Dream Cruise

[DetroitPole]

I have long been in the "It mostly sucks" category, but as someone said, let people have their hobbies. I don't like the idea of sitting in traffic, causing pollution, and blocking the road, but whatever. I'm never up there anyway.

Paridoxically, while I don't really like it for those reasons, a big problem I have is that it doesn't actually go into the Motor City, as others have pointed out. Why?

Again, while I'm sure these are mostly good, God-fearing Americans participating, you cannot deny that this demographic of cruisers is disproportionately middle-aged white men. I have a sinking feeling this is the strongest demographic of people who boast that Detroit is a shithole full of you-know-who's and that they haven't been to the city in decades.

There isn't a great deal of retail to suffer from it from 7 Mile north and I think the Palmer Park component would be nice. I think it could also promote cross city/suburban partnership and camraderie. Not that anyone really gives a shit about that.

The Detroit Historical Museum recently had a small car show on Kirby street but a month ago and it was GREAT fun. Nothing was vandalized, and everyone had a nice time. City and suburban people interacted and got to shoot the shit about cool cars. It can be done.

[bailey]

Paridoxically, while I don't really like it for those reasons, a big problem I have is that it doesn't actually go into the Motor City, as others have pointed out. Why?

Because that is where all those baby boomers trying to relive their youth cruised. The weren't cruising woodward in Detroit. It was all along that route because that was was bored suburban kids did back then. it was Gratiot north of 9 mile for the east siders.

not because they are bunch of red neck racists.

[Gannon]

Yeah, on that I call bs...if that were the case, the Cruise would be on Gratiot and Telegraph, too.

At least...

[bartock]

Yeah, on that I call bs...if that were the case, the Cruise would be on Gratiot and Telegraph, too.

At least...

Gratiot has a cruise.

[luckycar]

Yeah, on that I call bs...if that were the case, the Cruise would be on Gratiot and Telegraph, too.

At least...

Telegraph has a cruise,as does downriver.

[bailey]

Yeah, on that I call bs...if that were the case, the Cruise would be on Gratiot and Telegraph, too.

At least...

As Bartok and Luckycar point out...yes they do. "Cruising Gratiot" has been going on at least 10-12 years [[which is only a year or two less than the dream cruise.)

Look, just go to the Woodward cruise's website. The history of the event is all oakland county because "these locations were the turnarounds, stopping points and social hangouts for the cruisers of the era."

I am no fan of any of them. They are ridiculous and annoying. But it's not racism or a Detroit hatred behind it not going south of 8 mile.

[gazhekwe]

We cruised Telegraph and hung out in Korvette's parking lot and Daly's. Both are gone with no equivalents, and Telegraph is really not friendly for viewing. There is a cruise a bit farther down Telegraph, though.

[Gannon]

I didn't say "a" cruise...I said THE Cruise. Why's it gotta only be one venue?

They've already proven Woodward has reached maximum density...with heavy-handed police response in Royal Oak ruining the fun for many people [[I've heard too many stories for them to be not part of an overall trend, including use of their little fucking intimidation tank, paramilitary idiots-with-badges)!


Ford could do a little more on Telegraph, near their home office.

GM could do a little more on Gratiot, with a nod to their running feud with Mopar.

Chrysler can take over north Woodward...


...with them doing what they used to back in the day, only this time mixing it up with sanctioned drag races on lower Woodward...or better yet, on that part of the strip with the big cemetaries.


Again, some of the collector's items and museum pieces could be down in the Cultural Center...with concerts down in the city venues...and in Pontiac with their Arts, Beat, and Eats [[which is happening at the same time, right?!). Increased bus service could keep a bunch of folk from driving their cherished hotrods around if they don't want to stack up the miles.


But do this all at the same time, not replacing the staggered micro-cruises throughout the summer [[which are establishing themselves as tradition, too)...but really turning this weekend into a maximum-Detroit series of events. Heck, we've got more and more folks coming in from all over the world anyways...why aren't more capitalizing on it instead of just driving in a slow loop over-and-over-and-over again?!


Cheers

[Wilfrid]

I always enjoying the marquee at the Magic Bag during the dream cruise. There is nothing worse than trying to work on a Friday afternoon while the vintage fire truck and ambulance run is taking place. Two and a half hours of non-stop sirens.

[rb336]

We cruised Telegraph and hung out in Korvette's parking lot and Daly's. Both are gone with no equivalents, and Telegraph is really not friendly for viewing. There is a cruise a bit farther down Telegraph, though.

at Kor-vet-ties?

[louis]

i think it would be cool if the city had the money to sponser and support the dream cruise untill it becomes so big they eventualy have other cruises going down gratiot, jefferson, fort, and grand river

[yaktown]

Again, some of the collector's items and museum pieces could be down in the Cultural Center...with concerts down in the city venues...and in Pontiac with their Arts, Beat, and Eats [[which is happening at the same time, right?!).

Nope, Arts, Beats & Eats moved to Royal Oak 3 years ago and it's on Labor Day weekend anyway. I agree with you on having something in the city of Detroit proper. After all, it's the MOTOR CITY! Put the world on wheels and all that. Another thing to consider is the event in Flint on the same day, Back to the Bricks. It seems to be gaining in popularity too.

[oldredfordette]

Mother Fucking Cruise. Christ on a bike. So you have a car, go home.

Arts Beats and Eats moved to Royal Oak last year. This year is the second excruciating year.

[softailrider]

I'll chime in as an "it sucks" supporter.... never saw a sorry-er bunch of losers than people sitting in the middle of woodward 1 week before the cruise drinking their PBR and watching 99% everyday cars drive by..........

for a finale they probably go home and sniff paint while watching it dry......

Unreal, some people juat aren't happy unless they have something to complain about.

There's people in from all over the country, they're spending money, they're not sleeping in a tent and cooking by a campfire.

Went to Kerby's and the Moose Preserve tonight, they were both jammed, way busier then your average Wednesday night.

The event is bringing in pretty huge dollars, absolutely is seen by others in a positive way. Everybody I see is enjoying themselves

Sorry if you don't find the crowd to be high class enough for your approval.

[Gannon]

Thanks, I totally forgot that move...my boycott of downtown Royal Oak will have to come to an end, one of my friend's nieces is playing at the Jazz stage on Labor Day.

Too funny...I'd've driven all the way out to the Phoenix Center and wondered...LOL.


So Jesus is a cyclist. Figures.


Cheers!

[gazhekwe]

We enjoyed a lovely evening eyeballing some beautiful cars on Woodward. Saw some friends, too, one couple driving a gorgeous older Corvette and another couple lounging in front of Duggan's. There was a mystery European car in great shape, but what was it. It was black with a white top, two door coupe, mid-50s or so, with three circles logo on the back, and some script writing on the front fender. We just couldn't make it out.

[Cincinnati_Kid]

There should be something that brings this past 8 mile...with events at the old Fairgrounds, T-Plex, Historical Museum [[and other spots around the cultural center), all the way down to Hart Plaza...where some major celebration of the city should be held.

Of course, it brings issues...anywhere people congregate, trouble can brew. Heck, riding my bike to the Cruise one year some young idiot with Ford SVT PR threw his shoe at me...so this ranks as the only event where I've been directly accosted!

But...while I never would call myself a fan of Detroit iron...one year with a good client at his car club's party, I spent some of my most enjoyable hours ever watching this spectacle.


Bring on the Dream Cruise...I may not know anyone who's family wasn't brought here by the car industry, other than Skulker and Kathleen, of course. My grandfather was one of Henry Ford's reluctant foremen at the Rouge [[not long after those anti-union abuses, which he abhored), and my daddy was a Controller at Fisher Body-Fleetwood...passing out the paychecks.


Cheers!

Most of the cruisers wouldn't be caught dead, [[no pun intended) south of 8 mile for fear of their prized cars being jacked or tampered with.

[CLAUDE G]

Im in the "It Sucks" Boat, and heres why...

When they first started the Dream Cruise, it was a great idea to see all the classic cars cruising down Woodward in August.

Here is my issue...

#1 You might as well forget traveling along the Dream Cruise route for about a week before the event, especially in the late afternoon and evening. For the past few years I have made the mistake of going up there and just sat there stuck in traffic.

#2 If you do decide to go to the event, there is absolutly no parking. If you do find a good parking spot, you better come early or be prepared to spend good money to park close. Then you got to fight the crowds to get a good spot to sit.

#3 Im sick and tired of the businesses along the Dream Cruise route trying to cash in and turn what should be a single day event, into an event that lasts almost 2 weeks. Beides that, we got people selling parking spots and places to sit at high prices.

#4 Im sick of the copy cat cruises. We got the Gratiot Cruise, and now the Harper Cruise. Seriously, whats next the Jefferson Cruise? As far as im concerned, these are 2 additional weekends I get to be inconvienced when driving around in these areas.

Lets get rid of the sponsorships, and the high prices and go back to what the Cruise was ment to be when it was first started and I'll start supporting it again.

As far as the cruise being extended beyond 8 mile and into downtown. There is nothing wrong with Detroit. Its the fact of the matter that the businesses in the Suburbs don't want to share in the profits with the other businesses on the other side of 8 mile.

I would personally love to sit in front of Comerica Park and participate in the cruise downtown.

[surenowinlife]

I have to work at Vogue Vintage on Woodward Saturday afternoon.We always get a crowd shopping and looking at the cars as they pass by! It hurts the street parking but our customers park in back.Stop on by if your in the neighborhood.I'll be there after 3 pm!

[Django]

Working with my friend today at his shop in Ferndale he mentioned his family along with a bunch of others who live in Ferndale head out for a camping trip to avoid the mess. Id want to get out of town too, but Im down with the Dream.

[iheartthed]

It's only a week long and its attended by people from all over the world.

Excuse my ignorance... But do people really come from "all over the world" to attend the Dream Cruise? From all over Michigan, yeah, from all over the Midwest, maybe... from all over Ontario, probably. But I have been a few places in the world, yet never had someone say to me that they go to Michigan to attend the Dream Cruise. Maybe it's a generational thing...

[Gannon]

Cruising without the drag racing is only an impotent old man without his viagra.

I just don't see the point. Most of the cherished classics were only MADE to make the competition look slower.

I know it is a celebration of cheap oil...and largely another time...but it is a party remembering when Detroit ruled the world of automobiles. Sure, it has grown enough to make reasonable people groan...for that, I blame the organizers. This should never have been about profits alone.

The parking problem could be cured by making the ONLY sanctioned parking at either end of the route...Pontiac and the Fair Grounds. Anything else would only be permitted for those who live and work and shop in the regular businesses. Literally, permitted with a paper sticker.

The cities could make their cash off the scofflaws...and much of the problem could be made gone.

People could bus or bike to where-ever they wanted...and venues along the route could have their own shuttles...greatly reducing the clutter of non-participant vehicles on the main strip.



<sigh>

But of course, this is too logical and will never be attempted.

[Gannon]

Excuse my ignorance... But do people really come from "all over the world" to attend the Dream Cruise? From all over Michigan, yeah, from all over the Midwest, maybe... from all over Ontario, probably. But I have been a few places in the world, yet never had someone say to me that they go to Michigan to attend the Dream Cruise. Maybe it's a generational thing...

You would be amazed at the reach of the reputation of this event. I have heard of some from Europe and the Orient shipping their prizes here at least once in their lifetimes...making Detroit a form of automotive Mecca. I kid you not.

Cheers

[Gannon]

Could you IMAGINE a high-stakes 'Pink Slip' sanctioned drag race on Woodward, during this event?

That would be simply amazing.

[DetroitPole]

Can't forget the Motor City. Oops, wait, I guess you can.

Maybe Detroit should have a sweet bike cruise as an alternative to the Viagra-fueled nonsense north of the Baseline. Perhaps some of those handicapped scooters than often take over the road too? No pollution, and probably a lot less Dockers khakis with t-shirts tucked-in to them too. Some people in this city - white and black - have some SERIOUS bicycles.