I'd prefer to do Cooter's Garage Cruise for the following reasons:
~ It will take MDers 1 - 2 hours to get to Cooter's Garage.
~ I would prefer to spend time hanging out in a park bbq-ing, taking pics, throwing a football/frisbee around, etc. vs. a longer drive and eating in.
~ We always meet up, eat in and hang out in the parking lot. It would be nice to cook out and enjoy the last of the nice weather.
But that's just me.