Cruise meets in the London, St. Thomas area

[Blacamaro]

Anyone in the London area going to the Cruise meet at Steve Plunkett's farm in Hyde Park?

http://www.countrycruizin.com/

It's one of the bigger Cruise meets in the area (there are a lot of good ones here btw). They get upwards of 200 cars most weeks.

I'll be there with our Black 2011 SS so I should be easy to spot.

So far this week we've been to Tillsonburg on Tuesday, a top notch Cruise on a cut grass field next to the Wendy's (the one by highway three), where they had 100 or so cars (and the guy told me this was his poorest turnout so far). They have a lot of good sponsors with many door prizes and a 50-50 draw. We had the only 5th Gen there and there was one 1st Gen. This is a well organized cruise meet, among the best you'll find in a small town setting.

On Wednesday we went to the Aylmer cruise meet. This is at the ICS parking lot beside the MacDonald's. There were about 30-40 cars there. We had the only 5th Gen and there was one 1st Gen, an SS 396 four speed car. This is a low key meet where everyone seems to know a lot of the others there, most from St. Thomas and Aylmer. If you had nothing to do on a Wednesday it would be worth checking out although it's certainly one of the lesser cruises in the area.

Thursday is Steve Plunkett's cruise which I hear is the best in the area.

Friday night is street machine night at St. Thomas Dragway. Not exactly a cruise meet but close. I'll have the only 5th Gen there in a sea of Mustangs and Ricers. There was a black Challenger RT in the VIP area last week getting a lot of attention last week. This week I'll rain on his parade by parking my SS there also. There'll be 25-50 people racing and maybe a 100-200 spectators. Time trials only, lots of grudge racing and on the spot challenges and such. And lots of wandering around looking at cars and comparing notes.

Saturday is a big day for cruising in St. Thomas. There is the Lions Club cruise at the Elgin Mall/Dan Patterson Conservation Area, and there is the A&W cruise downtown, both worthwhile cruises to attend. I may or may not make it depending on whether we go to the stock car track or stay home and go to the cruise.

Sunday is the big cruise at the Dundas and Clark Road Canadian Tire in London. This is another large and popular cruise and a must go for anyone in the area. We will probably be there this Sunday.

There are other cruises in the area. There are apparently cruises at most A&Ws on Tuesdays including the A&W on Highbury. There are cruises in Simcoe and Woodstock I need to pin down. There is a cruise in Strathroy. There are big cruises in Sarnia, Chatham and Windsor (getting a little too far). Over the next few weeks I want to attend as many as I can and find out which are the better ones. Like the Tillsonburg cruise was a big surprise.

If Anyone in the area has anything to add or would like to get a 5th Gen line up going at the local cruises then jump in.

[Risquee]

Hey this is great info thanks! I haven't made it to any of the Cruise nights yet but plan to. I work weekends so they are out. Hopefully I see you at one soon. I drove by your house and saw your car. NICE. The UPS man who delivered my CAI today spent 10 minutes telling me all about your car.

[Blacamaro]

How do you know it was my car?

I've seen one other Black 5th Gen in the area already. On highway three headed east out of St. Thomas with a girl driving.

I'm in St. Thomas on Elm Street.

I have had the K&N kit on mine since it was one home less than a week. I got the all black unit (it gives .4 hp more than the chrome one). I felt it made a big difference in responsiveness (it hits more violently when you nail it).

I've seen a Yellow car like yours, could have been you...

[Risquee]

If you are on Elm it wasn't your car I saw. I am across from the old St. Gabe's so we are almost neighbours. . There is also a CGM Camaro in our neighbourhood. I saw another yellow one in town, no stripes. Also saw a red one with black stripes. I've seen these a couple of times so I am sure they are in town. I pretty sure I am the only Transformer in town. I'm surprised some of these haven't been out to the cruises or Sparta.
I have never participated in a Cruise event, although I have been to many just to drool. I'd like to go just because I am sure there is a lot one can learn from other car owners.

[Blacamaro]

Well we drove through intermittent drizzle going to Steve Plunkett's Country Cruising in Hyde Park only to find they had already broke it up because of rain (after the rain had blown over and it was cleared up).

Today was the first day this week with no rain forecast and it actual rained. Tuesday and Wednesday both had rain forecast and it never rained and the Cruise events went well.

Following this logic since rain is forecast for Friday, Saturday and Sunday it'll be clear all weekend.

[Thrillz]

I've been meaning to do some of these this year but i have been so busy. Here is a link to all the one's i know of http://www.oxfordautosales.com/cruise/ . To be honest i would have thought lots of 5 gens were showing up to these this year.

[Risquee]

I am going to try to make it to Plunkett's next Thursday. Also I think I am off next weekend so I'll check out the St. Thomas meet.

[Blacamaro]

I'm going to keep posting my comings and goings and cruise reports on here incase anyone is interested. Also to draw any locals out of the woodwork here.

We've had a lot of rain here this afternoon although it may be clearing up. If I do bring out the SS I'll try and tour by the dragstrip, It's 4 miles from here. It's only $5 entrance so if anyone is there we'll go in. If it continues to clear up from here on there'll be lots of people there. If it is clear but still looks like rain only a few die hards will be there looking for a few time trials.

Saturday is the two cruises here in St. Thomas which I'll be at one or both if we feel the stock car track is likely to be rained out (it's 120 km to the dirt track we go to, South Buxton). Right now the forecast is clear for Saturday, but we may still forgo the track and stay home for the cruises.

Sunday is the big Clark and Dundas Canadian Tire cruise which we intend to go to.

I guess Monday is my day off unless I can find a Monday event in the area.

[Risquee]

I am working 11:00 am to 11:00 pm both Saturday and Sunday this weekend. But hopefully I'll be out next weekend.

[Blacamaro]

Well it drizzled up until about 9:30pm last night so no dragstrip of course.

Right now it's clear with scattered thunderstorms forecast so I think it's a hit and miss thing where we may or may not be hit through out the afternoon and evening.

We're going to forget the stock car track and hang around town and hope to make the cruise meets here in St. Thomas.

I'll likely be cruising around town and settle in at whichever cruise looks busy.

So incase anyone is interested the cruises are at the A&W downtown across from Tim Hortons and the Elgin Mall parking lot. Almost for sure the Elgin Mall cruise will be the biggest.

[Blacamaro]

Well I made it to the St. Thomas A&W Saturday Cruise night.

Poor turnout, around 15 cars. I spoke at length with the girl that runs the cruise. She is the A&W owner/franchisee. She said last week they had over 40 cars. It rained only a couple hours before the cruise and looked like a thunderstorm was coming in right up to the start of the cruise. Then they have this situation where the lions club holds their cruise at the same time.

The Lions club has their cruise only 2 times a month and at two different locations alternating (Dan Patterson Conservation Area and the Elgin Mall). They have some problem getting members to run the thing hence the every other week thing. So my attitude is to support the A&W cruise because she is serious about having a cruise night every week.

Anyways next week if the weather is good the A&W cruise should be a lot better with no Lions club cruise splitting the attendance.

Tomorrow, Sunday, is the biggest cruise in the area at the Canadian Tire at Dundas and Clark in London. As far as I can find out it starts at 5:30. We'll be there early and likely eat at the A&W in front of the place and to be sure to get a good spot in-case the place fills up quick.

I've talked to a number of people at the cruises telling me that the Strathroy cruise on Wednesday is a pretty good one so I'm planning to attend at this point.

[Risquee]

Just found out I am working Thursday and Friday 3-11 shift so that's out for me. But I am off all next weekend! I be there somewhere!

[Blacamaro]

Sunday at the Dundas and Clark Canadian tire was incredible. I really don't know how many cars were there but likely 150 to 200. And there were hundreds of spectators. And lots of friends of mine, most of the local hard core cruisers I know were there. This is certainly the biggest we've been to so far.

I do have to say however, Tillsonburg is still our favorite with the wide open grass field, top notch organization, lots of cars and laid back attitude.

We missed Tillsonburg today because we had errands tonight in London.

Wednesday's weather forecast looks bad. If it does clear up, or at least there is a chance of making it to a cruise without rain, we are going to try Strathroy. I've had friends at the last three cruises all mention Strathroy as a good cruise meet.

The forecast for Thursday is looking good and we're all set to go to Country Cruising at Steve Plunkett's place.

BTW, at the Sunday Canadian Tire Cruise, we had the only 5th Gen there. There were lots of Mustangs and at least three Challengers. There was even a new ZR1 and a Ford GT there.

There was a Aquamarine 5th Gen that came cruising through as things were breaking up. I talked to the guy a while. He had a Corsa Cat back and some kind of a super charger deal with 600 and something HP. Sounded good.

[Risquee]

What time is the one at CT on Sunday? I have a grandson's bday party to go to, but it's early afternoon.

[Giggy]

Hey Blacamaro, nice to see there is another member with a black 5gen in my neck of the woods. I sometimes attend the cruise at the A&W here in Tillsonburg. The cruise you go to beside the Wendy's is on the same night as the A&W. Last year, I was asking around and had the feeling that the Wendy's cruise was geared for the classic cars. I guess i was wrong. You must of seen guys coming and going during the night. They try and attend both in the same night. I'm on shift work, so I will keep an eye open and maybe we can hook up at one of the meets.

[Blacamaro]

Originally Posted by Risquee

What time is the one at CT on Sunday? I have a grandson's bday party to go to, but it's early afternoon.

We were there early because I wanted to eat at the A&W before things got going. Almost as soon as we got there it started filling up. I'd say you want to be there by 6 or so. I'll go early again in order to get the spot I want. Even if you show up at 7pm you'll be OK but you may have to park on the side lot.

[Blacamaro]

Originally Posted by Giggy

Hey Blacamaro, nice to see there is another member with a black 5gen in my neck of the woods. I sometimes attend the cruise at the A&W here in Tillsonburg. The cruise you go to beside the Wendy's is on the same night as the A&W. Last year, I was asking around and had the feeling that the Wendy's cruise was geared for the classic cars. I guess i was wrong. You must of seen guys coming and going during the night. They try and attend both in the same night. I'm on shift work, so I will keep an eye open and maybe we can hook up at one of the meets.

I saw a black Camaro heading east of of St. Thomas towards Aylmer about 3 weeks ago with a girl driving. Was that you?

That cruise is open to anyone. I think you'll find most cruises are dominated by classics and antiques. These are the same guys at all the cruises and shows. Typicaly around 60, most have their wives involved and they go to cruises every night. A lot of the same guys you'll see one night with a classic, you'll see with a new Shelby at the next cruise.

It takes a different kind of person to go into that cruise lifestyle. Lots of people will buy a new muscle car but they're not interested in spending two hours detailing it four times a week to go to crusies. So there aren't many newer cars at cruises..

Last week I hand washed and hand dried and cleaned inside the doors jams, the trunk lid, gas cap, hood, cleaned the rims all the way to the inside edge, rinsed the rotors so they won't drip black crap on my rims as soon as I drive it, and I even scrubbed the inside of the fenders. I did this every day. Some of the days it rained and the car went in the garage, but I still did the whole thing over the next day for that day's cruise, because I'd drive the car during the day enough to get it dusty.

My point is I have the time and patience to do this. My wife loves it too. Most people don't. These classic car cruise fanatics that fill the cruises, they live for this sort of thing. It's the biggest part of their social life also.

So people that choose to dive into the car cruise/rally/show lifestyle find the car they want that'll work for them and be a hit at the cruises. And they usually pick cars from their youth.

I'm somewhat different. I love driving muscle cars. I usually have one or more that are cruise worthy. I don't need to find an old classic for cruises because my summer car is a cruise meet head turner.

Unlike most new muscle car owners I also have the time to prep the car and go to cruises, know lots of people there and enjoy myself.

Anyways I'm just trying to explain how it seems most cruises are dominated by 55 to 65 year olds with classics, why new Muscle cars are just as welcome even though you don't see as many, and how I'm a cruise lover and fit in just as well as I would with a 68 Camaro.

One more thing. That Wendy's cruise in Tillsonburg is our favorite. I mentioned earlier about the layout on the grass field and all. The other reason is the amount of praise my car drew. Here we are with the only new car at classic car cruise and people are going nuts over my Camaro. Wanting to see the sticker, asking about which options to buy, everything. It was actually embarrassing at times.

Especially when you got thirty something couples coming over and telling us we got the coolest car there. We also had this old guy, must have been 80, wanting to know everything about my Camaro and telling me about the Camaros he bought new, "back in the day".

[Risquee]

Some good info! So do you bring all your car info to the meets?... you mentioned the sticker is why I ask.
I have never really detailed cars till I got this Camaro. I had a small arsenal of car care products, but since I bought this car I have probably spent close to $300.00 between Meguiar's products, cloths, mitts, and a DA polisher. The finish looked like hell when I got it from the dealer. I have clayed it once and tried to take some of the swirl marks out, but that was before I bought the polisher. I will have to redo the whole process again one day soon as it's still not right. It's a learning process. But my truck looks great now too!
My work schedule is a little messed up for a couple of weeks, but hopefully after that I can get out to a few of the other cruises through the week.

[Blacamaro]

Originally Posted by Risquee

Some good info! So do you bring all your car info to the meets?... you mentioned the sticker is why I ask.
I have never really detailed cars till I got this Camaro. I had a small arsenal of car care products, but since I bought this car I have probably spent close to $300.00 between Meguiar's products, cloths, mitts, and a DA polisher. The finish looked like hell when I got it from the dealer. I have clayed it once and tried to take some of the swirl marks out, but that was before I bought the polisher. I will have to redo the whole process again one day soon as it's still not right. It's a learning process. But my truck looks great now too!
My work schedule is a little messed up for a couple of weeks, but hopefully after that I can get out to a few of the other cruises through the week.

I get people asking about pricing and options so I show them the sticker which I keep in the glove box.

I haven't clayed it yet. I don't think it needs it yet. I think I bought it within a week or two of when it was made. The finish showed no signs of weather or contamination that you usually get on a black car sitting at the dealer.

I've been using Gold Class on it up until now, two coats so far in one month. I'm going to try and get a coat of that Next Gen polymer stuff on it soon, like maybe today. I think that stuff lasts longer although I don't think it'll be quite as deep as the Gold Class. That's fine because you can get your depth by using the Ultimate Quick Wax every chance you get applied on top of the polymer stuff.

I've got some swirls of course but they're mostly masked by the wax. I don't like to do any kind of buffing or polishing until a car dam well needs it. In other words wait until swirls are a real issue. Also my operation of daily washing and waxing as often as possible tends to buff out some swirls while creating new ones. A buff job will only last until first time I wet wipe it down to get the road dust of it at a cruise.

For cruise meets the car doesn't need to be perfect. Only clean and over all well detailed. So things like cleaning the inside of my rims and the door jams, making sure the interior is dust free, the tires are clean, and the thing is recently waxed and is deep black and glossy are much more important than things like lack of swirls that are important at a real car show.

[Blacamaro]

Tonight is the St. Thomas A&W cruise if anyone can make it. Starts around 5:30pm. You get a book of A&W coupons so you can eat there when you arrive. There's no Lions Club cruise tonight to split the crowd, should be good if the weather holds up.

[Blacamaro]

I'm taking a break between washing and waxing so I though I'd make a quick post.

We made it to Steve Plunkett's Country Cruising on Thursday. It was awesome. Cruising around here is another world from what it was when I first got heavy into it back in the late 80s.

Another all grass parkland cruise location. We even got a spot backed against the forest with shade. Huge turnout. Lot of space, it's on about a 5 acre golf course rolling hills setting with a pond up the middle of it.

We're hoping to check out Strathroy on Wednesday. Then we'll have the area pretty much covered as far as the larger cruises go. There's a cruise in Woodstock and several smaller ones in London we may get around to although they all conflict with our current favorites.

Anyways, off to try a coat of that Next Gen Tech wax/polymer in time for the St. Thomas A&W cruise.

The weather is fine, definitely cleared up. Hopefully it never rained in London scaring off those guys.

[Risquee]

Going to try to get to tonight's cruise. Just gave the car a quick wash, started to spit a little rain before I even got finished! Oh well..

[Blacamaro]

Originally Posted by Risquee

Going to try to get to tonight's cruise. Just gave the car a quick wash, started to spit a little rain before I even got finished! Oh well..

Hey, thanks for showing up. If possible we should park together when ever we are at the same cruise.

Obviously the St. Thomas A&W Cruise was a big success today. Well worth going to and lots of cars, especially for an informal small town thing.

If you like that sort of cruise meet atmosphere then you got to get to some of the big ones. At the bigger cruises we get non stop praise and interest in the car. Also after a while you get to know a lot of the people. These cruises can be a real social thing. That sort of round table of lawn chairs group in the center of the parking lot didn't go home until after ten pm tonight. Those people just live for the cruises in the summer. They'll be at Canadian Tire tomorrow and Plunkett's on Thursday in the same group.

See you again!

I'll make a post later about my on going cruise repertoire in case anyone is interested.

[Risquee]

It was a lot of fun! There is nothing better then having folks admire your car. It was good to have some newer cars in the mix as well. Not a great pic but at least I got us showing both our 5th gens in the mix. I work rotating shifts so I will miss a lot of the shows, but I'll get out as much as I can.

[Blacamaro]

The Sunday Canadian Tire cruise in London yesterday was a big success.

Lots of cars and lots of people. That guy, "Hollywood" was there with his giant pickup truck (a 4x4 transport truck with a pickup box on it).

I had the only 5th gen Camaro. There were lots of Mustangs and Challengers there. And the usual dominance of Classics and Antiques.

Most of the Cruise night die hards were there and I met a few new people.