OK, we admit it. We've got it good here in California. It's late November as we go to press, and we just hit six different cruises in four nights. Attending cruise nights is a time-honored tradition all over the U.S. of A, as evidenced by our "20 Hottest Cruise Spots" story in the July '97 issue. This time we wanted to concentrate on what's happening in our own backyard. All this past summer, we spent nights hanging out at the spots we show you here. As spring rolls around again, you can be sure that these weekly informal car shows will be as strong as ever. Even in the "off season" (with darkness falling by 5 p.m.) we were still able to attend all these places and get in plenty of bench racing and tech-tip spotting. Thinking about coming to SoCal sometime soon? Or do you already live here? If so, the most comprehensive source we've seen for listing weekly cruise nights is Miss Information's Automotive Calendar of Events. It lists nearly every automotive happening in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Think we were on cruise night overload with six spots in four nights? Well, Miss Information's "Just Cruisin'" column listed 102 weekly or monthly events in its Nov. '98 issue! You can subscribe by mailing 15 bucks to A.C.E., Dept. CC, 6475 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Ste. 375, Long Beach, CA 90803, or calling 562/799-1155. Tuesday Shoeboxes galore. We began our cruise night tour on a Tuesday evening at Boyer's Coffee in the Redondo Beach/Lawndale area. In the spring and summer months, this lot is packed with close to 200 tricked-out street machines, resto cars, street rods, and God knows what else. Listed in Miss Information's as the South Bay Cruise night, the parking lot is on the corner of Marine and Inglewood avenues right off the 405 freeway's Inglewood Avenue. offramp. Phone info on this cruise night can obtained at 310/335-2567.Shoeboxes galore. We began our cruise night tour on a Tuesday evening at Boyer's Coffee in A cup of hot java from Boyer's really hit the spot as we ogled the super-smooth panels of this '67 Chevelle.A cup of hot java from Boyer's really hit the spot as we ogled the super-smooth panels of Even in the early-evening darkness of fall, the Redondo event is worth checking out each Tuesday. Once daylight savings time hits, it's a gathering not to be missed.Even in the early-evening darkness of fall, the Redondo event is worth checking out each T Wednesday On Wednesday night, the Olive Garden restaurant in Downey's Stonewood shopping mall is usually packed with plenty of "kool kustoms." But we were diggin' this row of slick Mopar street machines and listened in as the owners sat in a group in front of their cars swapping speed secrets.On Wednesday night, the Olive Garden restaurant in Downey's Stonewood shopping mall is usu This Nova wagon with its TPI small-block power was in attendance at the Olive Garden. Its recent write-up in Hot Rod elevated its owner to hero status-well, almost.This Nova wagon with its TPI small-block power was in attendance at the Olive Garden. Its My brother (Mustang & Fords staffer Wayne Cook) and I did the cruise night tour in our beater '64 Fairlane. Here we're recovering from way too many breadsticks. If you want to have kool kustoms and breadstick overload on Wednesday evenings, the Olive Garden is on Firestone Blvd. in the city of Downey. Call 213/569-6672 for more info.My brother (Mustang & Fords staffer Wayne Cook) and I did the cruise night tour in our bea Also on Wednesdays, and less than a mile from the Olive Garden, is a cruise night at Frisco's drive-in (562/928-3663). In the summer months, this is the big one to attend for a midweek gearhead fix. The address is 12050 Woodruff Ave., in Downey.Also on Wednesdays, and less than a mile from the Olive Garden, is a cruise night at Frisc A regular at the Downey Frisco's is CC buddy Steve Hurst and his 12-second '86 Buick Regal Turbo T. With our 355 small-block Cheap Street Chevelle, we knew not to go pickin' on Steve. Now that we've got 502 power and a fistful of low 11-second timeslips, it's time for Steve to step up to the plate, wouldn't you say?A regular at the Downey Frisco's is CC buddy Steve Hurst and his 12-second '86 Buick Regal Thursday Fighting horrendous LA traffic, we got to Giovanni's Pizza in the La Habra/Fullerton area just as they were turning out the lights. However, we did get to see the trophy winner for the evening in the Best Ford category-a radical Pinto with 351C power. Now that's a real cruise night-one with trophies for winners in various categories. In the summer months, this cruise-in at the corner of Imperial Highway and Harbor Boulevard is arguably the best one in the L.A. area. The quality of the cars is top-notch, and they number more than 200 on warm evenings. You can get more info on this show by calling 562/690-9237.Fighting horrendous LA traffic, we got to Giovanni's Pizza in the La Habra/Fullerton area About 10 miles from Bob's, also on Friday evenings, Cruisers Car Wash holds its bash. You can see all the action by going to 8870 Tampa Ave., in the San Fernando Valley suburb of Northridge. In the summer, this place flat cranks with dozens and dozens of cool cars. Call 'em at 818/882-9274 for the skinny.About 10 miles from Bob's, also on Friday evenings, Cruisers Car Wash holds its bash. You Friday One of our favorite cruise nights is Bob's Big Boy in the Toluca Lake/Burbank area. Although its lot is on the smaller side, the variety of cars is amazing. Mustang & Fords staffer Cook was Jonesin' big time for this 428 Cobra Jet Torino basking under the Bob's neon sign. This Friday night shindig is located at 4211 Riverside Dr. in Toluca Lake. Call 818/843-9334 for more info.One of our favorite cruise nights is Bob's Big Boy in the Toluca Lake/Burbank area. Althou You want variety? Only at places like Bob's will you see resto Ford Model A's, solid-axle Vettes, street rods,...You want variety? Only at places like Bob's will you see resto Ford Model A's, solid-axle ...El Caminos, and highboy roadsters all in one place. I was in gearhead heaven at Cruisers with righteous examples of my two favorite cars-in my favorite years no less! The '65 Mustang fastback had way-nasty TFS-headed 351W power, and the '67 Vette ragtop was top-drawer with its 427/435hp fat-block.I was in gearhead heaven at Cruisers with righteous examples of my two favorite cars-in my By Miles Cook Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
