{"id":25868,"date":"2020-08-14T11:49:46","date_gmt":"2020-08-14T15:49:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=25868"},"modified":"2020-08-22T11:50:50","modified_gmt":"2020-08-22T15:50:50","slug":"the-woodward-dream-cruise-is-alive-just-unofficially","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2020\/08\/the-woodward-dream-cruise-is-alive-just-unofficially","title":{"rendered":"The Woodward Dream Cruise is alive, just unofficially"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The Dream Cruise is canceled, long live the Dream Cruise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">While official city and corporate events for this week\u2019s originally planned Woodward Dream Cruise were canceled back in June out of COVID-19 health concerns, the annual pilgrimage to Woodward\u00a0motors\u00a0on.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Over the last few days, \u201cthe world\u2019s biggest traffic jam\u201d has attracted\u00a0thousands\u00a0of cruiser-faithful in\u00a0lawn chairs enjoying a steady stream of sports cars, hot rods\u00a0and Detroit classics ahead of what would have been the official culminating event on Saturday.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/08\/14\/PDTN\/caa84fa7-e19d-42b7-a893-814bcf7a0ce0-cruise_traffic-jam.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/08\/14\/PDTN\/caa84fa7-e19d-42b7-a893-814bcf7a0ce0-cruise_traffic-jam.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"Even though the official Woodward Dream Cruise was canceled, cruisers are out in force anyway.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"Even though the official Woodward Dream Cruise was canceled, cruisers are out in force anyway.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Many of those behind the wheel shrugged off the absence of official events\u00a0and said it brought a refreshing return to the grassroots gatherings that made the Dream Cruise unique 25\u00a0years ago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cIt\u2019s nice not to have all the companies here,\u201d said Veronica Spitza of Brighton, who drove a mint 2010 Chevy Camaro SS to Royal Oak with husband Al. \u201cIt\u2019s been easier to find a parking space that usually are soaked up by all the corporations.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-features_woodward-2\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\" data-google-query-id=\"CJex9MiUr-sCFd2ewAodoB4C7g\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The Spitzas have\u00a0been coming to the Cruise since the late 1990s, and this year\u00a0they made it a family affair: They brought a 20-year-old nephew, Jack, from New York. A Barrett-Jackson Auction fan, this is Jack\u2019s first Dream Cruise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The annual event is a summer highlight for \u201973 Corvette Stingray owner Sam Agus, 72, and pal Mike Detrych, 72, who haven\u2019t missed a Cruise since 1995. The Milford natives grew up together and fought in Vietnam together. When Detrych returned from war, he bought a red 1969 Chevelle V-8 that he still drives today.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_gl gnt_em__el\" href=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/picture-gallery\/business\/autos\/woodward-dream-cruise\/2020\/08\/15\/looking-back-coolest-dream-cruise-cars-recent-years\/3348906001\/\" data-t-l=\"|inlinePhotoGalleryPromo|viewGallery\" aria-label=\"View Gallery - Looking back at the coolest dream cruise cars of recent years\" data-g-r=\"nav_mo\" data-g-tn=\"pgcss\" data-g-mtn=\"pg3348906001\" data-g-moh=\"hpgm\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-expanded=\"false\" data-c-id=\"3348906001\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_gl_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/-mm-\/aa872e4d8dd1f1f3b146bccaf032e40a786c423c\/c=0-222-3395-2140\/local\/-\/media\/2017\/08\/19\/DetroitNews\/DetroitNews\/636387655499238551-2017-0819-rb-me-dream-cruise148.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/-mm-\/aa872e4d8dd1f1f3b146bccaf032e40a786c423c\/c=0-222-3395-2140\/local\/-\/media\/2017\/08\/19\/DetroitNews\/DetroitNews\/636387655499238551-2017-0819-rb-me-dream-cruise148.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"372\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_gl_i_nt\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_gl_vg\" data-c-tc=\"43\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_t\" data-c-et=\"Looking back at the coolest dream cruise cars of recent years\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cIt\u2019s just like the old days out here,\u201d said Agus, who met the original owner of his Corvette for the first time Thursday. \u201cThe companies aren\u2019t here, but the cruisers still are.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Behind them, the parking lot between the A.J. Desmond &amp; Sons Funeral Home and vacant Art Van store in Royal Oak\u00a0was taped off,\u00a0empty of its usual crowds. That sight was not unusual along Woodward as businesses discouraged large gatherings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Despite that, Cruise attendees were in a festive mood.\u00a0They naturally social-distanced around cars and in lawn chairs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Woodward Dream Inc. president Michael Lary defended his board\u2019s decision to cancel official events\u00a0out of concern for heightened COVID-19 cases.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cWe made a decision based on the best interest of the public,\u201d said Lary, whose board is made up of local city officials. \u201cWe didn\u2019t want to be part of doing irresponsible things.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Some cruisers lamented that local communities and corporations were not more involved, saying they could have brought sanitizer stations and broadcast public service announcements to the large gathering.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_gl gnt_em__el\" href=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/picture-gallery\/business\/autos\/woodward-dream-cruise\/2020\/08\/15\/wildest-and-weirdest-cars-recent-dream-cruises\/3348227001\/\" data-t-l=\"|inlinePhotoGalleryPromo|viewGallery\" aria-label=\"View Gallery - The wildest and weirdest cars of recent Dream Cruises\" data-g-r=\"nav_mo\" data-g-tn=\"pgcss\" data-g-mtn=\"pg3348227001\" data-g-moh=\"hpgm\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-expanded=\"false\" data-c-id=\"3348227001\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_gl_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/18\/PDTN\/e6f0b099-495c-4260-9eb2-3b668a6494f3-Strange-51.JPG?crop=6015,3384,x0,y239&amp;width=660&amp;height=372&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/18\/PDTN\/e6f0b099-495c-4260-9eb2-3b668a6494f3-Strange-51.JPG?crop=6015,3384,x0,y239&amp;width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"372\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_gl_i_nt\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_gl_vg\" data-c-tc=\"30\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_t\" data-c-et=\"The wildest and weirdest cars of recent Dream Cruises\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Longtime cruiser Roger Posey, 70, lamented that Memorial Park in Royal Oak was taped off, as were\u00a0many other public spaces. He is president of the Woodward Tri Five Cruisers car club \u2014 which celebrates Chevrolets made in the years 1955-57\u00a0\u2014 that usually gathers there.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">His group has relocated their lawn chairs to a strip of lawn in front of a medical office. A stunning, multi-colored lineup of Chevy Bel Airs and 210s was parked behind them. Posey\u2019s ride? A 1956\u00a0V8-powered 210. Posey\u2019s club usually attracts members from Canada and\u00a0as far\u00a0as Australia and England \u2014 but they won\u2019t make it this year due to travel restrictions.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"gnt_atomsnc\" class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_anc\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadAnc\" aria-label=\"Newsletter signup form\"><\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThis year reminds of the first five years of the Cruise,\u201d said Posey, thinking back to the mid-1990s. \u201cI remember three guys pulled up at the stoplight near Duggan\u2019s. They drag-raced three abreast out of the light.\u00a0Then 35 police on horseback came up Woodward and put a stop to the drag racing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Police in black Ford Explorer SUVs were common along the grassy median this week. But with traffic backed up for hundreds of yards, drivers behaved themselves. A \u201960s Corvette Stingray-turned-dragster with a rear parachute and towering engine-blower made the earth shake. An orange McLaren 720S burned retinas. \u00a0A topless\u00a0classic 1967 Ford Bronco towered above an old MG.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/08\/14\/PDTN\/bc03048f-6562-4269-ade0-9f65471c5782-cruise_tri-five-club.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/08\/14\/PDTN\/bc03048f-6562-4269-ade0-9f65471c5782-cruise_tri-five-club.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The Woodward Tri Five Cruisers car club usually gathers at Memorial Park in Royal Oak. Because that was taped off by the city, they relocated their lawn chairs to a strip of lawn in front of a medical office, with their Chevy Bel Airs and 210s parked behind them.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The Woodward Tri Five Cruisers car club usually gathers at Memorial Park in Royal Oak. Because that was taped off by the city, they relocated their lawn chairs to a strip of lawn in front of a medical office, with their Chevy Bel Airs and 210s parked behind them.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">It wasn\u2019t just the old guard that was enjoying the atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Nineteen-year-old Brennan Lata was hanging out with his West Bloomfield buddies in front of the Jeep dealership in Royal Oak. They had all piled into Lata\u2019s Ford Mustang GT and 18-year-old Matthew Awdich\u2019s Corvette to cruise the strip.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cWe\u2019ve been coming here since we got our driver\u2019s licenses,\u201d\u00a0Lata said. Though overall numbers for this year\u2019s Cruise will be way down, Lata and company signal that new generations will be here for years to come.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Dream Cruise President Lary hopes a vaccine proves successful soon so the Cruise can return to normal next year. Despite companies staying away this year, he was still pleased to see the classics on Woodward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThe bottom line is there is still an experience there for folks who want to enjoy it,&#8221; he said.\u00a0&#8220;That\u2019s what is so great about this event.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-features_woodward-4\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\" data-google-query-id=\"CJmx9MiUr-sCFd2ewAodoB4C7g\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Dream Cruise is canceled, long live the Dream Cruise. While official city and corporate events for this week\u2019s originally planned Woodward Dream Cruise were canceled back in June out of COVID-19 health concerns, the annual pilgrimage to Woodward\u00a0motors\u00a0on. Over the last few days, \u201cthe world\u2019s biggest traffic jam\u201d has attracted\u00a0thousands\u00a0of cruiser-faithful in\u00a0lawn chairs enjoying [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25868"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25868"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25868\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25869,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25868\/revisions\/25869"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25868"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25868"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25868"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}