Cruisin’ The River City: Cruisers return each year for community
MOSS POINT, Miss. (WXXV) — Cruisin’ The Coast is in full swing, and over in Moss Point, the downtown area was filled with Cruisers for the ‘Cruisin’ The River City’ event.
Cruisin’ The Coast is more than just a car show, it brings together a passionate community united by a love for classic cars. Year after year it’s a place where friendships are built, and stories roll in from across the country, and even around the world.
“An atmosphere of having the comradery of all us car guys together… it’s an amazing thing to have that many. You know, like 10-15,000 of us here at one time, that’s an amazing feat to have,” said Josh Venable from southern Louisiana. “We go to car shows all the time, but it’s not this big. And then actually being able to cruise in your vehicles versus having to go park at a car show and sit there for a couple of days, and not get to drive it. In this scenario you get to drive your car every day, so it’s fun. Best of both worlds. So, that’s why we come and do this every year.”
Some Cruisers are new to the show, and others have been making their way to the coast for many years — like Debbie Daniels from North Carolina, who is marking her 14th year at Cruisin’.
“We live in the mountains of North Carolina. We don’t live anywhere near the coast, so we love driving it to the beach,” said Daniels. “This is our favorite show. This is the seventh year we’ve drove it from North Carolina to Biloxi.”
And Kentucky native Pepper Hardy is participating in his 18th Cruisin’.
“I’ve been coming down here for… this is my 18th year. The first year I came down here was 2008, and we come down from Kentucky. A friend of mine has been coming out for 24 years. He got me to come down here, and I haven’t missed one since,” said Hardy. “The people are nice, but I really come down here to eat seafood. That’s why I come from Kentucky. We don’t have fresh seafood like we do here.”
Cruisin’ brings thousands of new faces to the Mississippi Coast, but the yearly event is also a favorite for locals like Jerome Lett, who says he has been coming to Cruisin’ since its first show in 1996.
“I’ve been around hot rods all my life. My older brother had cars, and by me being number 11 out of 11 children, I’ve been around cars all my life, so it’s in my blood,” said Lett.
Each of these amazing classic cars is a labor of love for those who dedicate their time to restoring them. They’re crafted with heart, love and a deep passion for the past. When it comes to who can take on the challenge, the answer is simple… anyone. For example, Ariel Watson, a 13-year-old Pascagoula native built a 1972 Chevy from the ground up.
“It’s called ‘Teenage Luv.’ It’s a Chevy Luv… its phenomenal,” said Watson.
There will, of course, be multiple other events all week for people to come and check out these amazing cars and learn their stories.
