The annual Woodward Dream Cruise is dubbed as the world’s largest one-day classic car event – spanning nine communities along Woodward Avenue. More than one million visitors and 40,000 antique and classic cars annually gather for the event, which stretches 16 miles from 8 Mile Road in Detroit to downtown Pontiac.
2013 Woodward Dream Cruise logoDETROIT, MI- It’s the third weekend of August in Michigan, which only means one thing: its crusin’ time.
And while the “official” 2013 Woodward Dream Cruise remains days away, a host of events are occurring in preparation of the 19th annual event.
“Everything you ever wanted to see on wheels is on wheels this year,” said Dream Cruise operating board president Greg Rassel. "My favorite part is there's a sense of community ... people reunite with the automobile."
Rassel, who is public services director for Royal Oak, said the Dream Cruise remains a "one-day" event, but it has really unofficially grown into a week-long celebration of classic cars.
The annual Woodward Dream Cruise is dubbed as the world’s largest one-day classic car event – spanning nine communities along Woodward Avenue. More than one million visitors and 40,000 antique and classic cars annually gather for the event, which stretches 16 miles from 8 Mile Road in Detroit to downtown Pontiac.
Dozens of events are occurring through Saturday, but MLive has some favorites that we don’t think you should miss. Here’s a look at five events that will make for a great cruisin’ week:
5. “Cruise In Shoes:” The cars may be the stars of the Dream Cruise, but "Cruise In Shoes" is already making a name for itself.
Money raised from the second-annual event will go to help all nine communities that are a part of the Dream Cruise pay their shares of an estimated $600,000 to put on the car celebration.
Last year, about 500-700 people ran in the event's inaugural year.
"We were quite happy with how last year's event turned out," Rassel said. "We're really thrilled that it's been able ot grow, and hopefully it's an event that continues to grow."
The run starts at 7:30 a.m. on southbound Woodward at 13 Mile in Royal Oak. Registration, which remains open through Aug. 15 and the day of the event, is $35 per adult. Participants are encouraged to dress up in retro outfits.
4. The venom: Chrysler Group LLC always has a prominent presence at 13 Mile and Woodward Avenue during the Dream Cruise in Royal Oak, but its true venom is coming out earlier in the week.
The “Viper Club Car Show” is expected to feature an array of Vipers from the past 20 years from 6-9 p.m. Thursday.
The all-new 2013 SRT Viper, which starts at just under $100,000, features an all-aluminum, SRT-engineered 8.4-liter V-10 engine estimated that delivers 640 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque – the most torque of any naturally aspirated engine in the world.
3. Designing classics: More than 100 vehicles are registered for the fourth annual GM Design team car show at the Northwood Plaza on the southwest corner of Woodward and 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak.
The car show, which has traditionally featured classic and new models, goes from 1-9 p.m. Wednesday.
This is the third year Chevrolet – GM’s largest brand – has been presenting sponsor of the annual car celebration. Check back to MLive Wednesday morning for a full list of events from the Detroit-based automaker, as well as Ford and Chrysler.
2. Mustang Alley: There’s just something about the Ford Mustang that’s unlike any other vehicle, and hundreds of owners have told us that through the years.
Last year’s registration for this year’s Mustang Alley– a collection of the sports cars – was the largest ever at more than 800 vehicles and this year could top it (numbers coming soon), as Ford is celebrating 50 years of the iconic spots car.
Mustang turns 50 on April 17, 2014. The Dearborn-based automaker revealed the first Mustang in 1964 to the public at the 1964 World's Fair.
1. The classics: It’s that simple. The Woodward Dream Cruise and its surrounding events are all about the classics.
Whether you just love the nostalgia they bring back or wish you were lucky enough to be alive when they were built, just enjoy being able to see some of the best vehicles ever produced.
"It's just such an incredibly unique event," Rassel said. "If you've never been, everyone should go once."
Click here for all of the news, photos and video from MLive for the 2013 Woodward Dream Cruise.
Michael Wayland covers the automotive industry for MLive. Email him at MWayland@mlive.com and follow him on twitter.com/MikeWayland or Google+.