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2006 CRUISIN’
DOWNRIVER SET FOR JUNE 24
Saturday marks the seventh annual Cruisin’ Downriver and if you’re
planning to attend Downriver’s signature event and get a good viewing
spot, you’d better get down to Fort Street early.
While the heat might have kept down the crowds last year, Downriver’s
biggest annual summer event of its kind is expected to draw an estimated
500,000 car buffs and spectators this year.
Car enthusiasts from throughout the
country and Canada will make their way to Fort Street this weekend —
putting Downriver on the world’s map!
In fact, spectators and participants come
to Michigan from places such as California and Florida just to attend
the family-oriented event.
Presented by The News-Herald Newspapers, the Southern Wayne County
Regional Chamber and radio station Oldies 104.3 WOMC-FM, Cruisin’
Downriver is once again being title sponsored by AutoAlliance
International of Flat Rock, home of the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang.
Silver sponsors of this year’s event
include Rodgers Chevrolet and Meijer, which is located along the cruise
route and is a tremendous supporter of local car shows and the cruise.
Bronze sponsors include Advantage One
Federal Credit Union, AT&T, Aztec Manufacturing Corp., Bosch, Co-Op
Services Credit Union, Crystal Gardens, Detroit Metro Convention &
Visitors Bureau, Downriver Classics, Downriver Real Estate Group, Great
Lakes Works-United States Steel, Nationwide-The Kulberg Brandes Agency
and Painter’s Supply & Equipment Co.
Overall, this year represents the most
corporate sponsorship ever for the cruise, which keeps getting bigger
and better every year.
While some cruisers can be seen on Fort
Street on Thursday and Friday night, the official event doesn’t begin
until 10 a.m. Saturday with a parade lap of the four host cities’ mayors
and sponsors. This year’s mayoral drive will start in Lincoln Park and
end in Riverview.
The
route for the cruise runs through the four host cities, Lincoln Park,
Riverview, Southgate and Wyandotte. The route extends from Outer Drive
in Lincoln Park to Pennsylvania in Riverview.
Along with the actual cruise, many car clubs and businesses have
scheduled special events throughout the day. Oldies 104.3 FM WOMC will
be broadcasting live throughout the day from locations in all four host
cities.
Some
Downriver cities really get behind Cruisin’ Downriver and have begun
events that not only promote the cruise, but also raise money for
charity.
For example, tonight, the fifth annual
Cruisin’ 4 A Cause event in Lincoln Park will raise funds for the
Penrickton Center for Blind Children in Taylor and the Lincoln Park
Economic Development Corp. while helping kickoff a weekend full of
Cruisin’ Downriver activities.
Held at the Robert Jones Knights of
Columbus Hall in Lincoln Park from 7 p.m. to midnight, the evening will
feature a virtual taste fest of fare by up to 20 of Downriver’s finest
food vendors, live entertainment, dancing, raffles and an auction.
The
third annual Cruisin’ Downriver Kick-Off Party is tomorrow night at
Crystal Gardens, 16703 Fort St., Southgate.
The Cruisin’ Downriver Kick-Off Party will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. and
will feature car-hop food, adult beverages, music and prizes and several
classic cars, including a rare collection of Shelby Mustangs, to
celebrate the launch of the new 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustangs
currently being built at AutoAlliance. One of the 2007 Shelby GT500s
will be on display.
The
event is being hosted by the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber, AutoAlliance International, Crystal Gardens and The News-Herald.
Tickets are $30 per person and are available by calling the chamber at
1-734-284-6000.
Official Cruisin’ Downriver T-shirts will be available Saturday
throughout the cruise route from the individual cities for $15 each. The
shirts will be available in black or white this year and will feature
the 2006 Cruisin’ Downriver logo.
For more information and photo galleries
of past Cruisin’ Downriver events, log onto www.cruisindownriver.com
Contact Auto Editor Mike Schaffer via e-mail at schaffer@heritage.com or
by phone at 1-734-246-0855.
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