Pee Dee Run To The Sun 3/17/11

Car Enthusiasts come in all shapes and sizes. Having spent the last few weeks traveling quite a bit (at least, more than I'm used to) to cover things for CarThrottle, I've come to realize there is no mold that "car guys" as a whole fit in.  I mean, spending some time around 700-horsepower 3000GT VR-4's is cool.  But spending some time around this is cool, too.

There were quite a few of these slammed, chopped Rat Rod-style customs rolling around the event, and it's so unlike anything else on the road, you can't help but do a double-take when one drives by.  They make a lovely noise, too.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGfTrlG9spQ

Not everything in the parking lot was older than dirt, though.  Check out this late-model Cadillac Allante - the flying Italian Cadillac from the late 80's/early 90's.  Didn't JR drive one of these in "Dallas?"

As much fun as it is to look at lead sleds in a parking lot, the real action was on Ocean Boulevard - the hot rodders cruising up and down the strip, blaring V8's and lake pipes and awo00-gah horns a-blazing.  It's neat to see such a diverse group of classic cars cruising up and down the strip like old times.

This Camaro SS was restored to an astonishing level, and the growling 350ci V8 under the hood was making all the right noises.  The Torq-Thrust alloys are a must have for a classic muscle car; they just work.

School-bus yellow is always a popular paint choice.  It's hard to see the tubbed rear end in this street-rod truck, but rest assured those tires were wide.

You can't swing a dead cat at a show like this, without hitting one of these classic '55-'57 Chevy's.  Then again, why are you swinging a dead cat in the first place?

More classic GM Muscle, looking great as always.

This hot rod has the body of a Beetle, but as you can probably tell, not the drivetrain.  Gotta love customs like this - are those rear tires wide enough, buddy?

It's a safe bet that at least 10% of the world's rubber can be found under the back of flat-black street rods.  It's a great look.

It doesn't have to be a Camaro, Mustang, or 'Cuda to get some attention either.  Why not a wagon with a tubbed rear end, a huge V8, a Detroit locker, and mag wheels?  Looks great to me.

Call me a weirdo, but I really dig this rusted-out, slammed-to-the-rails old-school Ford van.  It's nice to see something different from the typical Chevelle/Camaro/etc.  Sounded mean as hell, too.

It's nearly impossible to tell from a glance if this is an original Meyers Manx dune buggy, or a replica.  But considering the Manx was a kit car originally, does it really matter?  It's still cool, and the air-cooled VW engine out back was making some wicked noises.

I find flames to be highly necessary on the side of your truck.  Not painted flames, but actual fire coming out of the exhaust pipes. This one gave me a solid cooking as I crouched behind my tripod snapping pictures.

It takes all types.  I don't get it, but to someone this is the culmination of years of work to get it just right. Nothing if not original.  I like the reverse-raked cab.

When I die, I demand to be taken to the afterlife in this.  People will know I mean business.

As the sun began to set, the cruise wound down, and I packed up my camera gear and headed back to Raleigh.  Not a bad way to spend a Thursday; at the strip on Myrtle Beach watching spotless musclecars and Rat Rods rumble by.  If you want more info on the Pee Dee StreetRodders Run To The Sun, you can visit their website here.  Hope to see you next year!