Have you ever wished you could go
back in time and see what Detroit was like in its prime? When cars were made
out of steel instead of plastic or when names like Barracuda, Chevelle, and
Cougar stood out from the crowd. Well what if I told you there is such a place
where we can relive the glory days of the Muscle car. Yes, that’s right I am
talking about Detroit’s renowned Woodward Dream Cruise.
Organized in August 1995, the
Woodward Dream Cruise started as a fund raising event to help raise money for a
soccer field in Ferndale, Michigan. The goal was simple, to create a nostalgic
feeling of the 50's and 60's automotive era on Detroit's iconic Woodward
Avenue. The event quickly gained attention and became an instant success with
over 200,000 spectators and over 10,000 cars in its first year. Today it is
known as one of the largest outdoor automotive events in the world with over a
million spectators and between 40,000-60,000 cars participating each year. From
classic muscle cars, hot rods, to exotic imports, you will see everything on
Woodward's 15-mile stretch and with several cities taking part, each city has
their own events and schedules throughout the day.
The Woodward Dream Cruise officially
goes on for one day (usually the third Saturday of August) but with the
upcoming weeks leading to the Dream Cruise enthusiast and local businesses have
their own events to contribute to the celebration of Detroit's automotive history. Recently the Michigan State Senate
had declared August National Automotive Heritage month in commemoration of its
history. Throughout August, cars will be rollin, revving and burning out up and
down Woodward and I’ve seen people coming in from all parts of the world to be
a part of the celebration.
I remember my first Dream
Cruise back in 2008 and it left an unforgettable impression on me as I cruised
down Woodward Avenue. While driving in my Mustang GT, there was always someone
egging me on and revving their engine at me trying to get me to run. I’ve never
seen so many crazed automotive enthusiast in my life, I had no problem fitting
right in. Ever since then I make it a priority to go every year. I’ve seen
pretty much everything at the Dream Cruise and the big three (GM, Ford, and
Chrysler) always have the latest and greatest to show off just as they did back
in the day. Even though cars have changed significantly over the years one
thing that hasn’t changed is the passion these automotive enthusiast have. It’s
that love and passion that made Detroit what it is today and it will carry Detroit
onward into the future. The Woodward Dream Cruise symbolizes the importance of
Detroit’s history and allows us all to remember where Detroit once stood in the
world.
Yeah, yeah, we all know
the hardships the city of Detroit has faced in recent years but one thing is
certain, Detroiters and Michiganders will always love their automobiles
regardless of how tough times get. The Woodward
dream cruise is a symbol of Detroit’s history but also a way to embrace the
past, present, and future of the automotive industry. I strongly urge any car
lover to check out this event, you won’t be sorry I promise.
