View the Cruise

Thousands piled into the streets of downtown Gulfport for the ninth annual View the Cruise to kick off this week’s Cruisin’ the Coast festivities.

Rev up your engines South Mississippi because Cruisin’ the Coast is back and better than ever. What better way to launch the best car show in America than with a kickoff party? View the Cruise had over 12,000 people walking the streets and checking out these decked out cars and as Cruisin’ expands so does the party. Gulfport Main Street Director Laurie Toups said, “It’s like the Super Bowl for all the restaurants and retailers down here. There are people who visit from all over the country and some other states who come in just for this. All you have to do is ride up and down the beach to see we have a lot going on. We have had to expand our footprint because we are busting at the seams.”

This year, View the Cruise expanded 10 blocks north to south and five blocks east to west and it was still packed.

Cruisers come from all over to show off their classic cars here on the Coast. Some are locals such as Ruben Pearce who brought out a 1925 T Bucket to show off. “I got an eight-year-old daughter.  She loves it. We ride and wave at everybody and really have a good time with it. I just have pride in my ride.”

Ruben has been coming to this kickoff Cruisin’ party ever since he bought the T Bucket seven years ago. He enjoys it as well as the rest of Cruisin’ which he is looking forward to. “It’s good tourism. I mean, it’s the world’s largest block party. Everybody knows that and I mean, there’s a lot of people here today and they’ll be more before the end of the week.”