BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (WVUE) - Cruisin’ the Coast rolled down North Beach Boulevard in Bay St. Louis, bringing the sound of engines and the shine of chrome to the area.
“I love the cars, the people, the atmosphere,” Joe Corvi said.
Pontiacs, Chevrolets and GMCs caught the attention of car enthusiasts from across the country.
Brian Bishop’s 1976 Ford Bronco was on display. Bishop said he built it himself.
“This is probably the fourth one I’ve done. That’s what I do for a living, mechanicing, and it’s second nature, I guess,” Bishop said.
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Bishop and his wife are from Florence, Mississippi. They have attended Cruisin’ the Coast since the event began in 1996.
With Hurricane Isaias tracking east, Bishop said he is relieved the storm will not affect this year’s event.
“We’ve been watching the weather all week, getting ready to pack up and go home, and now that it’s going to the east, I think everybody can breathe a little bit,” Bishop said.
Steven Williams helps organize Cruisin’ the Coast events in Bay St. Louis.
“Right now the coast is clear in Bay St. Louis,” Williams said.
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Williams said organizers are still monitoring the storm, but the weekend’s events are moving forward as planned.
“Weather’s gonna be fine for us to continue all the Cruisin’ the Coast events. We do monitor it every six hours, have a discussion about it, and we can make changes as necessary,” Williams said.
Businesses on South Beach Boulevard say Cruisin’ the Coast creates a ripple effect each year, bringing visitors to restaurants, shops and streets across Bay St. Louis.
“We’re expecting everyone to come, rain or shine,” said Christie Patrolia, a waitress at 200 North Beach Restaurant.
Workers at 200 North Beach Restaurant are preparing for another wave of visitors.
Patrolia said the cars bring the crowds, but the energy keeps people downtown.
“They’re walking the streets. Everyone is in great moods. Every year it just seems like the numbers are increasing, so we expect everyone to be here and just have a good time,” Patrolia said.
For Bishop, Cruisin’ the Coast is more than a collection of classic cars. It is a lifestyle he has loved his entire life.
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