Just curious if they still have the cruise down Colorado Blvd on News Years Eve? I've done it a few times, but haven't in a couple years. I know everybody would meet at the bakery. Anybody have info?
From what I understand, it's a whole lot different now than when I last cruised Colorado Blvd. on New Years Eve. Of course, a lot of things are different then they were in 1967!
I went there with one of my buddys. There was about 100 cars. Then about 100 VW's showed up, so there was tons of cars. They only let you cruise til 7pm, then if they see you twice, they can give you a ticket. I plan on going either way....
Found this: https://allevents.in/roll/pre-rose-parade-cruise-down-colorado-blvd/200018694733653 I'm on my way:
Hello, As curious teens, we were interested in the Rose Parade that we have seen for years. It was a tradition on New Year’s Day, as most do on that holiday. We did drive up to see the parade route and giant grandstands on both sides of the road in the downtown area. But, it was just a road trip and not an official cruise, other than a couple of hot rods from the Bixby Knolls area. It was a different area, not too far away and nice for a cold winter road trip with some friends. (girls and guys) There were plenty of nice restaurants up there and there was always Harvey’s just down the Long Beach Freeway in Downey, on the way home. Despite what is said, those crowded days on Colorado Blvd. were post 1965 (not HAMB rules friendly) and beyond until they shut down the street for security reasons. In our days, it was just an interesting destination that was not such a big deal. There were more hot rods and cruisers in Bixby Knolls on any given day than in Pasadena on New Years Eve. Besides, we had to go to our teenage gatherings up in Big Bear until the New Years in the last years of high school. 1958 (We found out many years later that those giant grandstands were borrowed/rented from all over So Cal. One place that mysteriously had them disappear during December, was Lions Dragstrip.) 1958-60 LIONS DRAGSTRIP I did not know it then during the filming, but it was hard to understand where those bleachers went during December when we were at Lions Dragstrip. From nothing to a single set of small bleachers, to a full set of bleachers back after January 1, the following year, it was a mystery. Jnaki During the motorcycle days, the local custom motorcycle groups made the trek to Pasadena after dark. It was to cruise down the main street and wave to the freezing campers all along the street. As cold as it got on New Year’s Eve, the weather may have been wet, drizzly, dry, hot, and different sorts of clear. But, Pasadena has a long standing history of a clear day for the Rose Parade and the afternoon Rose Bowl football game. Our dad took us to many of those games in the cold weather, but they were the traditional thing to do on New Year’s Day. Despite the early shut down of Colorado Blvd to all traffic, starting back in the intense security measure days, it has opened the area for people to safely await the start of the parade starting late at night and in the early morning, recently. “Impromptu, pre-parade cruising is a tradition and added excitement to the long wait for the people sitting out in the cold. Everything from Model Ts to flame-covered street racers could be seen circling the 5 1/2-mile route throughout the night.” The current advertised cruise is daytime only or until they close the street.
The Jalopy Journal
