Cruisin Lake Somerville

“ CRUISIN LAKE SOMERVILLE”

A Texas-style rod and custom weekend! Click HERE for photos!

By: Bob McClurg

Lake Somerville, Texas—After an eight year layoff, Waco Street Machine Mini Nationals event promoters Bobby and Dale Ramey are back! As some of you may know, Fort Fisher Park, which was home to the Waco Street Machine Mini Nationals for twenty five years has been the subject of a somewhat controversial, on-going re-development project which in the year 2000 left Mini Nationals promoters on the outside looking in.

“It’s taken us eight years to come up with a suitable location, and I believe we have found a new “home” at Welch Park, located off Highway 36 in Lake Somerville, Texas,” commented Cruisin’ Productions CEO Bobby Ramey. “There’s plenty of room here for growth, with plenty of shade trees, boating, fishing, camping, and of course cruising being the #1 activity!”

With the long awaited change in venue comes a change in name as well. The event, which is open to 1980 and older American cars, is now officially known as “CRUISIN’ THE LAKE.”

On June 6-8, 2008, 100 of the finest street machines, customs, street trucks and street rods in the southwest rolled into town. Weekend activities included car show judging, adult and kids games, and a Saturday night cruise around the lake culminating at Czech/Tex Steakhouse located in downtown Snook, TX. All told, six “Top Five” categories were featured, and the winners were:

“TOP HOT ROD:”
Charlotte Blunt’s 1934 Ford coupe
Kevin Pendoruis' 1932 Ford coupe
John Huettel's 1932 Ford roadster
Nick Ratlift's 1932 Ford roadster

TOP EARLY STREET
Ben Boecker’s 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
Richard Hubal’s 1960 Chevrolet Impala
Tony Robertson’s 1960 Chevrolet Impala
Jed Angelle’s 1964 Chevelle Malibu

TOP STREET:
Jorge Limon’s 1967 Chevelle
Harvey Bogel’s 1967 Chevrolet Camaro
Frank Tarbert’s 1967 Chevrolet Camaro
Mark Guebara’s 1977 Chevrolet Camaro
Gary Groschke’s 1969 Cheevelle

TOP NOSTALGIC:
James Cole’s 1948 Chevy
Steve Overton’s 1966 Ford Falcon
Steve Russ 1923 Ford T-bucket
Paul Robinson’s 1932 Ford roadster
Jason Michalak’s 1932 Ford coupe

TOP TRUCK:
Jim Meader’s 1972 Chevrolet El Camino
Dave Areuglo, 1967 Chevrolet truck
Harry McCoy, 1980 Chevrolet truck
John Chaney, 1970 Chevrolet Blazer.

TOP PRO STREET:
Sam Palazzolo, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro
Evan Bennet, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro
Johnnie Knight, 1967 Chevrolet Nova
Irron Roberts, 1967 Chevelle
Mike Ramsey, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro

“TIM RAMEY MEMORIAL AWARD:” Mike Ramsey, 1969 Pro Street Camaro.

Event sponsors included the Blue Bonnet House Gifts and Garden Center, Chapel Hill, TX, CLM Equipment Co, Houston, TX, Katy Classic Cars, Houston, TX, G&S Automotive, Houston, TX, Young Automotive Service, Houston, TX, Fat Boys Collision and Restoration, Brenham, TX, Camaro Concepts, Houston, TX, Stallion Oil Field Services, Katy, TX, and Cypress Performance Center, Inc. Cypress, TX, and ModifiedGoldCart.com, Chapel Hill, TX.

At the close of the show, the promoters e-mailed out a survey to all participants so next year’s event (which will be held the same weekend,) should reflect some of those changes. Potential event sponsors, car clubs and other interested individuals can contact Bobby Ramey at cruisinproductions@msn.com, or call (713) 562-4678; and tell them you read about it on Hot Rod Happenings!