Cruise night representin'

**FishtailnZ** · 06-11-2007

With the warm weather finally arrived, organized cruise nights with local clubs have started again and it's one night I try to treat myself too each week, as work (and she-who-must-be-catered-to

) permits. The evening usually begins with clubs meeting up at various designated sites to shoot the $hit for awhile and just hang out with like-minded car nuts and admire all the different rides. It's a relatively small area I live in, so the few clubs around are made up of all makes and eras of cars. Being an ex-Firebird owner, I usually hang out with friends I made there over the years of owning that car. After a couple hours of sitting and yakking and a few short jaunts around town, some people call it a night and head home...while others hang on into the wee hours and wait for a little more action of a different kind

.

Being such an awesome night weather wise - great top down driving ( there's something about driving top down on a beautiful clear warm night that just can't be matched during the day) I decided to stick it out too. Those of us still around headed out along our usual route, through deserted streets across town to have a little fun. Nice wide 4 lane roads with a few traffic lights along the way to pump up the action and set the mood. A long line of gleaming iron with the deep burbling tone of (mostly) V8 muscle, barely restrained, for background music making it's way through the warm spring night - well there's times you just say to yourself "life is good"!

The SLK55 has gotten a lot of compliments among this group since I picked it up and it was itching to stretch it's legs a little. There was a Paxton S/C'd 5.0 Mustang along with us that I was slicing and dicing with a little on the way across town - nothing serious just some posturing really. But then, just before our destination we caught a red light side by side on a nice stretch, fours lanes wide, leading slightly uphill and we both looked over at each other and grinned. ESP off (always drive it that way anyway *L*), tap down to 1st gear in "S" mode (so it'll stay in 1st and not bump up to 2nd if I get too much wheel spin and have to get off/on the gas again).

Light goes yellow in the cross lane, absolutely no other traffic aound, I can hear the 5.0 start to bring up the revs and heart pounding, the light goes GREEN. Half throttle to get moving and then I WALK on it - a little wheel spin, but nothing serious and then the SLK with a roar from the quad pipes (LOVE the sound with the top down!) as the 5.4 V8 at full song squats and is GONE! Now I fully expect this S/C'd Mustang (he runs quicker ET's than me at the track...on sticky tires << my ace in the hole here as he was now on regular street tires) to leave me sucking dust, but didn't happen! I get a good jump on him off the line as he spun big time and had to peddle it. I could hear the screaming whine from the supercharged 5.0 as he finallty hooked and clawed his way back to my rear fender. I thought awww now it's over...but it still didn't happen! With each shift he would fall back a little further and then hold, but with the SLK snapping off clean redline shifts in each gear I had the advantage there too it seemed.

Took it deep into 4th gear and with a turn approaching and a car's lead over the Mustang, he backed off and moved over behind me. From that point we just cruised in peace to the next hangout not far up the road. "Holy ****, what's IN that thing" were his first words when we got out LOL!

Awwwwwww summer is back!!!!

**Cruzer 8** · 06-11-2007

Ah memories up J street down K stop at Mels Drivein shoot the breeze then out to three lanes ( an abondand runway ) to see who was fibbing --- poodle skirts rolled-up levis with cigs in the tee shirt sleeve --- $4.00 of gas for all weekend ----- thanks for the memories

**FishtailnZ** · 06-11-2007

Things really haven't changed all that much around my area LOL!

**dsb** · 06-11-2007

Good story. Thanks for sharing. Feels good eh?

412driver · 06-11-2007

Take pictures, as I have gotten older those memories have faded. I think we did that same thing when I was young....

Hangin at the "Whistlin Pig drive inn" bein cool luukin at cars an gurls an fightin Marines an runnin from the law an sneekin in tha house at 4am, me no I never did that....

Tslick · 06-11-2007

It's always good to joust with friends.

**Cruzer 8** · 06-11-2007

Man they sure have here Cruising is against the law and don't get caught revving the engine exhibition of speed ticket.
I still think some of the small towns allow a little but most things here are planned and heavily patrolled
Modesto the town that American Graffiti was based on still has organized events
But the spontaneous get gatherings drive-ins resturants and slow crusing and stoppin to talk are long gone

Tslick · 06-11-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruzer 7

Man they sure have here Cruising is against the law and don't get caught revving the engine exhibition of speed ticket...

That's a drag Gene, cruising being against the law is unforgivable.... sad.

**FishtailnZ** · 06-11-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsb

Good story. Thanks for sharing. Feels good eh?

Yup!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 412driver

Take pictures, as I have gotten older those memories have faded. I think we did that same thing when I was young....

Hangin at the "Whistlin Pig drive inn" bein cool luukin at cars an gurls an fightin Marines an runnin from the law an sneekin in tha house at 4am, me no I never did that....

LOL! Not from last night, but from another cruise...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tslick

It's always good to joust with friends.

That's what makes it work...we all know each other, and while we rib each other pretty good at times, there's no ego involved. It's all in fun.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruzer 7

Man they sure have here Cruising is against the law and don't get caught revving the engine exhibition of speed ticket.
I still think some of the small towns allow a little but most things here are planned and heavily patrolled
Modesto the town that American Graffiti was based on still has organized events
But the spontaneous get gatherings drive-ins resturants and slow crusing and stoppin to talk are long gone

Well that's sucks! It was the whole cruise scene that really got me hooked on wanting a nice car years back. And it still holds true today! We have had some issues over the years, but for the most part we're left alone to do our thing.

**alroumi** · 06-12-2007

Nice kill mate!, 5.0 S/C Lx's or GT's are quiet fast but you killed it.

**FishtailnZ** · 06-13-2007

It's a relatively tame 5.0 build - low boost S/C and some supporting mods. I know there are other 5.0's around my area that run in the 10s and 11s - I stay away from those LOL!

**alroumi** · 06-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by FishtailnZ

It's a relatively tame 5.0 build - low boost S/C and some supporting mods. I know there are other 5.0's around my area that run in the 10s and 11s - I stay away from those LOL!

Yeah, very mod friendly car! Wish our headers were 500 bucks

412driver · 06-13-2007

My memory is cumming back,,,

Yep, been thar, done thet...

:co nfused: Wait am I in that pitur???

**FishtailnZ** · 06-15-2007

You're just out of the pic on the left Doug...by a couple thousand miles or so!

Some pics from early last night at a local A&W...

**FishtailnZ** · 06-15-2007

A couple more...

**alroumi** · 06-15-2007

Caspian Blue is looking mean with those cars!

412driver · 06-15-2007

Nice group.... That is a fun evening...A&W Root Beer in a frosted mug uuummmmm. Add cars an heaven is jus around tha corner,,,,,,,,,,,,In a boat.........Caint stop thinkin about that boat...

**FishtailnZ** · 06-15-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by alroumi

Caspian Blue is looking mean with those cars!

The colour gets as many comments as the car itself *L*...unfortunately the camera just can't capture the way it moves from blue to green and back again as you walk around the car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 412driver

Nice group.... That is a fun evening...A&W Root Beer in a frosted mug uuummmmm. Add cars an heaven is jus around tha corner,,,,,,,,,,,,In a boat.........Caint stop thinkin about that boat...

Too bad they don't have the A&W girls in short shorts on roller skates anymore Doug...but I'm sure you could arange for that and more on a boat!

06-11-2007	#1 (permalink)
FishtailnZ Don't feed the trolls... Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nfld., Canada Other Toys: Wife, kids, dogs... Posts: 1,490 Country: Thanks: 285 Thanked 211 Times in 94 Posts	Cruise night representin' With the warm weather finally arrived, organized cruise nights with local clubs have started again and it's one night I try to treat myself too each week, as work (and she-who-must-be-catered-to ) permits. The evening usually begins with clubs meeting up at various designated sites to shoot the $hit for awhile and just hang out with like-minded car nuts and admire all the different rides. It's a relatively small area I live in, so the few clubs around are made up of all makes and eras of cars. Being an ex-Firebird owner, I usually hang out with friends I made there over the years of owning that car. After a couple hours of sitting and yakking and a few short jaunts around town, some people call it a night and head home...while others hang on into the wee hours and wait for a little more action of a different kind . Being such an awesome night weather wise - great top down driving ( there's something about driving top down on a beautiful clear warm night that just can't be matched during the day) I decided to stick it out too. Those of us still around headed out along our usual route, through deserted streets across town to have a little fun. Nice wide 4 lane roads with a few traffic lights along the way to pump up the action and set the mood. A long line of gleaming iron with the deep burbling tone of (mostly) V8 muscle, barely restrained, for background music making it's way through the warm spring night - well there's times you just say to yourself "life is good"! The SLK55 has gotten a lot of compliments among this group since I picked it up and it was itching to stretch it's legs a little. There was a Paxton S/C'd 5.0 Mustang along with us that I was slicing and dicing with a little on the way across town - nothing serious just some posturing really. But then, just before our destination we caught a red light side by side on a nice stretch, fours lanes wide, leading slightly uphill and we both looked over at each other and grinned. ESP off (always drive it that way anyway L), tap down to 1st gear in "S" mode (so it'll stay in 1st and not bump up to 2nd if I get too much wheel spin and have to get off/on the gas again). Light goes yellow in the cross lane, absolutely no other traffic aound, I can hear the 5.0 start to bring up the revs and heart pounding, the light goes GREEN. Half throttle to get moving and then I WALK on it - a little wheel spin, but nothing serious and then the SLK with a roar from the quad pipes (LOVE the sound with the top down!) as the 5.4 V8 at full song squats and is GONE! Now I fully expect this S/C'd Mustang (he runs quicker ET's than me at the track...on sticky tires << my ace in the hole here as he was now on regular street tires) to leave me sucking dust, but didn't happen! I get a good jump on him off the line as he spun big time and had to peddle it. I could hear the screaming whine from the supercharged 5.0 as he finallty hooked and clawed his way back to my rear fender. I thought awww now it's over...but it still didn't happen! With each shift he would fall back a little further and then hold, but with the SLK snapping off clean redline shifts in each gear I had the advantage there too it seemed. Took it deep into 4th gear and with a turn approaching and a car's lead over the Mustang, he backed off and moved over behind me. From that point we just cruised in peace to the next hangout not far up the road. "Holy ***, what's IN that thing" were his first words when we got out LOL! Awwwwwww summer is back!!!! __________________ - Bill* Waiting on a 2009 C63 Opal Fire Red/Alpaca Grey R.I.P. 2006 SLK55 Caspian Blue/Beige Stock 1/4 mile results: ET 12.72, trap 110.80, 60' 1.80 Some guys they just give up living and start dying little by little, piece by piece. Some guys come home from work and wash up and go racin' in the street... - B. Springsteen

06-11-2007	#2 (permalink)
Cruzer 8 Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Vehicle: 07 SL 550 Mars Red Posts: 572 Country: Thanks: 31 Thanked 57 Times in 27 Posts	Ah memories up J street down K stop at Mels Drivein shoot the breeze then out to three lanes ( an abondand runway ) to see who was fibbing --- poodle skirts rolled-up levis with cigs in the tee shirt sleeve --- $4.00 of gas for all weekend ----- thanks for the memories __________________ GENE ---- See My Pic's To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.* SL 550 Mars Red

06-11-2007	#3 (permalink)
FishtailnZ Don't feed the trolls... Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nfld., Canada Other Toys: Wife, kids, dogs... Posts: 1,490 Country: Thanks: 285 Thanked 211 Times in 94 Posts	Things really haven't changed all that much around my area LOL! __________________ - Bill Waiting on a 2009 C63 Opal Fire Red/Alpaca Grey R.I.P. 2006 SLK55 Caspian Blue/Beige Stock 1/4 mile results: ET 12.72, trap 110.80, 60' 1.80 Some guys they just give up living and start dying little by little, piece by piece. Some guys come home from work and wash up and go racin' in the street... - B. Springsteen

06-11-2007	#4 (permalink)
dsb Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NorCal Vehicle: '06 slk55 Posts: 1,176 Country: Thanks: 67 Thanked 120 Times in 42 Posts	Good story. Thanks for sharing. Feels good eh? __________________ SOLD! 06 Mercedes Benz SLK55 Caspian Blue / Black & Ash *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.*

06-11-2007	#7 (permalink)
Cruzer 8 Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Vehicle: 07 SL 550 Mars Red Posts: 572 Country: Thanks: 31 Thanked 57 Times in 27 Posts	Man they sure have here Cruising is against the law and don't get caught revving the engine exhibition of speed ticket. I still think some of the small towns allow a little but most things here are planned and heavily patrolled Modesto the town that American Graffiti was based on still has organized events But the spontaneous get gatherings drive-ins resturants and slow crusing and stoppin to talk are long gone __________________ GENE ---- See My Pic's To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.* SL 550 Mars Red

06-11-2007	#5 (permalink)
412driver Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Salisbury North Carolina USA Vehicle: 99 SLK230 Other Toys: TOO MANY TOYS Posts: 1,010 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Take pictures, as I have gotten older those memories have faded. I think we did that same thing when I was young.... Hangin at the "Whistlin Pig drive inn" bein cool luukin at cars an gurls an fightin Marines an runnin from the law an sneekin in tha house at 4am, me no I never did that....

06-11-2007	#6 (permalink)
Tslick Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Long Beach, Ca Vehicle: SLK32 AMG Posts: 1,326 Country: Thanks: 74 Thanked 56 Times in 29 Posts	It's always good to joust with friends.

06-12-2007	#10 (permalink)
alroumi Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait Vehicle: 2006 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 2007 Ebony Jaguar XKR Coupe' and 06 Black Cayenne S Posts: 6,271 Country: Thanks: 288 Thanked 231 Times in 145 Posts	Nice kill mate!, 5.0 S/C Lx's or GT's are quiet fast but you killed it. __________________ 06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG 06 Porsche Cayenne S 07 Jaguar XKR Coupe' I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

06-13-2007	#11 (permalink)
FishtailnZ Don't feed the trolls... Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nfld., Canada Other Toys: Wife, kids, dogs... Posts: 1,490 Country: Thanks: 285 Thanked 211 Times in 94 Posts	It's a relatively tame 5.0 build - low boost S/C and some supporting mods. I know there are other 5.0's around my area that run in the 10s and 11s - I stay away from those LOL! __________________ - Bill Waiting on a 2009 C63 Opal Fire Red/Alpaca Grey R.I.P. 2006 SLK55 Caspian Blue/Beige Stock 1/4 mile results: ET 12.72, trap 110.80, 60' 1.80 Some guys they just give up living and start dying little by little, piece by piece. Some guys come home from work and wash up and go racin' in the street... - B. Springsteen

06-13-2007	#13 (permalink)
412driver Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Salisbury North Carolina USA Vehicle: 99 SLK230 Other Toys: TOO MANY TOYS Posts: 1,010 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My memory is cumming back,,, Yep, been thar, done thet...:co nfused: Wait am I in that pitur???

06-15-2007	#14 (permalink)
FishtailnZ Don't feed the trolls... Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nfld., Canada Other Toys: Wife, kids, dogs... Posts: 1,490 Country: Thanks: 285 Thanked 211 Times in 94 Posts	You're just out of the pic on the left Doug...by a couple thousand miles or so! Some pics from early last night at a local A&W... __________________ - Bill Waiting on a 2009 C63 Opal Fire Red/Alpaca Grey R.I.P. 2006 SLK55 Caspian Blue/Beige Stock 1/4 mile results: ET 12.72, trap 110.80, 60' 1.80 Some guys they just give up living and start dying little by little, piece by piece. Some guys come home from work and wash up and go racin' in the street... - B. Springsteen

06-15-2007	#15 (permalink)
FishtailnZ Don't feed the trolls... Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nfld., Canada Other Toys: Wife, kids, dogs... Posts: 1,490 Country: Thanks: 285 Thanked 211 Times in 94 Posts	A couple more... __________________ - Bill Waiting on a 2009 C63 Opal Fire Red/Alpaca Grey R.I.P. 2006 SLK55 Caspian Blue/Beige Stock 1/4 mile results: ET 12.72, trap 110.80, 60' 1.80 Some guys they just give up living and start dying little by little, piece by piece. Some guys come home from work and wash up and go racin' in the street... - B. Springsteen

06-15-2007	#16 (permalink)
alroumi Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait Vehicle: 2006 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 2007 Ebony Jaguar XKR Coupe' and 06 Black Cayenne S Posts: 6,271 Country: Thanks: 288 Thanked 231 Times in 145 Posts	Caspian Blue is looking mean with those cars! __________________ 06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG 06 Porsche Cayenne S 07 Jaguar XKR Coupe' I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

06-15-2007	#17 (permalink)
412driver Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Salisbury North Carolina USA Vehicle: 99 SLK230 Other Toys: TOO MANY TOYS Posts: 1,010 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nice group.... That is a fun evening...A&W Root Beer in a frosted mug uuummmmm. Add cars an heaven is jus around tha corner,,,,,,,,,,,,In a boat.........Caint stop thinkin about that boat...