'There's nothing like' Dream Cruise in Motor City

(Courtesy of Detroit News)
by Lauren Abdel-Razzaq

The Woodward Dream Cruise reached the finish line, but the memory of squealing tires and smoky exhaust lingers along the avenue.

With perfect weather and comfortable summer temperatures, the cruise seemed to draw thousands with their classic cars and hot rods and hundreds of thousands more to sit along the street and enjoy the ride.

“It’s Detroit. It’s muscle. It’s pretty women and hot rods,” said Bernie Bowers, of Brownstown, proud owner of a 1935 Ford three-window coupe. “There’s no other place in the world where you’re going to see this.”

Ron Favot of Windsor brought his rusty, old ’38 Ford pickup to the Dream Cruise on Saturday. When he bought it in 2011 after finding it in a field in Minnesota, he tore the car apart and rebuilt it to his liking. But there was one thing he didn’t touch.

“I had notions at first of painting it, but no,” he said. “Everybody seems to look at it.”

When he first got it, it had plates from 1971. Now it’s got some new Canadian plates and a 400-hp small block Chevy engine. He’s back in Ferndale for the Dream Cruise for the third year.

“I’ve been to the other end but this end is the best,” he said. “Everybody is so friendly and there’s such a diversity of cars.”

In fact, the diversity of the cars was a highlight for many.

“They get better every year,” said Jim Johnson, of Lake Orion who had been watching near 13 Mile since 6:30 a.m. until the last tire squeal. He’s been coming to the Dream Cruise for eight years.

“You see a lot of interesting vehicles, a lot of fun people.”

On the way to the Dream Cruise, Southfield resident Greg Wynn made a deal with his wife Michele, who is originally from Los Angeles and had never been to the Cruise.

“I told her, if you come out here and this car show is like the shows in LA, I’ll buy you 10 bottles of champagne, but if this is better, you’ll have to give me a massage,” said Wynn. Before they’d even made it down to Royal Oak, she’d conceded.

“It’s just a bunch of interesting cars, so many people,” she said.

Added her husband, “There’s nothing like this. It’s the Motor City.”

lrazzaq@detroitnews.com
(313) 222-2127

Reference Link: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130818/AUTO02/308180011/-There-s-nothing-like-Dream-Cruise-Motor-City?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE