2013 Woodward Dream Cruise: Tips for cruisers

Stats compiled by last year’s Chevrolet Certified Service Rescue Squad point to a few key items to which cruisers should pay special attention before they hit the road with their classics.

Classic cars owners cruise the Woodward Dream Cruise Friday night in Ferndale at 9 Mile, Aug. 16 (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com)

DETROIT, MI- Thousands of classic cars and trucks are expected to be cruising Woodward Avenue today for the 2013 Dream Cruise, and no one wants to be driving the vehicle that breaks down.

But if you do, General Motors Co.’s Chevrolet Certified Service Rescue Squad will be cruising Woodward Avenue to help keep things moving by lending an assist to beautiful classic cruisers that stall, overheat or run out of gas.

“It’s called the ‘The Dream Cruise’, but an overheated engine, a drained battery, or a flat tire can turn that dream into a nightmare for enthusiasts whose countdown clock to Woodward starts the day it ends,” said Steve Walczak, Chevrolet Certified Service marketing manager, in a statement. “No one wants to breakdown or cause ‘The Dream Traffic Jam,’ so Chevrolet Certified Service technicians will be assisting cruisers with minor issues that can be easily remedied.”

This is the second year the Certified Service Rescue Squad has been at the Woodward Dream Cruise. Last year, the squad helped more than 25 cruisers in need, so Chevrolet decided to increase the Rescue Squad from two to five vehicles.

Stats compiled by last year’s Chevrolet Certified Service Rescue Squad point to a few key items to which cruisers should pay special attention before they hit the road with their classics:

1. Battery– make sure the battery is charged, the terminals are clean and check for wear or aging of the alternator belt and distributor cap.

2. Fluids – check fluid levels to make sure the vehicle is ready to operate for several hours and have extra to top it off when necessary.

3. Gas– fill it up and top it off before embarking on the journey. A sticky or faulty gas gage can leave you stranded on the side of the road.

4. Tires – check the tire pressure and condition especially if it’s a vehicle driven only a few times a year.

5. Blades – make sure the windshield wipers are in good operating condition in the event of rain.

The Woodward Dream Cruise is recognized as the world’s largest one-day classic car event. More than one million visitors and 40,000 antique and classic cars are expected for the event, which stretches 16 miles from 8 Mile Road on the border of Detroit through downtown Pontiac.