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Cruisin' Grand
Friday Nights, April 4 to September 26, 2008
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Grand Avenue and Second Avenue
Click here for 2008 changes!
2008 Title Sponsor presents . . .
Friday Nights at Cruisin' Grand
 April 4 is the kick-off night for Cruisin' Grand in Downtown Escondido, with Kragen Auto Parts returning as the 2008 title sponsor, and the Western Region Willys Owners plus visiting Friends from the Good Guys Car Show as the Featured Car Clubs!
Cruisin' Grand is held every Friday thereafter through September 26, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Join over 400 pre-1974 American-made hot rods, custom, vintage, classic cars and trucks as they begin the six-month Friday night cruise down Grand in Historic Downtown Escondido, just off old historic Hwy. 395 (the Escondido Boulevard business loop). See one of the best gatherings of classic cars in the country, from works-in-progress to priceless, museum-quality vehicles.
2008 Sponsors . . .
Classic Car Owners — There is no pre-registration required for classic car owners who want to bring their cars, and no areas designated for different models. Just bring your event-era vehicle and park on Grand Avenue. If your car is selected, the judges will contact you (at your vehicle) between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and give you a Winner's Card that will allow you to bring your car back to Cruisin' Grand the following Friday for reserved parking in the Winner's Area, where your winning car can be appreciated all evening long. The Awards Ceremony will occur at 7:00 p.m. that evening.
Featured Car Clubs for April!
Cruisin' Grand Welcomes the Western Regional Willys Owners Group, kicking off Opening Night as the Featured Classic Car Club, with a one-of-a-kind show of at least 34 Willys, maybe more!
Famous Willys confirmed are: Dennis The Menace—an A/Gas Willys Coupe that was famous back in the late 1960's, traveling from Lake Havasu, AZ; The Black Widow—a beautiful Willys coupe from Huntington Beach, CA; Full Metal Jacket—a Willys coupe that has been featured in many Hot Rod shows over the years from Redondo Beach, CA; and The Energizer—a Willys pickup truck that was a former dragster back in the 1960's. Also coming are many other Willys cars/ trucks that are just beautiful works of art.
Cruisin' Grand will also be welcoming many other Classic Car owners from the western United States, participants in the Good Guys Car Show, who will be making the drive up from Del Mar on Friday to be part of opening night at Cruisin' Grand!
 Special Attraction Group for Kick-Off Night is the Corvettes of San Diego! Cruisin' Grand welcomes back our friends in the Corvettes of San Diego, who will be the "Opening Act" of this year's new Special Attraction area on Grand, between Escondido Boulevard and Orange Street. This new area is reservable by clubs/groups whose vehicles are not pre-74 American cars. Call the DBA at (760) 745-8877 for information.
April 11
Lone Wolf Night! If you own a pre-74 American Classic car/truck and are not affiliated with a club at this time, please enjoy reserved parking on S. Broadway, starting at 4:00 p.m., and be part of our Featured Classic Car Attraction. Entry to the area is via the westbound alley from Juniper Street. There is room for approximately 50 cars total, leaving a 20' fire lane open at all times. (Please follow directions of barricade staffers.)
April 18
Over the Hill Gang(s) from North County and Temecula! and driving over from the Coast, the Coastal Cruisers!
April 25
Over the Hill Gang, San Bernardino, makes the drive from Berdoo to Escondido for one night! There are some hot cars in this group, so don't miss checking them out!
Check out the entire list of featured car clubs . . .
Visitors — Free parking for visitors and all non-Classic Cars, after 4:15 p.m. in all municipal lots along Valley Parkway and Second Avenue. Attendees and cruisers can be-bop to '50s and '60s music played by Dino's Golden Oldies, while friendly downtown business owners keep their restaurants, delis, galleries, antique and gift shops open late. Additional live music locations at Juniper Street and Maple Street.
NEW THIS YEAR
Coming in June . . .
 "Auto Alley" on North Kalmia Street, for Escondido-based auto-oriented retail vendors.
"Concerts on the Green" — Free concerts once-a-month, on the grass at West Grand Avenue and Orange Street, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the great bands! (Dates TBA)
Cruisin' Grand will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Hula Hoop, the 50th Anniversary of Motown, '50s–'60s Costume Contests, plus featuring the entire month of July as Shake-a-Tail Feather month, with your favorite dance tunes of the '50s and '60s!
Special Attraction Area west of Escondido Boulevard for specialty car clubs and attractions that are outside the pre-74 American formula.
The Classic Car Corral will offer private owners of Classic Cars a place to park and show their "For Sale" Classic vehicles, reducing the (illegal) parking of these cars on Grand Avenue, while offering a place to look for that special car you always wanted. This area next to Comerica Bank will open at 6 p.m. for those cars to enter and park.
Cruisin' Grand is featured in the newest "Street Rodder" magazine, inside the SoCal T-Bucket story on pp. 56, 57, 58! On newsstands now!
The Downtown Business Association of Escondido, producer of Cruisin' Grand, as well as the Escondido Certified Farmers' Market and Other Purveyors, Fashion Week Downtown, Festival Escondido, the Jingle Bell Cruise, and Holiday Downtown, and co-producer of the Escondido Street Faires, is a 45-year-old non-profit organization working to ensure the economic and cultural vitality of the Historic Commercial District of Downtown Escondido, home to over 800 businesses. For further information please contact the Escondido DBA at (760) 745-8877.
If you are interested in sponsor information, please call (760) 745-8877.
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