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Cruise kickoff party set for Crystal Gardens
SOUTHGATE — Cruise nuts start your engines and get ready to party.
The Cruisin’ Downriver kickoff party will be held June 22 at Crystal
Gardens and it promises to be even more rockin’ than last year.
LEGEND, The Band, a 1960s and ’70s cover band, will be the headliner at
the event, said the Sandy Mull, vice president of the Southern Wayne
County Regional Chamber, one of the organizers for the event. And again
this year, more than 20 classic cars will be on hand to greet
partygoers.
The theme this year is “Happy Days,” said Mull, and if it’s as good as
last year’s party, she said, “good times” will be had by all.
Sponsorships and exhibitor tables are available and there will be a
raffle, so the chamber is accepting prize donations.
“It’s an opportunity prior to the cruise to generate enthusiasm both for
the community and for businesses to participate, and Crystal Gardens is
great, right along the cruise route, a good place to hold it,” said Guy
Trupiano, vice president of human resources for Auto Alliance
International, one of the major sponsors of Cruisin' Downriver.
Tickets will be $30 apiece or $25 for 10 or more purchased together.
Order online two weeks or more prior to the event and pay by credit card
and deduct 10 from the ticket price.
The 7th annual Cruisin’ Downriver, slated for June 24, will continue its
route down Fort Street through Lincoln Park, Wyandotte, Southgate and
Riverview, where an estimated 500,000 car nuts are expected to converge
to celebrate the art on wheels.
New this year is a voluntary pre-registration to cruisers for $20. Those
who choose to pre-register will receive a T-shirt, a dash plaque
compliments of AutoAlliance; a window placard and various other items.
To register, call Mull at 1-734- 284-6000, Ext. 29, or email
sandy@swccc.org.
There is no fee for the cruise itself.
AutoAlliance International Inc. and the News-Herald Newspapers are major
sponsors again this year. Other sponsorships are still available, Mull
said.
“As a part of the community we participate, and as one of the major
sponsors, we will be there with our vehicles, both Mazda and Mustang and
we give away goodies,” Trupiano added, noting they will be in the Sav-A-Lot
parking lot. “It’s a good way to get your face out in the community, and
as most people are aware, people are excited about the Shelby Cobra and
we’re excited it will be hitting the streets soon and that exemplifies
the muscle car.”
Cruisers will see a new logo for the event this year, and only the car
in the logo will change every year.
In
addition, the official T-shirt will change, with only the logo on the
front this year. All sponsors logos, except WOMC’s — the official radio
station of the cruise — will be on the back of the shirt. WOMC’s logo
will remain on the sleeve.
As
usual, The News Herald will publish a special Cruise section again this
year, and will provide tire-to-tire coverage of planning and upcoming
events.
This year, the Mayors’ Opening Drive will begin in Lincoln Park at 10
a.m. and end in Riverview.
“I
always come down with my wife and participate (in the cruise), and
depending on my schedule, I will probably be there for the (party),”
said Trupiano, noting several hundred AAI employees also participate
both at the display and just cruising the route.
Preferred access to the cruise route is Southfield Freeway, but other
access will be permitted.
Each city on the route will enforce a strict code of conduct to ensure
public safety; speeding, drag racing, hole shots or laying rubber will
not be tolerated. Violators will be ticketed and removed from the
cruise.
Unless otherwise marked, the two curb lanes of northbound and southbound
Fort Street will be designated for the cruise.
Since Fort Street will remain open for other traffic, the traffic
signals will remain operational and must be observed by all.
— HPR Media Services |
