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Photo
Gallery - Cruisin' 2000 more
photos click here
Photos By Larry Caruso and Dave
Chapman
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The chrome was shining, the
cars were polished and the spectators were abundant during Saturday’s
inaugural Cruisin’ Downriver. Coordinated by the Southern Wayne County
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.
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Yvonne and Jim Pazdro of
Southgate give a perfect score to one of the four-wheeled beauties that
passed them Saturday. The Paszdros were among the thousands of fans lining
Fort Street from Outer Drive to Sibley taking in the action.
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It was "every
spectator for himself" as car fans got creative to find a way to
watch the first ever Cruisin’ Downriver. Here, onlookers take to the
rooftops to get the perfect vantage point.
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Two cruisers hit the street
with their custom T-bucket, giving them the chance to enjoy Cruisin’
Downriver with the wind in their hair.
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Honorary cruise co-grand
marshals Cameron Priebe (left), director of Wayne County’s Department of
Public Service, and Heinz Prechter, chairman of Prechter Holdings and the
Heritage Group, get ready to kick off the festivities at the official
starting point in Lincoln Park.
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Everywhere you looked
Saturday — even right behind you — there were classic cars and
modified hot rods prowling around Fort Street.
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The owner of this custom
rod, one of several cruisers to call the Southgate Super K store home
during Saturday’s cruise, is proud to display the fact that he’s been
cruising Downriver, as evidenced by the stickers in his window.
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While there were plenty of
customized dragsters and muscle cars revving it up along the cruise route,
there were other cars that were all class. Here, the owner of a vintage
Duesenberg takes his car out for a spin.
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Paula Miller (left) and
Beth McGowen get into the spirit of the weekend with the help of a couple
of wigs, some fun glasses and a lot of black cruisin’ garb.
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Although the threat of rain
passed by early Saturday afternoon, this cruiser wasn’t taking any
chances. Complete with his captain’s hat, he’s ready to take his
German-made Amphicar to sea if need be. Produced in the mid 1960s, the car
is equipped with twin propellers and can be run through the water.
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Spectators take in the
action from in front of the Downriver Family YMCA, one of several
locations Oldies 104.3 WOMC was broadcasting from Saturday. WOMC was the
official radio station of Cruisin’ Downriver.
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There were old and new cars
alike — but all beauties — at the ASC Incorporated booth at Pep Boys
in Southgate. Mark Pauze, director of marketing and communications for ASC,
said many employees brought their own vehicles to the event to display
right along with company-owned cars.
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Organizers and sponsors
gather at the Community Policing Office in Lincoln Park for the official
start of Cruisin’ Downriver. Pictured are Wyandotte Mayor Larry Stec
(left); Cameron Priebe, director of Wayne County’s Department of Public
Service; Tim Durand, mayor of Riverview; Craig Sochocki, mayor of Lincoln
Park; Suzanne Hall, mayor of Southgate; Heinz Prechter, chairman of
Prechter Holdings and the Heritage Group; Pete Campbell, Ford product
analyst and leader of the gotFUN@car committee and Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart,
former member of the BMW management board.
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Lincoln Park’s Jacob
Sotter, 5, is all smiles about getting to sit atop one of the special
cruise vehicles — the police motorcycle driven by Lt. Thomas Karnes.
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