John McGann's Blog

Cruising Van Nuys Boulevard

Posted June 11 2009 01:21 AM by jm215900
Filed under: Editorials

It's back for the first time in over 20 years.

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the scene in Ralph's parking lot across the street

I have been waiting for an event like this since the day I moved to Los Angeles. Growing up in cold, snowy Ohio, I dreamt of living in Los Angeles where cars didn't rot and you could drive them year round. I used to think that that every other car on the road was a muscle car or sports car of some sort, and that cruising was something that happened all the time in mass quantities.

Things are never as good as you'd imagined them to be of course, and upon moving here almost exactly five years ago, I was bitterly disappointed to realize that every other car on the road is some sort of Benz/Bimmer/Lexus/Infiniti/Camry/Prius jellybean driven by some bored slob yapping on his (or her) cell phone, and that driving around the city streets was more drudgery than anything else (except for early in the morning on weekends!) But I was devastated to discover that parts of Cleveland had better cruising than Los Angeles did. LA- the car culture center of the world.

Well, we're back on the map now. Cruising on Van Nuys is back and I just got back from the first cruise night on Van Nuys Boulevard to happen since the city shut it down in the early 80's. Here are some of the pictures I took tonight. I'm hoping to run an article in CC about this, but if we don't I'll post the rest later. Enjoy!

Radio Active Bob directed traffic from the lot onto the street. He yelled at you if you weren't paying attention.

The fuzz were there in force, but never hassled anyone who didn't deserve it. I laughed at one punk who got cuffed for doing a burnout in the street. Good riddance, dude. Don't ruin the fun for the rest of us!

BTW, do you think we should to a feature on that 69 Torino? I do!

Got pictures of your own to share? Post them in our message board.

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Reader Comments:

1. VERY COOL! Great pics. I'm going to have to try and attend soon. And YES! Do a feature on the Torino!!

Powershift03 - Posted June 11 2009 12:04 PM

2. Hi, If you like this event, try Sat. mornings 6:30 to 8:30 in Montrose/La Canada the 2 FWY and Verdugo exit 4Plex Theater, Starbucks parking lot across the street from the Glendale Adventist Hospital and the fwy exit. Known as "Early Rodders". Always some of the best cars in SoCal [100 to 200 and growing] mostly older, muscle, brass age and sports cars with the latest in new exotics as well. I know its early but its worth it.

fascarman - Posted June 12 2009 04:35 AM

3. The year was 1971, I pinstriped my first car at Burbank and Van Nuys Blvd at the car wash after an Associated Car Clubs of Van Nuys (ACCVN) meeting in the roll call room of the VNPD, by street light, I became one of the strippers for Car Craft under the editorial ship of Steve Green, the president of the ACCVN, was the head of "RACE?" after the disbanding of the ACCVN, vice president of the National/International Brotherhood of Street Racers, blah,blah, blah. I am GOT'CHA. I moved to the NW to get away from it all and ended up, 33 years later still aching for "THE BOULEVARD". It's a passion and stick it in your ear if you THINK you can't go back. You don't go back cause you never left. Once you cruised THE Bouivard you became one with it. I've been to MOST of the BIG ones and tho Woodward is longer it's not older BUT it has recently been re-birthed as I understand. I couldn't make it to the VN re-birth but I sent 6 of my Washingtonians down there. I don't think their coming back to the great NW. They LOVED it. All I want to know is when are you cruisers gonna figure out you DON'T need the business owners or the local law enforcements PERMISSION to roll back and fourth on a PUBLIC (Read that FEDERALLY OWNED, i.e RIGHT TO TRAVEL!!!!)street. Yes it would be great if they would support that but it isn't even a necessity as they have no more rights than EACH and every one of you all. NO CRUISING signs are ILLEGAL. WAKE UP!!!! Obey the laws ON THEW STREET and all is good, don't wanna? Well that's when the law kicks in BUT it (the law)cannot PREVENT OTHERS from rolling on public streets. That's another reason that the folks from Washington, Florida, Nevada, etc. have the RIGHT to travel on the PUBLIC streets of California! (Again, no city, county or State can dictate how many times you go back and fourth on ANY public road because they are FEDERAL, again, FEDERAL). I just wanted to claireify where each of us rodders/racers stand. VN is not giving you a gift, members of a GREAT rodding site put all that you saw June 10th, togeather. That site is THE H.A.M.B. Checvk it out. Great People. I'm gonna throw some names out there that helped put it togeather and forgive me because I didn't talk to EVERYBODY that had a part in this. The real Hot Dogs that I know were kickin butt was Reid Stolz, elrobo (Mr & MRS),stray's (Megueil),Groucho, Super Jew, Tony Noto, Scimo the pinstriper, and every rodder that knew about it and had a mouth and/or a computer. The BAD BOYZ were out there the first night! (You ladies are one of the boyz so don't fret). All in al, good show everyone. Got'cha from the great NW.

Pinstriper - Posted June 12 2009 03:29 PM

4. I loved it and wanna go again next week. If Glad doesn't run the article; I'm gonna start a protest!

rebldryvr - Posted June 12 2009 04:07 PM

5. As the main organizer of the return to Van Nuys Blvd cruising, I would like to thank car Craft for their coverage...I couldn't have done it without El Robo who passed out flyers, Mrs El Robo who did a magnifcent job of designing the flyers and Groucho for helping get the word out...And lets not forget Chip Beck of Rydell Chevrolet for allowing us the use of his lot...Chip is an ex-cruiser himself and has generously offered the lot for use once a month...So far the next cruise is planned for July 1st...Hope to see even more people come back to Van Nuys and enjoy it once more.
Had a nice chat with Jeff Smith at the lot..Hope you all liked it
Reid
"vncruiser"
Founder
Van Nuys Cruising Association

vncruiser - Posted June 12 2009 09:02 PM

6. It was May 30th, 1973, my 16th birthday. I could not wait. Right after school my Mom took me to the DMV in our 1965 Impala. I took the drivers test and got my license. I already had a job and bought my own car about 6 months prior. My 1965 Triumph TR-4 wash washed and waiting for me. That evening I picked up my cousin Phil and we were off to "Van Nuys". We made one pass from Sherman Way to Burbank Blvd, which seemed like hours. My left leg was sore from the heavy duty clutch. It was a "Bitchen". There were cars "bumper to bumper" on both sides of the street. People sat on bus benches or along the curb yelling at the Muscle Cars, "Do A Burnout". We couldn't wait until next Wednesday. Saturday nights people gathered for street racing. Jack in the Box, Bank of America, Super Shops always packed. Van Nuys was the place to be. Later I cruised in my yellow '67 Camaro. Sometimes we would take a break and go to the Van Nuys "Drive In". This went on for years.
Tony Noto and I were there on the 10th. It was like old times except that we are just a little older and heavier. I saw people that I have not seen for over 25 years. Where has the time gone? It was better than a High School reunion because cars were involved. There were a few (or maybe more) burnouts but the Cops were cool. If things stay in control maybe we can do it next month. Meanwhile I better get my '67 insured and registered so I can cruise Van Nuys Blvd in it again. Thanks to all involved for making it happen! C-Ya soon, Frank.

fkoster - Posted June 13 2009 10:06 AM

7. Great stuff guys! Please continue to post your memories from when this thing was big.

jm215900 - Posted June 14 2009 02:07 PM

8. I just wanted to let everyone know that the CORRECT date for the next cruise is July 8th...
Please remember to patronize the local businesses and help with the hot rodding economic stimulus plan...
Reid
Van Nuys Cruising Association

vncruiser - Posted June 16 2009 05:08 PM

9. Hey, that's my Torino and it's actually a `68. I would love to do a feature.

JOSHUA68TOR - Posted July 10 2009 09:02 AM

10. Hi John! We were there "years" ago in a 1966 Mustang! ;)

I do have a suggestions/observation to the promoters.

I wish they would park the food coach someplace else instead of right in front on the street blocking all the cars in the lot. Plus that made it very hard to see trying to leave the lot. We saw a LOT of near-miss accidents. Park the thing at the back of the lot!

Julie_GT07CS - Posted July 11 2009 12:36 PM

11. It would seem that the thread that is promoting the Van Nuys Blvd. cruise is being "regulated" by a site call The Hokey ass message board. The main squeeze is some runt called Ryan.All I heard on the site was whining and threats. The true runners from the '70's are being used to pull people to a false feeling of security concerning the blvd. If you speak on the facts you will be cut off by Ryan, he will use "Drama" as his reason to "ban you" should you desire to voice your opinion or defend your stand on anything pertaining to Van Nuys Blvd. It's true, the cruising is coming back to Van Nuys but only because the REAL PLAYER'S from the "the day" called out the troops and called in favors. I'm not very computer oriented but now I'm wondering what can be done to cut the thread.

Pinstriper - Posted July 13 2009 06:07 PM

12. Does anyone Remember the open call for Street Racers for filming in 1975-76 where the movie studio and police blocked off woodman and oxnard and we Raced towards the back of the GM plant, I think the movie was called Captain Midnight or something. All lot of cars from Van Nuys showed up. 55 Chevy with a tilt front end was the fastest. 429 1970 Torino Cobra jet was my brothers i think he raced a 240 Z with a small block. there were numerous races that night. Wonder where that footage went??

conbelach - Posted October 20 2009 05:08 AM

13. Saw the Proud Bird Pontiac sitting in a Back yard in Chatsworth a while Back. I remember Cruising the Blvd with Wayne Frazier he painted a lot of the Murals on the Custom Vans ( Jungle Book Etc.) and worked for Gotchas shop for a while.

conbelach - Posted October 21 2009 11:07 AM

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