Woodward Dream Cruise '09

[Still-One]

I am not sure how many of you are aware of the Woodward Dream Cruise. This is supposed to be the Worlds largest one day automotive related event. This Saturday will be the 15th annual event and up to 40,000 hot rods, classics, muscle cars, special interest (i.e. Ferrari Enzo) and collector cars are expected. The event draws an estimated 1.5 million people who line Woodward Avenue from about I-696 to Pontiac, close to a 16 mile stretch.

Although the event is only scheduled for Saturday it has become a week long event. Last night I took my brother and nephew who are in from Colorado over to Woodward where they were exposed to the thousands of cars that are already cruising and parking along the route. It was an especially perfect evening to drive around and see that cars and by 9 pm. The 4+ lanes going north and the 4+ going south were jammed up pretty good. In the past the closer to Saturday it gets the police often have to shut down Woodward because it can become a parking lot.

[ehoove]

It is a great event! I have been there a few times, and hope to get there again! You are lucky to be close by.
Regards,
Jim

[JFR0317]

I have read a lot about the Dream Cruise in AutoWeek, and I would love to make it some year as it brings back some great memories. I lived briefly in the area in 1973-1974 when I worked in product development for Ford, and one of my favorite stories was hearing a fellow engineer tell me about the time he made the 11:00 news when he was caught by one of the TV stations when he was in an impromptu drag race on Woodward Avenue in one of Ford's Mustang Boss 429 development cars. He had a lot of explaining to do the next day at work! At least he won his race, so they didn't fire him!

[Still-One]

Here is a link for some photos:

A good sample is if you look at 8/14/2009 Friday Dream Cruise.

Remember, the cruise is today these shots are just the appetizers.

Detroit News Online | Galleries | joyrides

[tony-w]

I grew up in Detroit an in the mid 60's remember cruising Woodward on Friday and Saturday nights. Would have liked to attend this years event.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by tony-w

I grew up in Detroit an in the mid 60's remember cruising Woodward on Friday and Saturday nights. Would have liked to attend this years event.

I did most of my cruising in the late '60's and early '70's on Telegraph Road. How I never received a speeding or drag racing ticket I will never know.

[tony-w]

Originally Posted by Stillone

I did most of my cruising in the late '60's and early '70's on Telegraph Road. How I never received a speeding or drag racing ticket I will never know.

Gratiot was also another big crusing street and so was Eight Mile Road that connected everything together. At of lot restaurants with car-hops to hang out at along the way.

[Still-One]

Yeah, on Telegraph the Big Boy at Plymouth Road was great.

[tony-w]

A popular Detroit disk jockey talks about the cruise and how the car companies would test next years model by drag racing down Woodward.

YouTube - Lee Alan - On The Horn

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by tony-w

A popular Detroit disk jockey talks about the cruise and how the car companies would test next years model by drag racing down Woodward.

YouTube - Lee Alan - On The Horn

I listened to Le Alan since junior high school. I remember when he was supposed to have been suspended from the air for a short while for saying, if the skirts got any shorted there would more hair to cut.

The station he was on WXYZ Radio used to have a mobile station almost like a Airstream. They had it parked at the Big Boy's on Telegraph where he, Joe Sebastion, Dave Prince and Don Zee did there shows.