The first ever Cruisin’ Downriver went off with only one hitch Saturday:

It actually started a day early.

Like kids who couldn’t wait to open their presents Christmas morning, cruisers flooded Fort Street Friday night, unofficially starting the area’s first classic car cruise.

Those early cruisers were greeted by fans who came spilling out of bars and restaurants to catch a peek at the classic beauties, many of whom met first at a concert in Riverview’s Patriot’s Park.

By 7 a.m. Saturday, cruisers were already taking their cars along the route, even as workers from Wayne County continued to put up orange barricades and barrels.

In Lincoln Park, the cruise got off to its official start shortly before 8 a.m. The mayors of the four cities involved were joined by the co-grand marshals — Heinz Prechter, chairman of Prechter Holdings and the Heritage Group, and Cameron Priebe, director of Wayne County’s Department of Public Services. Also on hand were Southern Wayne County Chamber of Commerce President Ed Clemente and Pete Campbell of Ford Motor Co.

Coordinated by the Chamber of Commerce and Heritage Newspapers, the cruise had Heritage Network as the presenting sponsor and Ford Motor Co. as title sponsor, while Rodgers Chevrolet and ASC Inc. joined as major sponsors.

After meeting at the community policing office, the entire group, with the aid of a police motorcycle escort and several area car club members, headed out along the cruise route, finishing at Leon’s Restaurant in Riverview.

Knowing Leon’s would be one of the prime viewing spots, Woodhaven’s Sue Robertson didn’t take any chances on not getting the spot of her choice. She was on site, with her own classic car, before 8 a.m.

As a serious cruiser, Robertson, of course, was among the crowds doing a little pre-cruise touring Friday night.

"It was very exciting," she said.

By 10 a.m. Saturday, the official starting time of the cruise, people had lined much of Fort Street with lawn chairs and coolers, giving thumbs up or nods to those driving by. Many also took pictures or home videos to remember the day’s events.

And while the threat of rain may have kept some cruisers and fans away through the morning, off-and-on appearances by the sun brought out even more people to the route, which was pretty well packed by 2 p.m.

All along the cruise route, people set up chairs to take in the action. While some were in small groups, other spots — especially where special events were planned — drew larger crowds, some of which were very large.

At the Downriver YMCA near Eureka in Wyandotte, crowds began to gather in the early morning, due in part to the fact that the spot was one of the broadcast locations for WOMC, the official radio station of the day’s events.

Every city had its share of top locations, though.

One of the most popular sites along the entire cruise route was from Pennsylvania to Grove in Southgate and Wyandotte, where a number of car clubs set up camp for the day. The parking lot of the Super K was jammed as early as 9 a.m., and the crowds kept coming throughout the day.

One group of spectators in Southgate didn’t have to worry about anyone getting in their way.

A group of employees from United Rentals in Romulus were able to borrow a hydraulic lift for the weekend, which they set up in the lot of an old gas station. The lift gave them and their friends an unobstructed view of the day’s events — events that for them, like a lot of people, actually began Friday night.

"We were out here until 2 a.m.," Southgate’s Tony Rignott said Saturday afternoon. "This seems like the best seat in the house."

In fact, Tony and his friends got as many looks from the cruisers as the cruisers were getting from everyone else.

"Everybody’s been stopping by and waving. It’s cool."

One of Rignott’s friends, Brian Kukich of Lincoln Park, said he’s a big fan of cruises and Cruisin’ Downriver and he hopes to see the event continue in the future. He also said the area should have played host to a cruise before now.

"It’s about time," said Kukich, adding he recently sold a 1967 Chevelle in part because there were no local events to take it to. Now the owner of a pickup truck, he said the thought of taking it through next year’s Cruisin’ Downriver will give him the needed motivation to modify it as he plans to.

Maurice and Fran LaLande of Lincoln Park chose the intersection of Fort and Ward in Southgate as their own "cruise central." They arrived around 2 p.m. and were happy with the turn out.

More than just the one-day effect of the cruise, though, both said they think it could bring some long-term good to the entire area.

"I think it’s great for the area and a good advertisement," Maurice said. "It will acquaint people with Downriver, because I’m sure a lot of the people here are not from the area."

Jane agreed.

"I think it shows a lot of pride in Downriver, and it is Downriver, not Metro Shores," she emphasized.

Maurice, who drives a truck for a living, said he often runs into people not familiar with the area.