The scrapin' the Coast show continues its upward spiral, breaking attendance records with each new show. Now in its third year, the event bases its headquarters at the Mississippi Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi. Just a short walk from the sparkling blue waters and white-sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, the location alone would make this a cool summertime event, even without the fabulous collection of more than 800 custom vehicles. With drivers rolling in from a dozen neighboring states, spectators got an eyeful throughout the weekend, enjoying some of the South's hottest rides. While the new custom vehicles were exactly what the crowd was looking for, they created headaches for the judging staff trying to narrow down winners from such a choice group.
Saturday had plenty of action like the stereo competition, the Ramp Travel Index ramp for the 4x4 guys, the mobile dyno for the gearheads, and a huge smoky burnout competition for the spectators. But, Scrapin' the Coast becomes two shows in one when the sun goes down. The Coliseum action moves to the Gulfport Dragway on Saturday night, where everyone with a wrist band got in free and all show vehicles enjoyed free runs down the strip. The staging area became the site for the scrapin' contest, and dozens of frame-layers went home considerably lighter after brightening the nighttime sky. Parental discretion was advised for the late-evening bikini contest with the Drop Jaw portable stripper pole getting a thorough workout.
For many, the party continued till dawn, and the show promoters wisely delayed the Sunday activities until noon, allowing the cobwebs to clear. Bashing the Make-A-Wish van with a sledge hammer at a dollar a pop might not do too much for your hangover, but it certainly helped a good cause. Live music throughout the day and the Sunday afternoon Hydraulic exhibition added to the fun.
More than 200 trophies plus specialty awards were given out at this year's event, acting as a "Y'all Come See Us" invitation for the 2006 season. One guy who won't need much of a reminder to return is Mark Harris from Long Beach, Mississippi. Mark found it hard to stop smiling at the awards ceremony, when his name was called as the winner of the '95 S-10 raffle truck. The truck alone would have been enough, but it was also equipped with an awesome Advance Audio stereo and rolling on 22-inch Sport Trux rims. Long-time truck enthusiast Bill Gaines was also smiling. His beautifully detailed fullsize Chevy took Best of Show for a second year in a row.
Even though this year's event was bigger and better than ever, the staff is already working hard on ways to crank even more fun into this annual Gulf Coast good time. Dates for next year are June 24-25, 2006, and you can get more information by contacting Myles, (228) 832-2688, or checking out www.scrapinthecoast.com. Special thanks go to Phat City Audio, Triple XXX Wheels, and JBL. We'll see you there.