Biloxi Block Party

October 10, 2012

The action started this morning with a block party in downtown Biloxi.  Most of the streets in the downtown were blocked off and cruisers started rolling in by 8:00am.  The large variety of cars filled up every lot, field and parking spaces on the street for several square blocks in downtown Biloxi.  We walked for what seemed like miles and hours and still did not see all the cars.  There is quite a variety, from Model Ts and As, to many '30s, '40s and '50s American cars, to lots of Mustangs, Chevelles, late '50s Chevys, to all sorts of hot rods.  While many of the old cars looked nice and stock from the outside, most seemed to have huge, modern V-8 engines.  There were also several oddities, too.  Here are a few photos.

'56 Chevy interior did not come from the factory like this!

Beautiful '57 Chevy - driven from Missouri

Less is More

More is More

Two-door, short wheelbase Impala

We ate lunch at a small eatery across the street from the show - The Filling Station.  A small, casual place that looks like it  used to be a gas station.

 After walking and looking at cars for several hours, we left and headed to Ocean Springs, just across the causeway from Biloxi.  Ocean City has a very nice downtown with streets lined with beautiful live oaks and a variety of stores.  The live oaks around the coast are revered and protected.  So, instead of cutting off a low hanging branch, they just hang a sign on it saying "low clearance"!  The whole downtown is getting ready for

a huge influx of Cruisers for the next three days.  After walking around, we drove back to the hotel.  Many of the custom cars are driving up and down Hwy. 90 and there are throngs of people sitting along the sidewalks watching the cars go by.  While more cars will be arriving in the next three days, unfortunately we have to leave tomorrow to get back home due to a previous engagement.
We walked to downtown Biloxi and ate dinner at the Half Shell seafood restaurant that was recommended by a local we met at lunch and he didn't steer us wrong.  It was very good.  We then walked back to the hotel and spent a few minutes in the casino trying to win some money but made a contribution to the casino employees retirement fund.  We'll head back tomorrow after a beautiful few days on the coast.

Our first Cruise-In

Whoa, watch that speed bump!

Gives new meaning to the term "Going Green"

After breakfast, we washed the bugs off the car and cleaned it up a little.  Then off to Cruise Central to get registered.  We arrived just before opening time and were told that registration was closed for an unknown amount of time due to a water main break.  We were told to go to the cruise-in site at the VA hospital.  So, we turned around and headed back down Hwy. 90 to the turn off to the VA and followed the signs, and cars.  The VA is on a large tract of land and you drive down a tree lined driveway about a half a mile before you get to the facility.  We passed a veteran's cemetery with what looked like thousands of identical head stones lined up in laser straight lines.  We then go to the facility, which consists of multiple buildings over many acres, and were directed around back where hundreds of cars were parked in parking lots and along the streets.  We parked and started walking around and looking at all the cars.  We walked for what seemed like miles and hours and still missed some of the cars.  Along with custom rods, there were a lot of classic American cars, most modified.  There were what looked like the entire production of '55, '56 and '57 Chevys.  It's amazing how many of these are still around.  Also, Corvettes, GTOs, Model T's and A's, Shelby Cobra's (real or replica, I don't know, but at least one looked original), Mustangs and lots of chrome.  And, there were actually several British cars in attendance.  There were a couple of  MGBs, a rubber bumper Midget, TR7, several Jag XKEs, and a Sunbeam Alpine.   Around 2:00 we left with everyone else and headed to Cruise Central where we checked in, parked and looked at more cars.   We finally left and cruised down the coast and got something to eat and cruised back to the hotel where we crashed.  It's a sight to see all the cars going down both sides of the road and also all the people sitting in chairs along the road just watching the cars. Several local people thanked us for coming.  It must be a real boost to their economy.

A long, low, custom Caddy

   Will it fit in a Midget?

About to become road kill.

Self-explanatory.

 

On the Coast

We left Troy after breakfast and traveled the back roads of southern Alabama south towards the coast.  The primary industry seems to be cattle and cotton, along with many cemeteries, many that look very old, scattered along the highway.  Along the way, there are a couple of small towns that have put massive speed humps on the highway as you go through their town!  We came across a strange sight in Glenwood - several large vultures were sitting on the peak of a small house next to the road.  Circling low overhead were about a dozen hawks.  It looked like something from "The Birds"!  We passed through a couple of nice, small towns, Atmore, AL and AndalUSiA, AL. (as seen on the side of the local Ford dealership).  We stopped for lunch at Felix's Fish Camp in Spanish Fort, AL, then continued through the very nice area of downtown of Mobile, AL where the streets are lined with large live oaks.  Unfortunately, many buildings are empty or in need of renovation.  Then along the coast highway into Mississippi, passing through Pascagoula, Ocean Springs, Biloxi and Gulfport.  We got to the registration area about 5 minutes too late so will have to go there in the morning.  Although this is the first day, there are already many great cars cruising up and down the coast highway.  We're staying at the Beau Rivage hotel and casino.  It's a great deal - if I lose enough money in the casino, my room is free!!  But, by the time we got to the hotel, checked in and ate, it was too dark for any pictures.  Will get plenty tomorrow.  Stay tuned.

 PS.  Just heard that there are 4882 cars preregistered!

The Beau Rivage Resort and Casino

Cruisin' toward the Coast

We left this morning for Cruisin' the Coast on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  While this isn't our typical British car event, it should be a great event for any petrol-head.  It's an annual event for classic American cars, muscle cars. but most of the cars are a variety of custom street rods.  Hopefully, the weatherman will cooperate and it will be a great time on the Mississippi coast.  After leaving the house, the first stop was at our QuikTrip for a start-of-the-trip cappuccino and made our way through Conyers, McDonough, Griffin, Zebulon, our bathroom and antique stop at the High Cotton Antique Mall in Woodbury, Warm Springs, Waverly Hall, Columbus, then into Phenix City, Alabama and on to our lunch stop at Inell's Country Cooking in Ladonia, AL.  Lunch was a three vegetable plate washed down with some sweet iced tea.  Meat was forsaken in anticipation of the local fried chicken tonight in Troy, AL.  From Inell's we continued along the Alabama back roads through Hurtsboro and Union Springs - the bird dog field trial capital of the world, with a statue in the middle of main street to prove it - before arriving in Troy where we'll spend the night.  There is not much in Troy except for the university, but we were told that we should try Crow's Chicken, a long time, local chicken establishment and it happens to be within walking distance of the hotel.  We'll provide an objective report after dinner!

Downtown Union Springs, AL