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13th Annual Endless Summer Cruisin', Ocean City, Maryland - Wild In The StreetsFrom the April, 2011 issue of Camaro Performers By Chuck Vranas Photography by Chuck Vranas
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There are very few venues in the country where you can enjoy a wicked combination of manicured beaches, killer surf, and a boardwalk that stretches for miles. It takes you back to simpler days when arcades and amusement park rides ruled. Now imagine an adjacent car show with a stunning array of some of the hottest rides in the East and you have one of the most magic venues in the country. . . welcome to Endless Summer Cruisin.' For four days every fall, one of the most bitchin' ways to wrap up the car show season takes place in the quaint seaside community of Ocean City, Maryland, where car owners are treated to a massive beachfront horsepower fest. Once you check in at registration, it's off to the epicenter of the event festivities taking place at "the inlet." As you get settled, there's plenty to check out including a diverse and well-designed manufacturers row with plenty of new and dynamic products being showcased. Walking through the show field it was evident this was a very Camaro-friendly event with all generations being well represented. It showcased a variety of build styles with everything from immaculate restorations, to Pro Touring, and wild Pro Street beasts setting the scene. Every year the promoters turn up the fun meter by also having special guests appear. This year there were deep lines to meet and greet Marion Ross (known for her TV personality Mrs. "C" in Happy Days) and Lee Reherman who is host of Speed TV's "Battle of the Super Cars." Fun City indeed! One of the... Fun City indeed! One of the many exciting aspects of the show allows car owners the rare opportunity to participate in an early morning cruise down the boardwalk as they are cheered on by countless well-wishers. Early risers have a chance to participate in one of three exciting boardwalk cruises, which take place on Thursday through Saturday mornings. Greeted by cheering crowds, it's the only opportunity you'll ever have to say that you motored down the historic boards. The inlet has a capacity of 1,500 cars, which fills up quickly, but thanks to the array of other fun shows along the strip throughout the weekend, there's always a chance to find a parking spot. Pacing yourself is the key to this event as there is just so much to take in. After stopping to grab a bite and refueling your ride, there are plenty of other gatherings to check out: Harley Davidson of Ocean City, Hooters, Phillip's Crab House, and Crab Alley, to mention but a few. Even though the inlet closes at 5 p.m. daily, as dusk falls the strip comes alive with the sounds of nasty V-8's snarling from light to light 'till the wee morning hours. Where else would you have the chance to see Rod and Tina Saboury's '63 Corvette packed with a twin-turbo 2,200hp small-block motoring alongside an injected Alky-fed first-generation Camaro? Talk about wild in the streets! By the time Sunday rolls around, its time for the legendary awards program to kick into full gear with countless trophies and prizes being awarded. This is an event where thousands of visitors stop in to check out the amazing display of hot rod madness throughout the weekend. Next year's show is guaranteed to sell out well in advance, so plan ahead as you won't want to miss it! Check it all out at www.specialeventpro.com  Brett Stevens '69 Z/28 RS...  Brett Stevens '69 Z/28 RS was just plain wicked with its perfect stance, immaculate PPG Red Jewel vibe, and 582ci Shafiroff-built big-block V-8 lurking under the hood.  Some cars leave you breathless,...  Some cars leave you breathless, like Rose Long's Grotto Blue Yenko clone with its amazing attention to detail including a fire-breathing 427ci V-8 linked to a four-speed.  Doug Crouse has raced his...  Doug Crouse has raced his '67 RS for the last 33 years on the quarter-mile. Recently converted for street use, it features an 11-inch engine set-back, full tube chassis, and a 434ci small-block topped with an Enderle injection. Running Alky, the car gets down the quarter-mile in 8.70 seconds!  It was killer to see this...  It was killer to see this trio of first-gens pull into the inlet after completing the boardwalk cruise. From left to right, they belong to Burt Cohen, Rose Long, and Rick McConnell.  Orlando Rat Pack member TJ...  Orlando Rat Pack member TJ Carraway's '81 Z28 was running Alky on the street feeding a 481ci big-block topped with a BDS 14-71 huffer, sucking air through an Enderle injection. The combination gets TJ through the quarter-mile in 9.30 seconds.  Sporting a great look, Chris...  Sporting a great look, Chris Hardisty's '99 Camaro is coated in decadent deep blue gloss with flowing flames complimented by an SLP cold air intake, and Fikse wheels capped with Sumitomo skins.  Pro Street rules in Ocean...  Pro Street rules in Ocean City. Denny Sneath's Viper Red '69 Yenko clone packs huge Hoosiers out back catching action from a built 355ci mouse topped with Iron Eagle aluminum heads, Dart intake, and a 1050 Holley Dominator carb.  Joe Nax's '69 Camaro SS (featured...  Joe Nax's '69 Camaro SS (featured in the September '09 issue of Camaro Performers) still looked bitchin' with its 540ci rat motor channeling power through a Tremec five-speed to spin the American Racing five-spokes.  Loaded with style, Frank Pusey's...  Loaded with style, Frank Pusey's '02 silver metallic Z28 featured a gray leather interior, aggressive stance, Verde wheels, and Nitto rubber.  Some cars have badass written...  Some cars have badass written all over them. Such was the case with Chuck Knight's 8-second SS packed with a 421ci mill built by Andy Jensen and filled with 14.5:1 slugs, and Lunati crank and rods. The beast sits on a full-tube chassis and rolls on Weld wheels.  There were plenty of restored...  There were plenty of restored classics on hand like Janice Waltjen's stunning '69 Cortez Silver Z/28 with its numbers-matching 302 V-8 still in place.  The popularity of fifth-generation...  The popularity of fifth-generation Camaros was evident throughout the weekend with countless examples like Gareth and Jamie Buchnoltz's Inferno Orange '10 SS in attendance.  Massive Hoosier rear skins...  Massive Hoosier rear skins harness the power from a 6-71 BDS blown 355ci small-block nailed to the 'rails of Jim Mumpower's '69 Hugger Orange Z/28.  Earl Goff is the lucky second...  Earl Goff is the lucky second owner of this neat numbers-matching Burnished Brown '69 Z/28. He's had it since 1973 when the car's previous owner traded it in for a new AMC Gremlin.  A heavy dose of Pro Street...  A heavy dose of Pro Street came from Orlando Rat Pack member Ken Paparella's '71 RS coated in Ferrari Yellow rolling big Mickey's out back while a BDS 8-71-urged 502ci big-block generates power.  We caught Tim Phelan at the...  We caught Tim Phelan at the crack of dawn cruising to the inlet in his nasty 509ci-urged Pro Street '70 Z28, sucking fuel through a Holley 850 carb, and spinning Weld Drag Stars.  A tasty combination of Harvest...  A tasty combination of Harvest Gold metallic and black gave Burt Cohen's '67 RS plenty of personality accented by Coys wheels shod with Kuhmo rubber.  Augustus Scardina's '78 Z28...  Augustus Scardina's '78 Z28 was laced with factory muscle motivated by a four-speed for some extra fun factor.  John Merwitz nailed the look...  John Merwitz nailed the look with his '68 white SS rolling on Foose wheels while motivation comes from a 383ci stroked small-block.  Rolling on Billet Specialties...  Rolling on Billet Specialties wheels and filled with 502ci big-block power, Rick McConnell's '68 RS was a real head-turner with its immaculate deep maroon paint. Master Blasters
The roar of hot mills echoed through the inlet all weekend long as a wild combination of injected, blown, and nitrous-fed V-8's made their presence known as they burned everything from CAM-2 to Alky on the street.
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