GULFPORT, Mississippi - Cruisin' the Coast filled every nook and cranny of downtown Gulfport earlier than expected Sunday morning. Though the View the Cruise event wasn't scheduled to begin until 2 p.m., Cruisers filled the main street by 10:30 a.m., and by noon almost all the parking spaces designated for the event were full.
"We've got everything plugged up," Len Krapcha, volunteer with the Mississippi Coast Watchers said.
Krapcha, whose club specializes in antique military vehicles, said the 16th annual Cruisin' the Coast started smoothly with smiling faces and 22 volunteers.
"It's easy when you've got good people just here to have a good time," said Krapcha.
Sandra McKiernan of Vancleave arrived at View the Cruise at 11:30 a.m. hoping to get a good spot for her 1955 T-Bird. McKiernan and her husband own 4 classic cars, and they've come to all 16 Cruisin' the Coast events.
"This is our week," said McKiernan. "It gives us a chance to enjoy each other's company, to talk about classic cars."
McKiernan is part of the Coast Cruisers team, and she said she looks forward to Saturday night's "megacruise," where her club will fill the parking lot of Edgewater Mall and give away prizes.
Curtis Smith of Porter Texas stopped to look at McKiernan's light-blue T-bird, and asked her how much it cost. After hearing the price, he exclaimed "You stole that car!" McKiernan laughed and told the story of how she found her dream car by accident in Gautier. "This is the car I've always wanted," said McKiernan.
Smith, who's visiting the Gulf Coast with his son and his parents this week, came in a 1960 T-Bird for his 4th year of Cruisin' the Coast. Smith began restoring cars with his father as a boy, and he and his son are continuing the tradition as they fix up a 1963 Falcon Ranchero.
"We love coming down here to look at all the beautiful cars, and getting ideas for our own cars," said Smith. Smith is excited for tomorrow's Long Beach Parade for cars 25-years-old and older.
The parade starts at 5:30 p.m. and will roll from Long Beach High School. Krapcha and his crew are also excited about tomorrow's parade. "It's not all work," said Krapcha.
He and the Mississippi Coast Watchers plan to parade through the Armed Forces Retirement Home on Tuesday.
Fold out chairs dotted with umbrellas lined the streets of downtown Gulfport as car enthusiasts gathered around their favorite vehicles on Sunday at View the Cruise.
Larry and Debra Reach of Mobile, Ala., spotted a car from their past on the streets of downtown Gulfport, a bright green 1953 Chevrolet.
"We actually owned one of these," said Larry Reach. "This was our transportation." The Reaches have been to about 6 Cruisin' the Coasts, and plan to come back next year.
A small crowd formed around Danny Davis' neon orange 1969 Camaro, as car enthusiasts traded tips and tricks for caring for classic vehicles.
"You're always working on them, tweaking them out, and getting them up to your standard" said Davis, who has been coming to Cruisin' the Coast since 1999. "It's just absolutely super. The cars, the people, the weather, it's wonderful."
Owner of a 1949 limelight green Mercury Allen Cole of Bay St. Louis thinks "this will be the biggest year yet," for Cruisin' the Coast.
Philip Jones of Baton Rouge, La., was looking at the "unusual" car, and said this is his first time back to Cruisin' the Coast since Hurricane Katrina.
"It's really coming back," said Jones.
Leon and Denise Hagwood wanted their 1981 Corvette to represent the spirit of the Gulf Coast. It's special paint job includes the Biloxi lighthouse, casinos, shrimp boats and dolphins.
Many folks stopped by took take photos of the car, and the couple even had offers from people looking to buy the car from them.
Danny Royals and his daughter Danielle stood roadside as cars poured into View the Cruise on Sunday, and took pictures of their favorites.
"This Sunday is the best event of the whole week," said Danny Royals. "It's perfect."
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