Inaugural NC Region Cruse-in Report 
               
Kinston, NC   

      On Saturday June 13, 2015 the NC Region enjoyed an informal cruise-in to Kinston, NC.  NC Region members drove from several places in North Carolina to meet in the parking lot of the CSS Neuse Interpretive Center.  The NC Region members enjoyed many activities including shopping at the local farmers market, a visit to the museum housing the Confederate Ironclad Gunboat Neuse, enjoying lunch at a famous restaurant, and a visit to a brew pub on a walking tour of downtown Kinston.   The event was organized by NC Region Vice President Bill Cox. There were seven antique cars that made the trip, the oldest of which was a 1941 owned by Chad and Demi Goldman of Raleigh, and the newest was a 1967 Chevrolet Impala; some modern cars. 
      After a short visit in the parking lot and a repair of Denny’s car, the group headed for the museum. It is located in the new building large enough to house the actual Neuse Gunboat and many artifacts. The museum staff were enthusiastic and helpful with answering our questions. After the tour we went to the Boiler Room Oyster Bar for lunch.  The Boiler Room is one of chef Vivian Howard’s Chef & the Farmer restaurant projects.  The Oyster bar featured delicious oysters and burgers with Chef Howard’s sauces and special preparations. After lunch the group walked to the Mother Earth Brew Pub in downtown Kinston.
      As promised, this was a casual tour with no deadlines.  Bill even provided the participants with a NC Region key chain as a remembrance of the tour.  Enjoy the pictures below. For more pictures Click 2015 NC Region Cruise-in Photos.   

Cruise-in 2015 Photos.
  

NC Region 2015 Spring Meet in Wilmington
               
Wilmington, NC – May 30, 2015.  
Congratulation to the Cape Fear Chapter and their President, Ashby Armistead, on a very successful NC Region Spring Meet in Wilmington, NC at the Battleship NC Park. There were 100 NC Region members’ vehicles entered in the show. The venue had an open field marked for each individual vehicle. Everyone had a view of downtown Wilmington across the water and the battleship USS North Carolina .  There were trees for shade around the park for keeping cool with a great breeze all day.  Vendors provided a grill with hamburgers and hot dogs and slushies.  The Cape Fear Chapter provided drinks and morning donuts for everyone.  Trophies were made from the wood of the old teak wood decking from the USS North Carolina. The NC Region board meeting was held in the admirals meeting room aboard the USS North Carolina.  No cases of sea sickness were reported by Board members.

For more pictures of the Spring Meet Click 2015 NC Region Spring Meet Photos

Inaugural NC Region Cruse-in Saturday June 13, 2014 
               
Kinston, NC   

NC Region Vice President Bill Cox has planned a Cruise-in for the NC Region.  Bill says, “I imagine we have had Region cruises and certainly tours before now, but this year, we’re having an NC Region cruise-in event that will hopefully start a new tradition. We’re talking about a no-registration, come as you are, one day trip to a fun destination that is low stress and high on the fun meter. We’ve chosen Kinston N.C. and the CSS Neuse Interpretive Center for our first cruise-in.

Kinston is a small historic town in Eastern NC that has a very nice riverside farmers market, some cool restaurants and a new museum housing the Confederate Ironclad gunboat, the CSS Neuse. The museum comes under the direction of the State Cultural Resources Department that also manages the Transportation Museum in Spencer. If you remember, the Spencer Museum houses many of our trophies and we hold a Region Meet there just about every fall. Dr. Cherry, the deputy commissioner of the Department spoke at our Region annual meeting in January and provided a very interesting program.” 

Plans for the day:

• Cruise on down to Kinston, NC Saturday June 13 and plan to arrive by 11:00.
• Drive your old vehicle of choice and prepare to make a splash in Kinston.
• Park in a group behind the museum at  100 N. Queen St. Kinston N.C.
• If you’d prefer to drive something modern, come on down and join the fun.
• You’ll have an opportunity to view a film on the history of the CSS Neuse.
• Walk through the museum at your own pace.
• Plan to eat lunch, hit the farmers market, and view the full life-size model of the CSS Neuse located at the riverside park.
• Head home whenever you’re ready.

There you go… simple and easy. Grab a few friends and drive down together in a parade of vintage cars or pile in the seven seat Tahoe.
Questions: Contact Bill Cox at 919-732-3104 or billcoxjr@gmail.com

Directions:  The museum is located at:  100 N. Queen St. Kinston N.C. on your GPS
or look for Highway 11 off of Hwy 70 into Kinston, it’s the main drag in downtown Kinston. Look for old cars!

Some fun restaurants and businesses in Kinston:

• The Chef and the Farmer’s  Boiler Room (this restaurant shares the parking lot behind the museum. It is owned by a now famous chef (Vivian Howard) who hosts a TV show on WUNC called “It’s a Chef’s Life”. She worked in restaurants in New York and then came “home” to Kinston to open a couple of “farm to table” restaurants in Kinston- Google it!  108 West North St. Kinston, NC
• Christopher’s Café:  rumored to have “The best fried chicken ever!”         217 North Queen St.  Kinston, NC
• Kings Barbecue Restaurant: Home of the “Pig in a Puppy”… more than you can eat!   On the 70 by pass around Kinston.  405 East Newbern Rd. Kinston, NC.
• You can also picnic at the Riverside Park and Farmers Market. There may be food vendors. (Not confirmed).
• Southern Heritage Folk Art and Antiques, 115 N. Queen St. It’s the coolest one I know of, not sure about others.

Pass the word along – Bring a prospective member.

PS: I hope to have something special for those who drive their vintage vehicle!

Tour Photos from 2014.