Mississippi woman wins Cruisin’ raffle car

Hurricane Nate sent Cruisin’ The Coast home early, but not before the winner of the 2017 raffle truck was announced and the 2018 car was revealed.

Executive Director Woody Bailey said Cynthia Magee of Tylertown was at work when they phoned her from the Cruisin’ The Coast stage to tell her she was the winner of the 1936 fiberglass assembled street rod Ford pickup truck.

“When can I come get it?” she asked, even as Nate was aiming at Biloxi.

The storm essentially zoomed the last weekend of Cruisin’ The Coast into just over a day. But it still was a record-breaking year.

Bailey said the final count was 8,308 registered vehicles. Even with a condensed schedule, that bettered last year’s record of 7,957 cars.

They came from 40 states, Puerto Rico and Germany. Bailey said the count was 39 states for quite a while until one Cruiser registered from Maine.

His goal is to get Cruisers from every state.

“I want all 50 of them here at one time,” Bailey said.

He’ll have a chance again next year when the 22nd Cruisin’ The Coast runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 7. He said 738 vehicles already are registered.

The Make a Wish Raffle Car for 2018 is “pretty car,” said Bailey, a 1968 Camaro, that’s painted Rally Green.

The full list of winners of the cash prizes awarded is at the Cruisin’ The Coast website.

Despite this year’s weather, Bailey said Cruisers will return.

“Everyone’s looking forward to next year,” he said.

This story was originally published October 11, 2017 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Mississippi woman wins Cruisin’ raffle car."