Where did you cruise in your youth?

[jerrym3]

Back in the good old days, where did you cruise on those nice, warm evenings?

Here in Southern Bergen/Northern Hudson County, NJ, we had two favorites.

In Hudson County, we had Bergenline Ave which ran through the towns of North Bergen, Guttenberg, West New York, and Union City. Two lanes south, two lanes north, plenty of stoplights to talk with other drivers or to do a quick 400' drag race.

Or, we'd head for Main Street, Hackensack, NJ. Only one lane each way, but lot's of traffic so that you could talk to others, or meet "new" friends.

In the early/mid 60's, we didn't have a ton of radio stations to choose from, and tape decks were not yet popular. So, it was not uncommon for every car to have the same station, same song playing.

I remember, one night, radios blasting, windows and tops down, we all listened to "Land of a Thousand Dances" by Cannibal and the Headhunters. It was like being at an outdoor concert.

Good times.

Where did you cruise, and what sticks in your memory?

[FUN X 3]

Re: Where did you cruise in your youth?

We just drove around in the suburban neighborhoods looking for girls walking around in halter tops and short shorts. Those were the days. Throw a couple bucks of gas into the gas tank and off we went, good for the night.

[Dizzbe]

Re: Where did you cruise in your youth?

Grew up in small town Toledo, IA, it was boring so we always drove to Tama, IA - now this was only probably 10miles from home - but trust me it was a big difference. We used to just drive the two block circle loop in downtown Tama with all of the other high school kids and then park down at the end of the block to talk or switch between cars.

The only problem with this was that I couldn't just keep it to the weekend. Every run to the store also involved driving through Tama. And oh did I mention - squealing tires and racing others on the 4 lane? Well I got busted by Dad and that was the end of that {almost} LOL Way too many arguments were spent on "Did you drive to Tama?" PARENTS?!?!?!?

[SixPac]

Re: Where did you cruise in your youth?

My youth was so long ago that I don't remember too much about it. The things that I do remember can't be mention here.

I do remember the 19 cents a gallon gasoline that we cruised on for nite after nite.

[Ediron]

Re: Where did you cruise in your youth?

Charlie didn't they circle the wagons back then

I grew up in The Bronx N.Y. we would cruise Pelham Pkwy.,White Plains Rd. and finally park at the White Castle on Boston Post Rd. which in the '60-70 was a regular "American Graffiti" type of place. New rods and old and everyone got along and respected what you drove. My friends first car was a Henry J and the guys were always trying to convince him he need a Big Chev. under the hood .Never happened no money

[Leroy]

Re: Where did you cruise in your youth?

I joined the Marines as soon as I turned 17, so I was gone for the next 4 years, I guess that's part of my life that I missed. I never went to a Prom or was involved in a real High School Graduation, just a Marine Corps GED. I never had a car or had a car to drive untill after I joined the Marines and got out of boot camp, I bought a 1957 Mercury and all the girls I ever took out were always alot older than me, but I survived. Leroy

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[TexasWhiteBird]

Re: Where did you cruise in your youth?

Here in Houston, we cruised up and down Westheimer every Fri/Sat night. Lots of street racing in my Torino GT or my roommates GTX. If things really got serious, we all would meet up later at Palms, Palms Nursery was on the 59 northbound feeder road (way before the new Sam Houston Tollway) and had over a 3 mile stretch of feeder road with no acess coming on to it! We would stay there and race/bench race all nite. Some guys would even come out in 'trailer' cars and run!
I guess I am in the 'baby boomer' group as this was in 1978-79!alan

[Guest]

Re: Where did you cruise in your youth?

Many fond memories of Friday night cruisin' along Carling Avenue in Ottawa. Everyone would gather at a Dunkin' Donuts. The good ol' dayz.

[Mintgrn]

Re: Where did you cruise in your youth?

Jerry, yes Hackensack, that black '58 Impala conv. was mine. did you ever end up at Wetson's or the McD's in River Edge, how about White Manna. of course we also "cruised upstate" alot.

[0bird2]

Re: Where did you cruise in your youth?

I cruised in several small towns in the Pacific Northwest, depended on how much gas money I had and gas was cheap (19-24 cents a gallon). Cruised with Rosebud a lot of the time. We did the main drag in Mt Vernon (where Rosebud now lives) with a stop at the A & W, did Stanwwod to East Stanwood (where we lived), did the main drag in Arlington, did Colby Ave in downtown Everett with stops at Herfy's Burger's or the A & W.
Sometimes would go to Seattle and cruise the 'U' district or 1st and 2nd ave, sometimes into Ballard or we'd go to one of the small dance halls around the area, Seven Cedars (in Mt Vernon), Lundeen's (in Lake Stevens) or Spanish Castle (south Seattle) to listen (and dance) to some of the small bands from the area. Once every three months or so, would go to Portland, OR to cruise Sandy Ave, and stop at the Tick-Tock Drive-in.

No wonder I had no money, it went in the gas tank and out the exhaust !!!!!!!!!

[texasbird]

Re: Where did you cruise in your youth?

Most everyone in the Sherman-Denison, Texas area in the 1970's would cruise Main Street in Denison. The loop went from Denison's original Sonic to the Bank One Parking Lot. There were always clusters of people in parking lots along the route. Not long afterwards, interest moved from downtown Denison to Texoma Parkway (the old US 75) where all of the fast food restaurants have built up. Today, most young groups congregate at the new shopping center called Sherman Town Center. It really keeps Sherman Police busy on Friday & Saturday nights.

[yelobird2002]

Re: Where did you cruise in your youth?

Cruised Van Nuys Blvd. in Van Nuys. Wednesday was Car Club Night. Friday & Saturday were just Cruise Nights.

[Peterfurlan]

Re: Where did you cruise in your youth?

Well Ediron you got my mind going early this morning. I too grew up in the the Bronx. My
cruising years were 1955-1958. My first car was a 1951 Olds super 88 two door hardtop
painted in Ford Regency Metallic Purple,a real babe magnet. Cruised the same routes as
you down White Plains Rd. take a left on Pelham Parkway out to Orchard Beach for a little
submarine race watching. Up the Post Road White Castle was a must stop you knew you ate
those four cent burgers three days later. I was from the northeast Bronx so we also cruised Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and Yonkers. Lets not forget the Whitestone drive
in those were the good old days. Back then New York City was the greatest place on
earth to spend your younger years.

[ThunderBubba]

Re: Where did you cruise in your youth?

In Forest Park Ga. in the mid 60's to mid 70's the place to go was Shoney's. It was the type that had curb service and if you were anybody with a hot car you would "bounce through Shoney's" to see and be seen. Several drag races were arraigned while backed into the stalls at Shoney's. Oh man, those were the days. Chevelles, Torinos, Mustangs, Camaros, Superbirds, GTOs, Cudas. You name it, and you could see it at Shoney's.

[Bill Brown]

Re: Where did you cruise in your youth?

Cruised Main Street of a small East Texas town in the mid 60s all the cool kids at one end of town at the "Dairy Queen" and the "not so cool kids" at the other end of Main at the local mom and pops "Claira's Malt Shop". What a great memory the malt shop used real ice cream. 4 door Chevy Impala HT.