It’s taken fourteen years for the Somernites Cruise to reach 100 shows. Starting from a small crowd of a couple hundred cars in 2001, the event has grown into a huge gathering that decends upon Somerset, Kentucky once a month during the car show season. Their successes can be directly attributed to the open nature of the show, where any and all are welcome; the monthly feature group, which allows a major subsection to have their special moment in the sun; and their hospitality, which is evident for every day of the event.
For the 100th show, the Somernites Cruise team went for broke with the entertainment side of the afternoon show: they brought in Butch Patrick, who played Eddie Munster on television, as well as “Dragula” and “Munster Koach” tribute cars, and David Browning, who played everybody’s favorite deputy from Mayberry, U.S.A. As a respected officer of the law, he saw to it that no tomfoolery was happening on his watch around the square, even when Butch fired up Dragula and started driving around, making a ruckus.
And were the cars ever there…according to Somernites, there were 1,249 registered cars parked throughout the downtown area for the show, and I don’t doubt that for a second, as vehicles were coming and going the entire show. Somernites never fails to impress for one reason or another, but their 100th show really brought out some nice pieces and made my job easy…well, taking pictures of them is pretty straightforward. Picking the top 11 out of all of the photos, on the other hand, was very difficult. So, in no real order, here’s my selections:
11. Hudson Pickup
Just because I’ve never seen one in person before.
10. Pontiac Grand Prix
I walked past it at first, thinking it was a late-model GTO. Chalk one up to the GTO’s critics, but a closer look at this GP showed great attention to detail and some really nice subtle custom touches. The eye-searing orange paint didn’t hurt either.
9. Chevrolet Chevelle and Pontiac LeMans
For you GM A-body guys.
Not the only AMC on the property, but the only red/white/blue one that was there.
7. Chevrolet Camaro Z28
It takes effort to impress me with a rubber-bumper 2nd gen Camaro, and this absolutely stunning orange on white example did the trick. This isn’t just clean, it’s flawless.
6. Ford Coupe
Doesn’t get more classic than a red Ford in front of a cafe, does it?
5. Ford Truck
The color was unique, the Vector-style wheels were perfect, and the KC Lights on the bar made this Ford for me.
4. Chevrolet truck
This zoomie-equipped, absolutely ballistic Chevrolet is street driven. We’ve seen this monster at Somernites before, popping and cracking like a Pro Mod at the line, before cruising out of Culver’s and up the main drag. You have to love a town that tolerates that.
3. Plymouth ‘Cuda
This Plum Crazy Plymouth was sitting in-between the buildings, out of the way from the major parking lots. To catch everything at Somerset, you have to do some walking.
2. Trio of patina’d Chevrolet Trucks
I about fell over when I found these three parked together.
1. Plymouth Duster 340
It takes something special to stand out in a sea of brightly colored Mopars, and this Sassy Grass Green Duster 340’s paint and chrome were just searing my eyes. All day long, yes, please.
I would like to congratulate you on your excellent
taste in cars. That old 56 Chevy wagon is Krusty Bob. He has been my favorite family member for about 5 years now. Made my day seeing his picture in your article!
It’s been several years since I’ve been to Somerites, but I remember how great it was. I think your list shows just how open the cruise-in/show is to all makes and models. That’s what made it so enjoyable for me. I like the wagon in your opening pic but it didn’t make the list!? Thanks for sharing.
Jeff