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"The
Beach Cruiser Story"
Since the advent of the automobile age a century ago,
the beach cruiser has become a nostalgic presence found
along ocean shorelines worldwide. Usually old, and
always rusted, the beach cruiser is an integral part of
the beach and surfing culture. To those who cast
only a cursory glance, the cruiser is often seen as no
more than an unwelcome eyesore. But to those who
look beyond its rusty and faded skin, the cruiser is
truly the embodiment of a unique lifestyle marked by
sun, sand, salt and surf.
Oh if the cruiser could only speak, what a story it
could tell. Decades ago it rolled off a far away
assembly line with the shine and new car smell that made
it a prized possession. Somewhere a lucky person became
the proud first owner of the latest in style and
advanced mechanical features. Perhaps our young cruiser
drove along a beach highway and thought to itself,
"When I get old I never want to look like
that!" And in the naïveté of youth our cruiser
simply turned its head and continued down the roadway --
probably headed for the pleasure of a pleasant car wash
and the protected comfort of its own garage.
But with time change is inevitable. And in the
automobile industry styling and mechanical advances lead
the way. In the span of a few short years our
state of art cruiser was no longer the newest and
latest. Indeed before long it's likely our cruiser
found itself in the hands of a second or third owner
where utility rather than the latest look became the
priority. Our cruiser undoubtedly experienced a
less pampered existence as the harsh realities of life
now took center stage. Fast-forward a decade or
two and for most cruisers life has evolved from a world
burdened with few concerns to one focused on day-to-day
survival. Routine maintenance and regular washing,
let alone an occasional polishing, are a thing of the
past. Minor dings and emerging rust spots are
ignored. The ethos becomes "keep running and deal
with this new, harsher life -- or else". Or
else the junkyard or the car crusher may be just one
breakdown away.
Where do these classic beach cruisers come from?
Cruisers come from Illinois, Tennessee and Arizona. They
come from Vermont, Missouri and Idaho, as well as
California and Florida. Some live their entire
pre-cruiser existence without ever having ever inhaled a
breath of salt air. What nearly all cruisers have in
common, however, is the good fortune to have been
spotted by someone (probably a young surfer) who cared
little about looks. The job description is simple.
"Can this cruiser carry my board and myself
faithfully to the beach everyday? Will it wait patiently
in the warm sun without complaint and then faithfully
carry us home again? If the answer is yes, then
another beach cruiser is born.
Cruisers come in all shapes and sizes. There is of
course the classic Woody station wagon. Seen much
less frequently than in decades past, the Woody's
heir-apparent has been the Volkswagen Bus. In fact
VW's of all styles as well as old Fords and old Chevies
and practically every other make imaginable and found on
the world's beaches. Jeeps, pickup trucks and
homemade campers are becoming increasingly popular.
The ability to access remote beaches as well as a
vehicle that facilitates “staying over” at the beach
is highly desirable. Certainly the latter is a factor in
the popularity of the VW Bus.
Some cruisers have had incredible life experiences that
would make many of us feel our lives have been quite
mundane. We know of a Woody, for example, that
carried a President and later toured with the Beach
Boys. We know of an old Chevy cruiser that once
was Elvis' favorite getaway car and another that came
within a hair’s breadth of becoming a movie star.
Still another, whose owner worked at a recording studio,
inspired a hit record. But accomplishments and
past life experiences don’t really matter very much on
the world's beaches.
What defines a cruiser? The obvious things are a
surfboard rack, a generous dose of rust, duct tape (and
occasionally baling wire), tires and body parts that
don't match, and of course lots of dings. But it is what
lies beneath the cracked and faded paint that really
matters. It is the character and wisdom that comes with
age as well as appreciation for life that defines a
beach cruiser. It's not about the past or good looks.
It's about a spirit and a special way of life that is
focused on now. The past doesn't matter and the future
lies no further ahead than the next breaking wave.
We see character etched in the leathery face of an
elderly person or in the facade of an old building.
That same character and wisdom are found in the rusted
and wrinkled sheet metal of the beach cruiser, most of
whom have lived longer and seen far more of life than
their current owners. It's not about looks and status.
The young and beautiful have their time and place. But
to have survived and to be able to live one's Golden
Years parked on the sands of a tropical sun-drenched
beach is the ultimate reward. Leisurely passing time
with fellow cruisers while your owner endlessly searches
out that perfect wave is truly Paradise – the Paradise
of being a beach cruiser.
(Copyright
1999-2009)
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