User:RahalMccall69
CRUISE CENTRAL, GULFPORT Sunday morning brought the Cruisin' The Coast finale and closing ceremonies at Centennial Plaza, but enthusiasm was still high for the classic and classy rides. I spotted a couple of young lady cruisers, who I suspected were first-timers -- Hailey McQuaid of Pensacola and Jade Walls of Flomaton, Ala. Jade has a '58 Chevy Bel Air four-door and has plans to bring it and some friends to Cruisin' The Coast next year. They both cheered on the exiting Cruisers: "Come on back, Cruisers! We are so excited towards next year." Although we hate to see the party end, a cursory view of the numbers testifies to the overall success of the 18th Cruisin'. I went to the registration tent and sought out Christopher Smilek, volunteer staffer and number cruncher for Cruisin' The Coast. "Cruisin' The Coast couldn't happen without the 13 car clubs and hundreds of volunteers, so please say 'thank you' to all the people in yellow shirts at all the venues." It would be appropriate to point out here that Cruisin' The Coast Inc. has two employees. All the rest of the work is done by volunteers, from the board of directors on down the line. The Masked Cruiser says thanks to one and all for putting on the premier Cruisin' event in the entire country. So what about some other numbers? This year's registered Cruisers set a new Cruisin' The Coast record -- 7,293 cars from throughout the nation and Canada participated, with one overseas military participant. Add in the very welcome "late-model Cruisers" and the thousands of spectators (no one was willing to even speculate on that number) and the combined Cruisers had an estimated $22 million economic impact, according to Smilek. One final number to consider -- a very important number, as it speaks to the character and generosity of all who bought tickets for the Make-A-Wish 1932 Ford Highboy Roadster raffle car. Woody Bailey, vice chairman and executive director of Cruisin' The Coast, said the raffle made $25,500 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Not bad for a week's Cruisin'. Give yourselves a hand, Cruisers. Well done.Related Articles:
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