WOODWARD DREAM CRUISE
Ken Hughes
August 19, 2006
On the third Saturday in August each year an event takes place in the northern suburbs of Detroit Michigan that pales all other events in the area.
Roughly 40 thousand cars will parade before 2 million people down Woodward Boulevard for nearly 15 miles through 10 villages between Pontiac and Detroit Michigan.
About the only organization is the start of the cruise the rest is all unorganized and for some reason seems to go relatively smooth. There’s no admission aside from observers finding a place to park their cars and those items they purchase for food drink and mementos of the event. Junk souvenir dealers and local merchants stock up for the event. They abound on the side lines. It’s important to understand 10 separate villages are involved that may very well be a record for municipal cooperation.
Prior to 1995 Wrenchers, Car Aficionados and Novas Hotrodders held car cruises, rallies and showings throughout the summer months around Detroit. In 1995 the first semi-organized cruise was born and has grown by leaps and bounds since. It’s no longer a Detroit area event it encompasses the Mid-west and Ontario Canada.
Officially the event is scheduled for a Saturday in August, now Woodward Dream Cruise Eve has become a part of the festivities. Cruise mania spills over to the week before and the week following. The Woodward Dream Cruise rates with Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and the Pasadena Rose Parade.
The Woodward Dream Cruise is a place where Dr. Z of DaimlerChrysler can discuss carburetion and horsepower on an equal level with Forrest Gump. The wrenchers and shadetree mechanics are frequently the engineers and senior management from the recherché laboratories of the big three auto manufactures. Over the years a great deal of automobile techknoigy came from individual ingenuity from outside the laboratories. Automobile events are a place where technologies come together with the producers of products.
Before you drive your 2002 SUV to Michigan thinking you’ll drive onto Woodward and become part of the parade, forget it, there’s a beginning and an end. There’s also a qualifying requirement, you’re car must be seriously unique. Weiner Mobiles need not apply.
Roughly 40 thousand cars will parade before 2 million people down Woodward Boulevard for nearly 15 miles through 10 villages between Pontiac and Detroit Michigan.
About the only organization is the start of the cruise the rest is all unorganized and for some reason seems to go relatively smooth. There’s no admission aside from observers finding a place to park their cars and those items they purchase for food drink and mementos of the event. Junk souvenir dealers and local merchants stock up for the event. They abound on the side lines. It’s important to understand 10 separate villages are involved that may very well be a record for municipal cooperation.
Prior to 1995 Wrenchers, Car Aficionados and Novas Hotrodders held car cruises, rallies and showings throughout the summer months around Detroit. In 1995 the first semi-organized cruise was born and has grown by leaps and bounds since. It’s no longer a Detroit area event it encompasses the Mid-west and Ontario Canada.
Officially the event is scheduled for a Saturday in August, now Woodward Dream Cruise Eve has become a part of the festivities. Cruise mania spills over to the week before and the week following. The Woodward Dream Cruise rates with Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and the Pasadena Rose Parade.
The Woodward Dream Cruise is a place where Dr. Z of DaimlerChrysler can discuss carburetion and horsepower on an equal level with Forrest Gump. The wrenchers and shadetree mechanics are frequently the engineers and senior management from the recherché laboratories of the big three auto manufactures. Over the years a great deal of automobile techknoigy came from individual ingenuity from outside the laboratories. Automobile events are a place where technologies come together with the producers of products.
Before you drive your 2002 SUV to Michigan thinking you’ll drive onto Woodward and become part of the parade, forget it, there’s a beginning and an end. There’s also a qualifying requirement, you’re car must be seriously unique. Weiner Mobiles need not apply.
Print
Email
