Riverside Cruise 6th April 2004

The Riverside Cruise kicks off in fine, if chilly, style this year a month earlier than normal to fit in with the rest of the National Street Car Challenge (NSCC) points scoring cruise calendar that runs from April to September.

A few engine repairs and upgrades over the winter meant that the Riverside Cruise was only the second time in about six months that the car had turned a wheel in anger although the drive to McDonalds was uneventful with the car “running like a dollar watch”.  Arriving at about 7:45pm, we unsurprisingly found that the cr*ppy weather had kept numbers down but it was still a good turnout considering.

This month’s cruise venue was The Crown in Sedgley (the cruise was there last August) and soon everyone was getting ready to roll ……… except us.   After spinning the starter it was obvious we had lost fire and going nowhere fast.  The problem was fairly quickly traced to the fact that the plug lead had come off number 5, coupled with, I think, a bit of fuel starvation.  Many thanks to Barry Woodford for hanging back to make sure we were OK and Dave Sidaway for leaping over to help out.

The only rain of the night fell while we were on the way to the pub and we almost caught up with the rest of the convoy, pulling on to the car park pretty much the last to arrive.  Although we had seen the last of the rain, it remained a tad on the brisk side all evening, which eventually forced all but the most hardy to the sanctuary of the lounge bar. 

‘Bout time we had some pictures then…

A 74/75 Formula 400 Pontiac Firebird brought back some memories.  My current partners in crime and I had one of these in the mid 1980s and it was to be our first “doorslammer” drag racer.  Predictably, we never finished it.

VW powered metal-flaked trike proved to be the most al fresco mode of transport that turned up.  Good job the rider (driver?) was well togged up for the elements.

During one of my first conversations last year with Bracket Race Superstar ™ Al Williamson, he said his Chevy truck had the Pro-Street look but didn’t have the performance to match.  Well, that has certainly changed, a further series of engine mods carried out over the Winter will see Al duking it out with the NSCC big dogs.

A consistent performer in the NSCC, Keef Bryant in his Pop is at it again this year!

Small block Chevy power resulted in an “enthusiastic” departure from the cruise for this pick-up.

 

 Lisa Stokes’ magazine featured pick-up truck makes another regular Riverside appearance.

 

The evening drew to a close towards kicking out time, at which point most people had either already made a move or were on their way.  We fired up OK (phew!) and headed for home.

 

The 2004 season and the National Street Car Challenge is underway … join us next month when the Riverside Cruise visits The Longhorn (ooh err missus) in Walsall.

Cheers
Chris

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