Come rain or shine, cars of all shapes, sizes and ages
will be cruising up and down Fort Street Saturday in the inaugural Cruisin’
Downriver.
The event is a daylong cruise, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
up and down Fort Street from Sibley Road to Outer Drive. The cruise runs
through Riverview, Southgate, Lincoln Park and Wyandotte.
Sponsorship for the cruise includes Heritage Network as
the presenting sponsor and Ford Motor Co. as title sponsor.
"Ford felt that this was a worthwhile event to be
involved with," said Pete Campbell, Ford product analyst and leader
of the gotFUN@car committee.
The gotFUN@car committee is responsible for choosing
what car-related events, like Cruisin’ Downriver, to become involved
with and to give money to.
Rodgers Chevrolet and ASC Inc. also have joined the fun
as major sponsors.
Cruisin’ Downriver is being coordinated by the
Southern Wayne County Chamber of Commerce along with Heritage Newspapers
and Oldies 104.3 WOMC as the official radio station.
"We were glad to be a part of this fun,
family-oriented event," said Donald Thurlow, publisher of The
News-Herald Newspapers. "All of the months of planning are paying
off, and things have come together quite well in these last few
weeks."
Heinz Prechter, chairman of Prechter Holdings and the
Heritage Group, and Cameron Priebe, director of the Wayne County
Department of Public Services, are co-grand marshals of the cruise.
Cruisin’ Downriver is an alcohol-free event, and for
maximum viewing pleasure, cruisers are encouraged to use the two curb
lanes to cruise. The northbound and southbound Fort Street curb lanes will
be designated for cruisers to allow through traffic to pass on the median
side.
Traffic signals will remain operational and must be
observed, as east-west traffic crossing Fort Street will continue
throughout the day.
"This is a great opportunity to invite friends and
family to a big event," said Edward Clemente, president of the SWCCC,
"and to relive those days when we used to cruise and when cars were
such a big part of our lives.
"The cities, the people who helped coordinate the
cruise and especially the police deserve a lot of credit for a lot of hard
work. And without the great help of Wayne County and Priebe, we would have
been lost."
Each city will enforce a strict code of conduct to
ensure public safety, and speeding, drag racing, hole shots or laying
rubber will be not be tolerated.
"I found it enjoyable working with the
communities," said City Travis, a staff member at the SWCC and one of
the main coordinators of the cruise. "Even though we had our
disagreements, the four cities all came together.
"We all feel a sense of accomplishment in bringing
a fun, family event Downriver. And it looks like this is going to surpass
our early projections and should be a great success."
There will be numerous entertainment events before and
during Cruisin’ Downriver, and everything is listed at the Cruisin’
Web site on the Internet. Go to www.heritage.com and click on the Cruisin’
Downriver icon.
There are a number of events planned in Southgate,
including a concert on Saturday, (July 8), from 7 to 8 p.m. featuring the
Fantastics, sponsored by National City Bank and held at their building,
16333 Trenton Road.
Southgate Shopping Center will hold a sidewalk sale
Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Entertainment will be featured from 3 to 5
p.m. Friday and from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Car clubs are welcome.
Riverview will kick the weekend off with the Teen
Angels from 7 to 9 p.m. July 7 at Young Patriots Park (near the library),
and the Downriver Cruizers and The Downriver Wanderers car clubs will
display some of their classic cars at the concert.
Wyandotte will have its Wyandot Indian sculpture
unveiling Saturday on Biddle Ave., and although that has taken up most of
Wyandotte’s attention and resources, Mayor Lawrence Stec said he’s all
in favor of the cruise and will attend the event at some time during the
day.
"I’m all for the cruise, anything we can do to
bring people into town, I’m all for it," Stec said.
He was unaware that Wyandotte would be the only city on
the route without restroom facilities, and he had no further information
before press time.
Wyandotte will have a Cruisin’ Downriver ’50s Party
featuring Moose And Da Sharks from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturday at
Yack Arena, 3131 Third St.
There will be reserved, secure parking in front of the
arena for classic cars. Phone 1-734-282-6233 for more information.
In Lincoln Park, The Room Upstairs band will play from
7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the band shell. From 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sherman
Arnold, an Elvis Presley impersonator, will perform at the band shell.
From 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Little Davy & The
Diplomats (oldies, Motown, current) will be at the band shell.
At Memorial Park, there will be a mini midway (games
for kids) from 1 to 4 p.m. July 8 and from 4 to 5 p.m. the Flying
Aces (Frisbee experts) will perform.
