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If you’re familiar with anything about the Myrtle Beach area, we’re certain it has to do with enjoying the beach lifestyle. It’s hard to find a more laid-back atmosphere that is great for vacationing. In fact, it’s even a cool location for car guys. Especially at the end of May each year, when the Run To The Sun car show is in full swing.
When the warming weather of Spring rolls around, it’s time to fire up the project you have spent the last six months rebuilding. For those lucky folks living in the Carolinas, The Run To The Sun car and truck show — put on by the Pee Dee Street Rodders Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — is the official season-opening show. In fact, this was the 31st year for this great show, and cars and trucks from 27 different states — and Canada — made the trek to Myrtle Beach to take part in this annual event.
Trucks are a hot trend in custimization, and Tony Hiton of Grimesland, North Carolina has a gorgeous ’48 Chevy. Images: Mike Slade
This is the longest-running event of any type taking place in Myrtle Beach, and is held on the 54-acre lot on highway 17 — the main road that runs through the middle of Myrtle Beach. The old Myrtle Beach Mall use to sit on this site before it was torn down over 10 years ago. The old Mall was where the Pee Dee Street Rodders first launched this show in 1988. During that inaugural gathering, 84 street rods show up to enjoy the day. After year number two, it was decided to move the show to the parking lot behind the Waccawmaw Pottery Mall that sits on highway 501 at the Intracoastal Waterway. After this move the show really took off, growing to host more than 2,000 cars and trucks. In 2011 — for various reasons — the show moved to the 54-acre site where it is held to this day.
This year, a total 3,323 cars and trucks were registered for the event. But, this isn’t your traditional “trophy show.” Instead of parking the vehicles in particular classed and judging them, sponsor plaques are given out by such organization as the National Street Rod Association, Goodguys, different vendors, and the ladies of the Pee Dee Street Rodders. The club also picks a Best of Show car, truck, and street rod. These last three winners are then used on the front of the club t-shirt the next year.
There were alot of Chevy logos on hand for this year’s show, and, we figure that at least half of the cars and trucks were Chevys. There were Camaros, Chevelles, Impalas, Corvettes, trucks of all years and vintage, Novas, and alot of ‘55, ‘56 and ’57 models. We felt the most unique Chevy at this year’s show was a white ’55 Corvette, that belongs to Larry Lang of Washington, North Carolina. There were only 700, Vettes made in 1955, and this was number 12. It is quite a rare piece.
Keith and Penny Rigney of Martinsville, Virginia have one gorgeous ’63 SS.
This show is a fund-raising event for the Pee Dee Rodders, as they raise money for various charities such as the Children’s Miracle Network through the McLouds hospital in Florence. To raise money, the club members sold 25,000, 50/50 tickets for a dollar each. At 3:00 p.m. on the final day of the show, five winners are picked and receive $2,500 each, with the other $12,500 going to charity.
This is a must attend event, and plans are already in the works for the 2020, Run To The Sun show that will be held again the third weekend in March. So, mark your calendar and make your hotel reservations for next year. For show information keep checking the Pee Dee Street Rodders website or Facebook page. We hope to see you at Myrtle Beach next year.
