The 34th Annual Great Labor Day Cruise Event Showcased Over 1,100 Classic Vehicles
The Great Labor Day Cruise was presented once again in Costa Mesa, CA on September 2-4. The weather was very comfortable, with nice cool evenings, making it perfect to enjoy this event the best way possible: staying there for three days in your tent, trailer, or motorhome. This is a camp-out like none other. Over a 175 motorhomes found a great spot to enjoy the view. You could watch a lot of cool hot cars cruise into the night. There were 1,100+ classic cars gathered. It was almost a non-stop parade!
Families and friends that may not have seen each other for a year or more, reunited for the long weekend and cruised around the Orange County Fairgrounds event route. Friday night they showed the movie Gone in 60 Seconds in the O.C.Promenade. Things to do during the day included checking out a nice selection of vintage trailers, a great model car contest, a wide array of vendor stalls and the big 50/50 drawing. On Sunday some tough choices were made as over 30 awards were presented to deserving cars.
This year the Great Labor Day Cruise supported the Warrior Foundation-Freedom Station. They strive to be the leading force in assisting and supporting the military men and women who have so bravely served and sacrificed for our country.
Bobby’s kool ‘51Chevy convertible has early Corvette side inserts and uses Buick “Nailhead” power.You could have won this sharp ’61 Chevy! Striper Jeff Styles below cruises in his freshened up ’56 Chevy wagon.The “Living Room” trolls the cruise route all weekend.
Bev & Judi enjoy the cruise route in Bev Simpson’s perfect ’55 Chevy Bel Air.Tom Muckenthaler’s Gotham SWAT Camaro, ready for the end of the world.
The blown flathead couldn’t be detailed better. The chopped ’32 Ford 5-window with a Mooneyes fuel tank, owned by Ken Thurm.Ron Olsen cruises in his huge ’60 Lincoln Continental convertible.A very sharp ’49 Cadillac Club Coupe owned by Dennis McKee.
Michael Rockwood’s very straight ’56 Ford Courier panel truck.
A heavily massaged, custom ’32 Ford pickup, small block Chevy powered. Owned by Randy McDaniel. Check the suicide doors!“Low and Slow” describes Rick Abate’s ’67 Cadillac Coupe de Ville.Geo. Tandardine’s ’53 GMC pickup, behind his pickup is Mr. Parker’s ’59 Rambler Wagon gasser.A very clean, numbers matching, ’65 Chevy Malibu convertible owned by Bob & Bobbie Chipperfield from Lake Forest, CA.An elegant ’42 Packard 160 Victoria convertible belongs to Ray Malzo.A very nice ’72 Pontiac Lemans that belongs to Ed Mendoza from Orange, CA.
Editor’s Note: A version of this article first appeared in the December 2016 print issue of the Drive Magazine.
