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How to use carcruises.com.

• Select a state from the drop-down menu below.
• Then, select a month and click “Search”
• A list of matching events will appear. Click on the event name for more information; or, search again. 

Carcruises.com was started in 2000 by Vito Capaccio and has become the premier destination on the Internet for car cruises, meets, shows, and other events in the USA.

Vito Capaccio P.O. Box 59382 Pittsburgh, PA 15210 United States Phone: 412-807-1115 Email: [email protected]

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View a List of Events

Add your event, event list via email, visit our store, view the classifieds, welcome to cars and coffee events.

What started out as a small web site that only listed cars and coffee events has grown into the largest database of events for auto, bike, truck and Jeep enthusiasts on the web. As of now, we have listings for more than 20 different types of including car shows , bike shows , truck shows , Jeep meetups , cruise nights , day long cruises and multi-day cruises , swap meets , high performance driving and drifting events , swap meets , Concours d’Elegance events , and of course, Cars and Coffee events.

What makes Cars and Coffee Events different?

IF YOU’RE AN EVENT ORGANIZER

Ease of Use . The posting process is entirely self-service.  Create your account and upload your information. No waiting for us to get around to it.

Promotion : Every event is posted to all of our social media channels as soon as it’s published and is included in our email blasts.

Informative : Entice your audience by providing as much information on the event as you want. Plus, Event detail pages automatically show a Google map of the location of your event as well as your contact information.

Search Engine Visibility . Pages are fully optimized for SEO and are designed to work properly on laptops, desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

Cost : There isn’t any. It’s all FREE .

IF YOU’RE AN ENTHUSIAST

Event Calendar  – Our calendars list more than 20 types of car, motorcycle, truck, and Jeep events: Cruise nights, coffee runs, car shows, rallies, swap meets, track events, poker runs, tours, etc.

Event Search  – You can search events based on cost, venue, organizer, day, time, city, state, and type.

Emails – We’ve got two ways of getting emails.  The first is by state. Tell us what state you live in and we’ll send you a list of events in that state. The second is by zip code. Tell us your home zip code and how far you’d travel to attend an event and we’ll send you a list of events in your desired travel area.

Classified Ads  – Need parts? We’ve got ’em. Keeping that ride running can be a full-time job, so we also have a full classified ads section .

Recently Published Image Galleries

Do you have photos you’d like to add to our galleries? Please send an email to [email protected] and let us know.

Historic Automobile Endurance Run

Hotrods Unlimited

Monday(s) at The Maples

O’Mera Ford Golden Oldies Classic

Seaport Car Association Fathers Day Car Show

St. Ann’s Club Annual Car Show

Recently published blog posts.

Do you have a story about your favorite ride, or your favorite destination? Please send an email to [email protected] and let us know.

Pro Car Photography Tips: Capture Stunning Auto Images

Investing in Automobile Collecting Through the Eras

Starting Your Own Cars and Coffee Event: A Comprehensive Guide

Illinois’ Snake Road

Utah’s Scenic Byway 12

Discovering the North Shore Drive

Sign up for a list of events.

Oh sure, you could come back here week after week to look for a list of car stuff to do, but why bother?

Our Basic email program is simple: Just tell us the State where you live, and we’ll send you a list of the events in that state. Simple.  And if that’s too many events (which is possible) you can opt for our Premium email program which is designed to send you a list of only those events withing 30, 60, 90 or 120 miles of your zip code.

That should leave you plenty of time to polish the car.

Update For April, 2024: I wanted to bring up an event that is changing locations starting this month, as our long time advertiser Sumter Swap Meets is changing locations starting with their event on April 7th. This will be the first month that they will be at their new location at Florida Classic Park, located at 5360 Lockhart Rd., Brooksville, Florida 34602. We just wanted to help try and avoid anyone going to the old location in Bushnell, Florida and being disappointed, not realizing they have indeed moved. I have updated their Coming Attractions listings to indicate the change, and their display ad (on page 17 of this issue) reflects the change of venue. It is held on the first Sunday of every month, except July and August, since it is too hot. We have been to the Sumter Swap Meets on many occasions, have bought lots of various odds and ends along the way, and wish them the best in the move.

It's amazing that we are already making our way into April. The weather has been so nice the last couple months, and we are hoping that April will be just at good. So take advantage of the lower humidity now and get out and enjoy some cruise-ins and car shows, because before you know it that high humidity that Florida is known for during the summer will make its appearance here in the Sunshine State. There are certainly plenty of options all around the state, and you can find some great places to go by just flipping thru our Coming Attractions and Weekly & Monthly Cruises sections.

Speaking of which, those hosting events can make theirs stick out from the crowd by placing a display ad here in Mike Kelly's Cruise News. We offer special car show rates, so it is likely way more reasonably priced than you might otherwise assume. We can help you draw more participants as well as spectators, which will help pay for the cost of the ad itself, plus help grow your event and give it more recognition.

Though we have yet to leave as of this writing, by the time you read this we will have gone to the 34th Annual Spring Daytona Turkey Run inside the Speedway on March 22nd-24th. We always enjoy this event, along with seeing lots of friends from around the state. We hope to see even more during April, as we all have fun playing with our vehicles.

We always look forward to seeing everyone at the various events and cruise-ins. Seeing old friends and meeting new ones are a great part of this hobby. Take care, stay safe....and we'll see you on the streets!

- Michael B. Kelly

The ever popular Classified section was updated with lots of new additions. The Feature Cars section now includes the 29 Ford Model A Sedan belonging to Pat Teehan.

Event coverage in the Volume 29, Issue 354 printed magazine includes:

• 35th Annual River Ranch Rod Run near Yeehaw Junction

Plus the printed magazine also includes Kidd Darrin's "Vintage Point" column about Metal Fabrication. The Reyes On Tour photo spotlight features the LA Hooker Charger Funny Car. And as always we have the best Florida upcoming events listings other interesting items.

Most of the updates to our site will come the first couple of weeks of every month, so be sure and check back often....and keep a smile while cruising! CN

Mississippi claims No. 1 spot on USA Today's best car shows of the year. See winner here

One car show in Mississippi earned top rank in this year's USA Today list of best car shows in the nation.

Winners in the 2024 USA Today's 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for Best Car Show were chosen in a public online vote by readers. USA Today announced the winners Wednesday.

Each year, a panel of experts analyze "hundreds" of car show events that take place throughout the nation and narrow the field by nominating their top picks for the best. Experts then ask readers to vote for their favorites.

Mississippi's winner sits on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Gulfport.

Cruisin' The Coast

Cruisin’ The Coast earned first place on USA Today's best car show category list. This is the fifth year in a row readers voted Cruisin' the best car event by USA Today’s 10Best.

USA Today wrote Cruisin' The Coast is considered "America's largest block party," where attendees can listen to live music, eat food, buy merchandise and engage in "plenty of car talk.”

Cruisin' The Coast Executive Director Woody Bailey said via a Wednesday social media post that the recognition is due to participants and spectators being "top notch" and spreading the word about "CTC across the country."

"When voting began, we came out of the shoot in the number two spot, but our participants, fans and followers quickly put us on top, where we stayed for the balance of the competition," Bailey said in the post. "It is a real testament to the hard work put in by the staff, support of our sponsors and the thousands of hours put in by hundreds of volunteers who make Cruisin' roll along."

According to the organization's webpage, Cruisin’ The Coast began in 1996 with 374 vehicles registered for the event. In 2017, the organization registered 8,308 vehicles for the event. And in 2023, the organization registered 10,070 vehicles for the event.

The Top 10 winners for best car show are ranked as follows:

• Cruisin' The Coast — Mississippi Gulf Coast
• MSRA Back to the 50's Weekend — St. Paul, Minnesota
• Triple Crown of Rodding — Lebanon, Tennessee
• The Amelia Concours d'Elegance — Amelia Island, Florida
• Eastern Division AACA National Fall Meet — Hershey, Pennsylvania
• NSRA Street Rod Nationals — Louisville, Kentucky
• Grand National Roadster Show — Pomona, California
• Iola Car Show — Iola, Wisconsin
• The Gathering at the Roc — Bartlesville, Oklahoma
• Woodward Dream Cruise — Detroit, Michigan

Metro Detroit car cruises: 7 shows to check out this summer

If there's one place in the U.S. to expect top-notch car cruises and auto shows, it's the Motor City.

Metro Detroit is the birthplace of the automobile, and there are plenty of events that pay homage to the classics as well as the industry itself.

Whether you're looking for a chill weekly meetup or a lavish, festive cruise, here are events to check out this summer. 

Canton Car Cave Cruise Nights

From 5-9 p.m. every Monday all summer long, show off your hot rod at the Car Cave located at 41839 Michigan Ave., just west of I-275.

Hot dogs, chips, and beverages will be offered alongside a variety of great cars. 

Car Cruise at Merri-Bowl , Livonia

From dinnertime to dark every Wednesday in Livonia, enjoy a car show with food and music. Parking spaces are available at the bowling alley lot, located at 30950 Five Mile Road.

Summer Classic Car Show , Taylor

Another weekly car show is located at 8787 Telegraph Road in Taylor from 4:30-8 p.m. every Saturday.

All makes and models are welcome and people are invited to come and show off their cars. The event offers music, a 50/50 raffle, prizes and a 10% food discount. Funds benefit the Penrickton Center for Blind Children in Taylor. 

Caffeine and Chrome -Gateway Classic Cars of Detroit

This early morning show welcomes all collectible car owners to indulge in coffee and pastries, until supplies last. The free event runs from 9 a.m. to noon on the last Saturday of every month at 15000 North Commerce Drive in Dearborn. This summer's events will be held on June 25, July 30, and Aug. 27.  

There will be a museum full of classic, exotic, and muscle cars during this family and pet-friendly event. For more information or to register, call Rachel at 866-383-1416.  

Music in the Park : The Look with Cool Car Show, Utica

Music in the Park takes place at Dodge Park in Utica at 40620 Utica Road, featuring a new special event and genre each week. Beginning at 7 p.m. July 7, there will be classic rock music paired with a car show.

21st Annual Autos for Autism , Garden City

From 4-9 p.m. July 18, Autos for Autism will take place at the event's original location, Garden City High School. 

Garden City Middle School, the site where the show happened the last five years, is unavailable this year because of renovation work.

The Car Show provides most of the revenue for the Burger Autistic School Association, the parent/teacher group at Burger School. In recent years, Car Show funds have been used to furnish classrooms with new audiovisual technology, to provide playground communication boards and equipment, and to fund classroom grants, sports programs and fall formals, school stores and “calming rooms” at both buildings, family pizza parties and roller skating outings and more.

Bonnie and The Working Girls will be performing and food from R&J Smoked Meats will be for sale. There will also be raffles, merchandise, and loads of nice automobiles. 

Woodward Dream Cruise 

One of the most famous annual automotive events in Detroit takes place Aug. 20 this year. 

More: Great Lakes heat waves are bad for fish

More: Nasty weather headed for metro Detroit

The cruise covers a 16-mile radius with nine communities in Oakland County participating from Pontiac to Ferndale. Each city is hosting its own events , including music, food, merchandise and more. 

SMART Bus will offer a free shuttle service on Woodward for attendees to travel through the event from city to city. 

Weekly and Monthly Cruise-Ins

KEY : Abbreviations, dpz (door prizes), dp (dash plaques), ammy (all makes models years), $8/10 (first number is pre-registration fee, last number is "day of" fee).​

REMEMBER:  Weather changes rapidly, it's best to check weather or call the specific show you are interested in first to avoid disappointment.

Number of Events: 43

Alexandria cars & coffee.

Start Date: 

End Date: 

We started meeting at Hollin Hall shopping center in 2012 We are a friendly group of people who love their cars and like meeting other people who love their cars

Hollin Hall Pastry Shop 7920 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA, undefined DC

https://carsandcoffeeevents.com/event/alexandria-cars-coffee/2023-12-03/

Muscle Car Mondays

MUSCLE CAR MONDAYS Cork & Barrel Wine Bar 35800 Detroit Rd, Avon 44011 Kick off May 8th runs thru Oct (weather permitting) 5-9, Free, AMMY, Music, DPZ, Food & Drink Specials Follow us on Facebook

35800 Detroit Rd., Avon OH 44011

https://www.facebook.com/CorkandBarrelWineBar?mibextid=LQQJ4d

[email protected]

440-937-5830

Rooftop Car Cruize Nite

ROOFTOP CAR & TRUCK CRUIZE NITE - April 12 and every second Friday April thru October by the Chesapeake Bay. Fifty feet up on the rooftop of the Rod 'N' Reel parking garage. 4 PM - 8 866 312 5596

4165 Mears Ave., Chesapeake Beach MD 20732

[email protected]

Downtown Painesville Organization's 2023 Summer Car Cruise Ins

Join us Fridays (weather permitting) May 19-Sept 15 for weekly Car Cruise at Veterans' Park in historic downtown Painesville, 5-8pm. 50/50 raffle, music, food vendors

98 S Park Place, Painesville OH 44077

https://www.mainstreetpainesville.org

Renee Fitzgerald Palacio

[email protected]

Independence Village Of Avon Lake Weekly Car Cruise In

Independence Village Of Avon Lake Weekly Car Cruise In April 24th- October 13th. We will have free water, pop, chips. 4:00 pm - dusk, all makes and models

346 Lear Road, Avon Lake OH 44012

[email protected]

(440) 670-9228

Akron Chargers Tuesday Cruise in at Firehouse Grille

5PM-8PM May through October (weather permitting). DJ, Weekly 50/50 and seasonal giveaways. Hosted by the Akron Chargers.

10 Tallmadge Circle, Tallmadge OH 44278

https://facebook.com/firehouse.tallmadge

Bill Corbin

SLIM & CHUBBYS STRONGSVILLE CRUISE IN 2024

Slim & Chubby’s Strongsville Cruise-In, Starting 05/01/2024 & Ending 09/25/2024. 5pm-9pm @ 12492 Prospect Rd. Strongsville, Ohio

12492 Prospect Rd., Strongsville OH 44149

https://www.facebook.com/slimandchubbysstrongsville/

slim& [email protected]

440-572-7546

American Cruisers & Buffalo Wild Wings Strongsville Weekly Cruise-In!

Weekly Cruise-In at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Strongsville! Just WEST of 71 at the Pearl Road exit. Every Wednesday from May 1 through October 30. Check our Facebook for the latest updates.

8465 Pearl Road, Strongsville OH 44136

https://www.facebook.com/americancruisersoh/

[email protected]

216-337-9633

Frisch's Big Boy Cruise-in

Oct 30, 2024

Music Food 50/50 (proceeds to go to Hillsboro Schools for kids who can't afford lunches Every other Wednesday from May 1st and ending with a Trunk or treat on October 30th

1285 N High St, Hillsboro OH 45133

https://www.facebook.com/share/BknFEg5wxyQvyCQo/?mibextid=9VsGKo

Max Sprague

[email protected]

Harwood Motors - FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH!

May 3, June 7, July 5, August 2, September 6, October 4. First Friday of each month WEATHER PERMITTING 4:00 - 7:00 No registration fees. No raffles Pizza, pop, snacks for purchase Bring the family!

1333 Highland Road, East side of building, Macedonia OH

[email protected]

440-565-5335

American Legion Parma Post 703 Friday evening cruise-in

Join us for our second year of Friday evening cruise-ins starting Friday, May 3rd and every Friday thru the end of September. The fun starts at 4:00 PM and goes thru 9:00 PM every week. Free to all!

7667 York Road, Parma OH 44130

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Young girl dead after mother accidentally hits her with car in Philadelphia: Sources

The child was transported to Einstein Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A young girl is dead after police sources say her mother inadvertently struck her with a car in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

It happened at approximately 5:30 p.m. on the 200 block of Comly Street in the city's Crescentville neighborhood.

According to police sources, the 31-year-old mother had double-parked her blue Chevy Traverse in the street to unload groceries and had brought her 2-year-old daughter inside their home.

At some point, however, the toddler reportedly left the house and followed her mother back out to the street. The mother did not see that she wasn't inside.

That's when sources say the mother unintentionally struck the young girl.

Police sources say there will be no criminal charges, and it has been deemed a tragic accident.

Authorities have not yet released the girl's identity.

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Colorado woman tried to steal a pickup, but couldn't handle the stick shift, police said

Police say a stick shift thwarted a Colorado woman who tried to steal a pickup truck — shortly after she was released from jail on a car-theft charge

BOULDER, Colo. -- A Colorado woman’s attempt to steal a pickup truck — shortly after she was released from jail on a car theft charge — was thwarted not by officers, nor the truck’s owners, but by her inability to drive a stick shift, Boulder Police said.

The woman had been released from jail on May 3 after being accused of stealing a car a day earlier, and walked down the road until she spotted a pickup truck with the keys inside. She then started the pickup, but apparently discovered she couldn’t manage the manual transmission, so she got out and walked away, leaving the truck to roll forward and strike a fire hydrant, police said.

The woman was arrested and now has a May 30 court date on new charges of motor vehicle theft, careless driving, driving without a license and failing to report the crash. The truck was returned to its owner, police said.

Police titled a social media post about the case “Stick Shift FTW," which is an acronym for “for the win.”

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Norwegian introduces new cruise discount, onboard credit offer for teachers

School is nearly out for summer, and Norwegian Cruise Line is offering teachers a deal on their next vacation.

The cruise line launched a new cruise discount for teachers this week, giving educators and related staff 5% off their fare and a $50 onboard credit. The year-round offer comes as Norwegian marks the return of its Giving Joy campaign, which awards free trips to teachers who are “making a difference in their classroom and communities,” the line said in a news release .

"We are proud of our history of thanking educators for their hard work and commitment to shaping the next generation of future leaders," Norwegian Cruise Line President David J. Herrera said in the release.

"To honor these education heroes for the long-lasting impressions they make inside and outside the classroom, we are excited to not only award 20 teachers on the fifth-year anniversary of Norwegian's Giving Joy program with a free vacation aboard the soon-to-debut Norwegian Aqua , but to also extend the recognition to the broader educator community across the U.S. and Canada with our new Teacher Cruise Discount,” he continued. “Travel is a powerful means of education, and we look forward to welcoming educators to join us on board to explore the world.”

What are the terms of Norwegian’s Teacher Cruise Discount?

The discount applies to active pre-K-12th grade classroom teachers, principals, assistant principals, school employees and college or university professors, according to the line’s website . They must be 18 or older and legal residents of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or Canada.

Short vs. long cruises: Here's how they compare

Educators can apply online .

Applicants must be verified through ID.me. The discount applies to the verified teacher’s whole stateroom and is limited to “one stateroom per verified teacher per sailing.”

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

First responders find puppies left in hot car while owner visits Disney

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Gray News) - A pet owner could be facing felony charges for leaving four puppies inside a hot car at Disney Springs over the weekend.

WFLA reports that a security guard spotted the puppies in the hot vehicle that was parked in a parking garage at Disney Springs last Saturday.

According to the Orange County Animal Services in Florida, first responders were called to the scene but one of the puppies was already unresponsive and despite life-saving measures, the puppy died.

“We cannot stress this enough: It is never a good idea to leave your pets inside a parked car,” Orange County Animal Services shared. “The temperatures inside a parked vehicle can easily climb to well over 120 degrees in just a few minutes.”

Animal services said the three other pups were able to survive with care at an area veterinary emergency clinic.

According to the animal service team, the puppies’ owner had just picked them up from a breeder and stopped to have dinner with family at Disney Springs.

The owner shared that they assumed that since the puppies were in a covered parking garage and had the windows cracked the animals would be OK.

“Every year we find ourselves working heartbreaking cases like this one. Fortunately, our first responder and law enforcement partners are well trained and well aware of the law, and they will not hesitate to take action against such neglect,” representatives with animal services said.

Firefighters ended up adopting the puppies that were saved.

As for the person who left the dogs behind, WOFL reports that the Orange County Sheriff’s Office says investigators believe they have probable cause for felony animal cruelty charges.

Copyright 2024 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Santa Cruz Life

At The Boardwalk, You’ll Be Having Some Fun: Your Guide to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

By Blair Stenvick

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is the red ‘60s chevy convertible of amusement parks — it’s vintage, cool, stylish, colorful.

It’s great for a date, family, or friends.  It looks good right by the ocean, and it still runs great.

There’s only one real difference: the Boardwalk opened way before those convertibles came out.  It was founded in 1907, making it the oldest amusement park operating in California today.  As it was then, admission remains free today, and attractions are comparatively affordable.

There’s so much to see, hear, taste, smell, and touch at the Boardwalk that you may need to make several visits during the summer season — Mondays and Tuesdays are dollar ride nights, making it a perfect time to splurge on all your favorite rides and that deep-fried twinkie you’ve been eyeing.

Here’s a guide to the Boardwalk basics, and beyond.

It wouldn’t be an amusement park without rides, and the Boardwalk has a great offering of vintage and newer rides for cautious young kids and their daredevil older siblings.

Built in 1924, the Giant Dipper is a wooden-track roller coaster that’s impressive for any decade.  Over 60 million people have ridden the Dipper since it opened, and once you ride it yourself, you’ll see why it’s a can’t-miss.

For the more adventurous set, twisty-turny rides like the Fireball will get your heart rate elevated in no time, and on the Fright Walk you’ll scream more than you have in years.  Rides like the serene Sky Glider and stomach-dropping Double Shot both offer great views on the city and the ocean, as do the Sea Swings.

For the little ones, the Boardwalk has an entire section dedicated to smaller rides like the Rugged Buggy and the Speed Boats.

The boardwalk has a range of game choices — from an arcade with miniature golf, laser tags, and video games to the usual fairway carnival games, like Break-a-Plate and skee ball.

Arcade games award tickets to save up for big prizes, and some of the outdoor games offer prizes for participation, though not all do.  If you’re bringing kids and looking to avoid disappointment or throwing too much money away, miniature golf is something the whole family can have fun doing together.

The Boardwalk has the usual corn dogs and deep-fried desserts, and it also has California-inspired treats like garlic fries and seafood.  For dessert, Marini’s fudge is hard to beat, unless it’s hot out and you’d rather have a Santa Cruz Sno Cone.

If you’re looking for somewhere with a bit more ambiance near the Boardwalk, there are a variety of quality restaurants on the Wharf serving fresh seafood, Italian, and Mexican food.  There’s also the Penny Ice Creamery’s  sister restaurant, The Picnic Basket, which serves delicious artisan sandwiches and salads for lunch along with their famous ice cream.

Live Entertainment

The Boardwalk doesn’t have costumed performers every time you turn around like at Disneyland, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any live entertainment there.  Every Friday night from June through August features a live band, with many popular acts from the 60s, 70s, and 80s.  Blue Oyster Cult has played a couple times, and War and Eddie Money are both scheduled for this August.

In need of an quick getaway?  There are plenty of Santa Cruz hotels near the Boardwalk, some right down the street and some a quick bike ride, walk trolley ride or car drive over.

The most striking of the beachfront hotels is the Dream Inn , the closest thing to a high-rise on the water.  It’s upscale and offers Wi Fi, a heated pool, and room service, along with stunning views — if you stay here, you may never even make it to the Boardwalk.

More economical options near the Boardwalk are in abundance — the Aqua Breeze, Comfort Inn, Casablanca, and West Cliff Inn are just a few options that frequently have deals on hotel websites.

For a special experience that’s just a little ways away from the beach, try Chaminade , a gorgeous resort in the middle of Santa Cruz’s illustrious redwoods, or Hotel Paradox , a recently-opened upscale hotel that uses innovative techniques to makes its outside look like the inside (hence the hotel’s name).

No matter where you end up staying, or if you enjoy living in Santa Cruz all the time, everyone can come together to enjoy the Boardwalk, an amusement park with character and a whole lot to offer.

Photo Credit: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

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Blair Stenvick

Blair Stenvick is a freelance writer who has lived in Santa Cruz for four years.

[…] What kid wouldn’t want to spend the night at the Boardwalk? […]

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VW owners claim ‘poor design’ left cars open to parts theft costing £1,600

Cruise control sensors taken by thieves, forcing drivers to pay to replace them or face higher insurance premiums

Volkswagen owners targeted by thieves who have stolen cruise control sensors from cars across London are furious after discovering the car’s “poor design” that makes them so easy to steal is set to cost them £1,600 each.

The sensors, which cost about £700 each, are fitted behind the VW badge, and appear to be a popular target for thieves.

A VW specialist in the Midlands said he had experienced a big jump in sensor thefts “in the last few months”, and in recent weeks, motorists across the capital have been reporting thefts on social media groups.

Tara O’Driscoll, from Clapham in south-west London, said she had fallen victim to the crime and had heard of more than 50 other reports of thefts in the borough since posting on social media about her experience. On some London roads, owners have reported that every VW car that features the sensor has had it taken.

She has been told it will cost about £1,600 to replace the sensor on what she described as her “very ordinary” VW Golf.

“Every VW car in our area that has this sensor has been targeted and it has been the talk of the community on WhatsApp and other media, not least as the bills to fix it are so big. It seems the part itself is expensive and only VW can calibrate it to work with your car,” she said.

“People face having to make expensive insurance claims which will only push up their premiums for years to come, or pay the £1,600 upfront.”

The part is vital to the car’s adaptive cruise control (ACC) as it measures the distance to the vehicle in front, and adjusts the driving speed accordingly. However, it is easily accessible and is held in place by three screws.

VW owners first began reporting the theft of ACC sensors in 2016 , and some have been hit by a second theft after the first was replaced.

Owners are questioning why VW has not fixed this known problem. They now want VW to come up with a cost-effective solution – and an improved design to stop it happening again. The company has, so far, refused.

O’Driscoll said: “Given that it is clearly such a poor design, we feel that VW should be making a contribution – or at least doing the work at cost. If we have the work done, what’s to stop it being stolen again the next week?”

Rebecca Phillips, another Clapham resident whose VW Passat was similarly targeted recently, said she was furious that the manufacturer was not offering a cheaper solution.

“When we searched online, it soon became clear this has been happening for years,” she said. “There are videos showing how easy it is to steal these sensors, and yet nothing has been done. Our car is now beeping safety warnings at us and VW has told us not to drive it until it is repaired.”

A VW spokesperson said: “We are sorry to hear about the issues being faced by this group of customers and we have advised them that this is, first and foremost, a matter all victims should discuss with local police. This does appear to be a localised crime issue and we are not aware of similar incidents happening elsewhere in the country.”

The company said it does not believe that this problem can be attributed to a design flaw or defect, and therefore it will not be offering any financial help to the owners.

It said that a missing radar sensor would not result in an MOT failure, as owners have feared.

“As this part is chassis-stamped, it can, once reported to us via the police, be locked so that it is inoperable on another vehicle – and as a result worthless on the black market,” the spokesperson said.

The VW sensors are the latest expensive car parts to be targeted by thieves. There have previously been similar spates of Land Rover headlight and hybrid car catalytic converter thefts.

• Volkswagen (VW)
• Automotive industry
• Consumer affairs

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44-Foot Whale Carcass on Bow of Cruise Ship Baffles NY Authorities

By Steve Gorman

(Reuters) - Marine conservationists and government scientists are seeking clues to the mystery of how a 44-foot whale carcass ended up on the bow of a cruise liner, where it was discovered as the ship approached New York City's Port of Brooklyn over the weekend.

A necropsy, the animal equivalent of an autopsy, identified the deceased marine mammal as a mature female sei whale, an endangered species typically found in deep waters far from land, the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society said on Wednesday.

One key question is whether the whale's death came before or after its contact with the vessel, according to the non-profit organization, based in Hampton Bays, New York.

An online statement posted by the society, whose team conducted the necropsy on Tuesday, said the exam revealed evidence of tissue trauma along whale's right shoulder blade region, and a right flipper fracture. The creature's gastrointestinal tract was full of food, it said.

Most of the whale's organs were sampled, along with tissue and bone, for toxicology and pathology analysis, according to the society.

"The tissue and bone samples collected will help biologists determine if the vessel interaction occurred pre or post mortem," the group said in its statement.

It said the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's law enforcement office was also investigating the incident.

The whale's corpse was carried into port on Saturday.

The conservation society said the whale was then towed to shore at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, to conduct the necropsy.

Sei whales, members of the baleen branch of cetaceans that filter-feed on plankton and krill, take their name from the Norwegian word for pollock, a fish they often run with at sea. They are known as exceptionally fast swimmers, capable of reaching speeds of more than 34 miles per hour (55kph), according to NOAA.

They dwell mostly in subtropical, temperate and subpolar seas around the world, primarily the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. In summer, they are commonly found in the Gulf of Maine and on Georges Bank and Stellwagen Bank in the western North Atlantic.

(Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles. Editing by Gerry Doyle)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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