Cumberland Mountain State Park, Tennessee

PT Cruisers Meet in Cumberland Moutain State Park,
Crossville, Tennessee
April 28, 2001

Sandi & I made the two and a half hour cruise from White House to Crossville, Tennessee this Saturday to attend the first "Meet & Greet" of the Tennessee chapter of the PT Cruiser Club.

Our 2001 Patriot Blue Limited Edition was one of three blue Cruisers out of the 23 that made the trek to the wooded picnic area, one from as far away as South Carolina. Members of the Alabama chapter and the Georgia chapter met outside Chattanooga to cruise to Crossville for the get-together on a sunny 85 degree spring afternoon.

Steve and Arlene Nelson's Taupe PT had chrome strips applied not only to the beltline, but to the grille as well. Steve described the process like this: "The chrome grille and beltline is the 3/8" wheel well molding from Pep Boys. The three rolls it takes to do the job cost only about $30 and it cuts really well with a set of pruning shears. The total time involved in the job was about 1hr. So, for a mimimal investment in cash and time the results, I think, are quite good."
I'd been curious to see this grille configuration, since that's one area I'm considering customizing on my Cruiser. I was impressed with the job Steve did.

I'm also considering a more extensive grille rebuild, maybe even a replacement like this billet grille. I like the verticle lines of this grille, but I'm leaning toward a more extensive (and expensive) rebuild like this one . Anyone wanting to make a pledge toward my Grille Fund, just drop me an email, ok?

The Emerald Green Cruiser between Roy and Janet Frasier of Inverness, AL's plum and the Kilgores' flamed aqua PT belongs to Carol Cowden of Dayton, TN (who was kind enough to loan me a pen to sign the register). These PT enthusiasts are all such friendly folks! Sandi & I had a terrific time and look forward to more Cruises in the future.

Red was by far the most popular color at the gathering. This flamed Cruiser with the chrome beltline (owned by Bob and Vicki of Gasden, AL) was just one example of the customization of the Chrysler "tall car" that has made the vehicle a phenomenon, particularly, it seems, among us "boomers".

One of the red Cruisers had been outfitted with a 6 cylinder engine, but I didn't get a chance to check it out (or cop a cruise, for that matter). [UPDATE: We've been had! Check out TNPTCC director Steve Cliff's take on the V6 Cruiser here!]

This photo doesn't do justice to the "ghost flames" on the lone aqua Cruiser belonging to Sharon and Ron Kilgore of Birmingham, AL.

Many of the Cruisers apparently transported full loads of human cargo, since the meeting spilled out of the pavillion Tennessee Director Steve Cliff of Knoxville had reserved for the gathering. Official word has it that 52.5 PT lovers attended the event.

Special thanks to Patsy Allen of Helena, AL (a fellow Patriot Blue PT, License "PTEES PT") for her help in identifying the Alabama Cruisers.

- Wade McDaniel,
White House, TN

Click here for the Official TNPTCC Meet & Greet Page!

The first ever Tennessee PTCC Dash Plate

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