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In addition to antique cars, American-made sports cars from any era are welcome at the 2011 Blue Suede Cruise in Tupelo. (Deste Lee)
Nearly 300 people are pre-registered to bring cars to the 2011 Blue Suede Cruise in Tupelo. People also will be able to register at the Tupelo Automobile Museum on Friday and Saturday. (C. Todd Sherman)
“I love it when young people come and an older person starts talking to them,” said Allen McDaniel, director of the Tupelo Blue Suede Cruise. “It’s a time for storytelling.” (FILE PHOTO BY
C. TODD SHERMAN)
“It’s our ninth cruise. Can you believe that?” said Allen McDaniel, cruise director.
But he’s not nostalgic about the early 2000s. The Tupelo Blue Suede Cruise aims for the ‘50s and ‘60s, when Baby Boomers took the keys and hit the road.
“The Baby Boomers grew up with cars,” McDaniel said. “They just never got out of our blood.”
Those old Chevys, Fords and Chryslers have become American icons, and you’ll see hundreds of them on Tupelo roads this weekend.
“The parade is a fun deal. We’ll have a classic car parade on Saturday morning. It starts at 9 a.m. and goes from the Malco down Gloster, then on Main to the BancorpSouth Arena,” McDaniel said. “It’s a sight to see all those cars lined up together.”
Tunes of the times
At the arena parking lot, King of the Oldies will spin a variety of music that you’ll probably recognize.
“It’ll be music from the ‘50s and ‘60s, even some from the ‘70s. You can look out into the crowd and see people singing along to the music,” McDaniel said. “Those songs are deeply ingrained.”
The Gents will perform at 5:30 p.m. Friday, followed by The Fabulous Hubcaps at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, Rubber Soul, a Beatles
tribute band, will play at 5:30 p.m. The Fabulous Hubcaps will perform a different set at 7:30 p.m. Saturday
“All of the music is free,” McDaniel said. “They don’t have to pay a thing, but we’ll have plenty of good food for sale.”
It’s $45 to register a car, and it’ll cost $5 to attend the swap meet and car auction. As always, it’s free to anyone who wants to walk around, check out the cars and bask in the Baby Boomer vibe.
“It’s a getaway from the rest of the world,” McDaniel said. “There’s going to be good music, a lot of nice, old cars and friendly people. What could be better?”
Contact M. Scott Morris at (662) 678-1589 or scott.morris@journalinc.com.