Woodward Dream Cruise
The Woodward Dream Cruise event is a classic car event held annually on the third Saturday of August in Metropolitan Detroit, along Woodward Avenue. The WDC Event spans much of the avenue, from Pontiac through Ferndale in Oakland County, Michigan, all the way to the State Fair Grounds inside the Detroit city limits, just south of 8 Mile Road. "Woodward Dream Cruise" is a registered trademark of Woodward Dream Cruise, Inc.[1] An estimated one million spectators attended the 2009 Woodward Dream Cruise.[2]
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[edit] History
The Woodward Dream Cruise is the world’s largest one-day automotive event, drawing about 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars each year from around the globe. Spectators can see muscle cars, street rods, custom, collector and special interest vehicles dating across several decades.[3] The majority of the cars on display are those that were available and prevalent during the 1950s, 60s and early 70s prior to the OPEC oil embargo, which led to the Corporate Average Fuel Economy regulations of 1975 and the proliferation of more fuel-efficient and less powerful automobiles. However, the Woodward Dream Cruise also welcomes vehicles of all models whose owners have either scrupulously maintained or customized their car to create a unique vehicle or statement.
During the post-World War II era, young adults often "cruised" in their cars along Woodward Avenue, from drive-in to drive-in, often looking for peers or friends who were also out for a drive, and perhaps seeking an opportunity for some street racing or at least a chance to "burn rubber" (or "light 'em up") in a quick getaway from a newly green traffic light.[3]
Nelson House, a plumber from Ferndale, came up with the idea for the cruise in 1994 to help raise money for a children's soccer field in his community.[3] Organizers initially expected 30,000 or 40,000 people to come to the August 19, 1995 inaugural cruise on Woodward Avenue in Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Royal Oak and Birmingham. About 250,000 actually showed up.[3] It is now the largest single day classic car event in the world, and brings in over $56 million annually to the Metro Detroit economy.[4]
Although the cruise officially takes place on only one day, each year the celebration starts early in the week with these classic vehicles brought out onto the streets in preparation, and ancillary events are scheduled in the sponsoring communities of Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, and Pontiac.[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4001:nutu9h.2.1
- ^ Anderson, Elisha (August 22, 2010).Weather blamed for smaller attendance at Dream Cruise.Detroit Free Press. Retrieved on August 22, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Woodward Dream Cruise History". woodwarddreamcruise.com. http://www.woodwarddreamcruise.com/history.php. Retrieved 2008-09-05.[dead link]
- ^ a b "Woodward Dream Cruise FAQ". woodwarddreamcruise.com. http://www.woodwarddreamcruise.com/faq.php. Retrieved 2008-09-05.[dead link]
[edit] External links
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