Sights and sounds fill Scrapin’ The Coast

Decked-out vehicles, jumping cars and squealing tires are sights and sounds that will fill Scrapin’ The Coast this weekend at the Coast Coliseum in Biloxi.

Organizer Greg Miller said the 14th annual event offers a unique brand of entertainment that brings guests from as far away as California and Canada.

The attractions include the hydraulics competition that lifts cars off the pavement and the mobile dyno, in which cars get on a stationary machine and fully accelerate to get a reading on their horsepower.

Based on the cars that come through the gates of the Coliseum, there seems to be no limit to how much people are willing to spend to deck out their cars.

Miller said one truck owner spent about $150,000 in modifications, including dropping the car and chroming everything from the frame to the engine.

“We have people who put hundreds of thousands of dollars into their vehicles,” Miller said. “There are (owners) who spend $40,000 to $50,000 just in a lift kit.”

Many of the events are based on people showing off their cars, whether for fun or for competition. Judging comes from both crowd response and special judges. Awards for best of show and other competitions will close the event on Sunday at 4 p.m. Special awards are surf boards painted by Baton Rouge-based artist Joe Vincent.

Registration ($60 on the day of the show) will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday. Late registration will be Saturday at 7 a.m. Show hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The fun will kick off Friday night with the Cruisin’ for a Cause pre-party at Orangutangs Daiquiris & Bar on Courthouse Road in Gulfport. The event raises money for a chosen family in need. The New Orleans Saints donate items each year and those are auctioned Sunday.

Saturday morning will start off with a blast as the gates open and DJ Gat Low begins spinning the tunes. At the same time, the stereo competition will get underway and run through 5 p.m.

Rapper T-Bo will perform at noon Saturday.

Cars, trucks and motorcycles will take part in a burnout competition at 2 p.m. Among those showing out will be monster trucks from Muddy Joe’s.

At 3 p.m., there will be competitions, including cornhole and a worm-eating contest.

Saturday night at the Gulfport Dragway, anyone wanting to race can get in on a friendly competition. There also will be DJ music and a bikini competition.

The hydraulic and airbag competition is Sunday at 2 p.m. Miller said this is one of the best visual events with vehicles hopping and even standing on their rear bumpers.

Organizers remind participants the Coast has strict noise ordinances.

Admission is $15 at the Coliseum gate and free for ages 12 and younger.

This story was originally published June 24, 2016 at 5:46 AM with the headline "Sights and sounds fill Scrapin’ The Coast."