Dream Cruise Saturday: Families, ‘Vettes, EVs flock to Woodward

Posted by Talbot Payne on August 17, 2024

Pontiac — The Thomas family was out at the crack of dawn for Saturday’s Woodward Dream Cruise.

“You have to be here early so you can get your spot on Woodard,” said Bob Thomas, 43, of Waterford Township, standing next to his 1966 Dodge Dart at the corner of Pike and Woodward in downtown Pontiac. Bob is the son of Mike, 64, the first of three generations of Thomases who religiously attend the Dream Cruise each year. The third gen is Mike’s grandson Hunter, 19, who just bought a Mazda Miata to restore.

Restoration is in the blood. Mike, who has been coming to the Cruise since its inception in 1995, arrived this year in a 1968 Chevy Camaro that he restored six years ago.

“I’m a first and second-generation Camaro fan,” said Papa Thomas. “I’ve restored more Camaros than I can count.”

One of his first was a 1970 model that he used to drag race on Woodward as a 16-year-old. The car was briefly impounded when he was caught racing twice on the same night. “I didn’t see the cop was behind me at Woodward and 13,” Mike said, laughing. “But I’m not into that anymore.”

The Thomas family (l to r): Mike, Hunter, Bob got an early start at Saturday's Woodward Dream Cruise on Aug. 17, 2024.

The Thomas family (l to r): Mike, Hunter, Bob got an early start at Saturday’s Woodward Dream Cruise on Aug. 17, 2024. Henry Payne, The Detroit News

Woodward’s legendary drag days are a bygone era, and Bob and Hunter (who brought his 2002 Chevy Silverado to this year’s Cruise) had no similar stories to share. Instead, they look forward to legal drag racing at Roadkill Nights in Pontiac the weekend before the Cruise each year.

ICE ‘n’ EV

Royal Oak — Lounging next to his red, mid-engine, V-8-powered Chevy Corvette C8 on Woodward, Kevin Kicinski sported . . . a Rivian shirt.

“I have the best of both worlds,” said Kicinski, a service manager for the electric brand. A fan of both internal combustion engines and electric vehicles, Kicinski keeps a Ford Mustang Mach-E next to his Corvette at home in South Lyon.

But he prefers his ICEs loud and his EVs silent. “I’m not a fan of that sound,” he said of the recently introduced, electric Dodge Charger Daytona Banshee’s artificially-generated V-8 exhaust note. “If you’re going to go electric, then be electric. If you’re going to be a muscle car, be a muscle car.”

Kevin Kicinski of South Lyon brought his Corvette C8 to Woodward for the Cruise on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, but the Rivian service manager also loves electric vehicles like his Mustang Mach-E.

Kevin Kicinski of South Lyon brought his Corvette C8 to Woodward for the Cruise on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, but the Rivian service manager also loves electric vehicles like his Mustang Mach-E. Henry Payne, The Detroit News

Kicinski knows his muscle. He’s owned a Dodge Charger as well as two fifth-generation Corvette C5s.

“This is my third Corvette. This one is really special to me, because it’s the first time I flew out to purchase a vehicle,” he said of the sleek, 495-horsepower beast next to him. “I bought it online, flew out to New Hampshire and drove it back. That was a fun-filled day just bringing it home.”

Kicinscki loves the variety of cars on Woodward, from his favorite custom cars to V-8s to EVs. “The EV market is still trying to find its legs,” he said. “Rivian’s doing well and there is opportunity for us.”

Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or @HenryEPayne.

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