 25 new friends huddled under our canopy….watching the rain fall.  The club waded through the awards and the DJ finally called the event over.  Most people waited for the rain to abate a little then sprinted out to their rides.  We packed up and made our way north.  The storm system was traveling the same direction as we were….so we were in rain all the way to Culpeper.  When I had transferred my part of the FH stuff back in my car I began a wet 47 mile trip back to Stafford. 

It was an interesting day…we made over 100 dollars for Fisher House Foundation from the donation barrel and the club will share the proceeds from the show with Fisher House Foundation.  They will present their check to Cruisin For Heroes at the local VFW on Veterans Day in November.  This will help put us near our yearly goal for Fisher House of $7500. 

Pictures here;  https://www.flickr.com/photos/53063560@N05/albums/72157669082483603