Crisfield Wheels on the Waterfront Classic Car Cruise-in

Salisbury Wheels That Heal Car Club

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Ol' 55

by Tom Waits

Well, my time went so quickly
I went lickety-splitly out to my ol' fifty-five
As I pulled away slowly, feelin' so holy
God knows I was feelin' alive,

Now the sun's comin' up, I'm ridin' with Lady Luck
Freeway cars and trucks
Stars beginnin' to fade, and I lead the parade
Just a-wishin' I'd stayed a little longer
Oh Lord, let me tell you that the feeling gettin' stronger,

And it's six in the mornin'
Gave me no warnin', I had to be on my way
Well, there's trucks all a-passin' me, and the lights all a-flashin'
I'm on my way home from your place,

And now the sun's comin' up, I'm ridin' with Lady Luck
Freeway cars and trucks
Stars beginnin' to fade, and I lead the parade
Just a-wishin' I'd stayed a little longer
Oh Lord, let me tell you the feeling gettin' stronger,

And my time went so quickly
I went lickety-splitly out to my ol' fifty-five
As I pulled away slowly, feelin' so holy
God knows I was feelin' alive,

And now the sun's comin' up, I'm ridin' with Lady Luck

Freeway cars and trucks...
 _______________________________________

I love Tom Waits. He has a way with burning images into your mind with his songs, the way a good photograph sticks in your head. This has always been one of my favorite songs by Waits, along with "Looking for the Heart of Saturday Night", that you will find at the end of this post. I found both songs fit this post perfectly.

I hope you enjoy these photos from Crisfield's 3rd annual "Wheels on the Waterfront" car show. It has grown bigger each year, and this year over 150 cars, many which made me pine for my youthful days when guys wore peg-legged pants, leather jackets, and white tees - always with a pack of cigarettes rolled up in one sleeve, and girls wore poodle skirts, tight sweaters, and saddle shoes with white socks.

Thanks to John Tawes of Tawes Oil and Blue Crab Crossing (you too, Jenny), the Crisfield Chamber of Commerce, Tawes Brothers Buick and GMC dealer., DJ Adam Riggin, and members of of the Crisfield Fire Department, as well as county and city law-enforcement officials. A big thanks to the Salisbury Wheels That Heal Car Club for donating 50% of the proceeds to the Crisfield Volunteer Department and for helping to bring all those bright shiny cars to our lovely town.

I also want to thank the following businesses for providing the food for the "Taste of Crisfield" sampler box to participants. It looked delicious: Blue Crab Garden Cafe, Captain's Carry-Out, Delmarvalous Cakes,  Food Lion (Crisfield), Gordon's Confectionery, Ice Cream Gallery, Kim's Cakes, Maho's Restaurant,  Olde Crisfield Crab and Steak House, Pizza Shoppe,  Sweet Shop, The Cove Restaurant,  and Waterman's Inn. When you are visiting Crisfield, give these folks some business.

Now put your walking shoes on and let's see some cars...

Let's start from the beginning.

I've always wanted one of these.

And one of these.

Visitors check out the map near the city dock. We love visitors.

I'll take two of these. Hey, one is for sale!

All you "classic" racing fans know what this is.You can read about it in the August 11, edition of the Crisfield-Somerset County Times. That's our weekly newspaper. I love small town weeklies.

I was going to move in on this but decided to get the photographer in the photo.

You will see more of this car. It is a 1965 Ford Custom 2-door Sedan that belonged to the Special Operation's Division of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department. The vehicle was retrieved from the 3rd floor of the N.W, Metro Police garage in 1972, where it had been neglected for years. In 1973, it was auction off to Robert Hathaway who began restoration on it in 1992. The vehicle was part of the 56th Presidential Inauguration parade.

I miss my old VW's.

Visitors, as well as those who entered their cars in the event, enjoyed watching the boats coming and going from the Crisfield City dock.

DJ Adam Riggin took us back to the good old days with his music. I should have brought a white tee for him to wear.

I love a bake sale.

That black car looks familiar. In high school, I spent a good deal of time in the back seat of a car that looks just like that one. It was at the drive-in movies, the Glenwood Drive-in to be exact, on hot Georgia summer nights with some guy named Benny. Benny loved his car more than me. Is that you, Benny?

I love bright shiny things.

A fully restored 1967 Cushman Truckster. Keith did the work himself. Perfect for getting around in Crisfield.

City Councilman Raymond Anderson checks out a truck/car (?). Pretty neat.

 Some of the food that went into the lunch boxes.

Mini crab-cakes. Yum!

Gotta keep those cars polished.

I have to add these ladies who came to Crisfield from Salisbury to celebrate a birthday. The lady pictured in purple turned 30.  Thanks for celebrating your birthday in Crisfield. Happy 30th!

John Phoebus with two beauties.

One of the girls wanted to pose with John and her new car. 

Let's see what's on the menu.

Mayor P.J. Purnell chats with friends.

Afterwards, I had to pose him in front of the police car.

A Harley cruises by.

This visitor took my picture. I don't have a 409 under my hood but I can still rev up my engine.

Back to the police car - an inside look. Overhead you can see the type gun they carried and where they carried it. Gun was not loaded and had that red-tip thingie on the end.

The old radar gun goes up. 

The gun.

I love purple!

Registration booth, which should have been at the top of the post.

I love our friendly law-enforcement officials.

 A few "panning" photos for you. 

I hope you enjoyed our car show. We hope to see an even bigger turnout next year!

Oh, after the car show visitors were treated to a movie on the dock, one of the many we have during the summer months. Nothing like a movie in the open-air. When the sun sets people crowd the dock, bringing their chairs, blankets, and snacks. "It's not dark yet, but it's gettin there." ~ Bob Dylan

The Heart of Saturday Night

by Tom Waits

Well, you gassed her up, behind the wheel
With your arm around your sweet one in your Oldsmobile
Barrelin' down the boulevard
You're lookin' for the heart of Saturday night.

And you got paid on Friday, your pockets are jinglin'
Then you see the lights and you get all tinglin'
Cause you're cruisin' with a six(2)
You're lookin' for the heart of Saturday night.

Then you comb your hair, you shave your face
Tryin' to wipe out every trace
Of all the other days in the week
You know that this'll be the Saturday you're reachin' your peak.

Stoppin' on the red, you're goin' on the green
Cause tonight'll be like nothin' you've ever seen
And you're barrelin' down the boulevard
You're lookin' for the heart of Saturday night.

Tell me, is it the crack of the poolballs, neon buzzin'
Telephone's ringin', it's your second cousin
Is it the barmaid that's smilin' from the corner of her eye
Magic of the melancholy tear in your eye.

Makes it kind of quiver down in the core
Cause you're dreamin' of them Saturdays that came before
And now you're stumblin'
You're stumblin' onto the heart of Saturday night.

You gassed her up and you're behind the wheel
With your arm around your sweet one in your Oldsmobile
Barrelin' down the boulevard
You're lookin' for the heart of Saturday night.

Is it the crack of the poolballs, neon buzzin'
Telephone's ringin', it's your second cousin
And the barmaid is smilin' from the corner of her eye
Magic of the melancholy tear in your eye.

Makes it kind of special down in the core
And you're dreamin' of them Saturdays that came before
It's found you stumblin'
Stumblin' onto the heart of Saturday night.

And you're stumblin'
Stumblin' onto the heart of Saturday night.

You can find the "heart of Saturday night" anytime in Crisfield. And remember, you're never too old to gas up the car, get behind the wheel, and put your arm around your "sweet one" and cruise the boulevard.

See you next year!