Here they come, you can just about the engines
roaring already.
Pick your spot. And pick it early.
If crowd estimates from the first two Cruisin’
Downriver are any indication, the third annual installment — set for
Saturday to begin at 10 a.m. — will put thousands of people on Fort
Street to showcase their classic rides.
Ed Clemente, president of the Southern Wayne County
Chamber of Commerce, which co-sponsors the event, said that police
estimates put between 150,000 and 200,000 people along the Cruise
two summers ago when the event debuted.
Last year, that number swelled to closer to
300,000, and early indications are that the event is only going to
grow.
The response, while surprising to event co-founders
like Clemente, is only indicative of the people who make up the
Downriver community.
"It’s about the cities and the car clubs, they’re
the people who make it happen," Clemente said. "I remember that
first year, we were figuring we might get 50,000, maybe 60,000
people. And we thought that might be high.
"We had no idea it would take off like it has."
This year’s Cruisin’ Downriver route will cover the
same stretch of Fort Street is did the past two summers, stretching
from Southfield Road in Lincoln Park to Sibley Road in Riverview.
The cities of Lincoln Park, Riverview, Wyandotte and Southgate all
participate in the event.
"The cities are the real winners in this thing,"
Clemente said. "It’s turned into a great signature event for the
region."
While many of the cities will begin the festivities
even before Saturday (see related events calendar, pages 16 &
17), the cruise itself is slated to kick off Saturday morning with a
parade featuring city officials from all four cities as well as
representatives from the event sponsors.
ASC, Inc. and the Heritage Newspapers are this
year’s Gold Sponsors, while Ford Motor Co. and Rodgers Chevrolet are
Bronze Sponsors. The SWCCC and Clemente provide the organizational
body, and 104.3-FM WOMC, the official radio station of the cruise,
lists as a marketing sponsor.
Differences with this year’s cruise center largely
around the prospect for heavier traffic due to construction taking
place on I-75 through much of Downriver. Still, event organizers are
hoping that the cruise rolls along as successfully as it has the
past two years.
"I don’t expect it’s going to be a big problem,"
said Deputy Chief Gordon Loveday of the Lincoln Park Police
Department. "We just want everyone to have a good time.
"Obviously, any time you have an event like this
there are some people who are going to be inconvenienced, but in
order to benefit you have to put up with a few smaller
problems."
Spectators are encouraged to find side street
parking somewhere along the route and walk to Fort Street in order
to alleviate some congestion. Through traffic is still allowed on
Fort Street, but I-75 will be open both north- and south-bound all
day Saturday to accommodate non-Downriver traffic.
What: 2002 Cruisin’ Downriver
When: Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: On Fort Street, from Southfield Road in
Lincoln Park to Sibley Road in Riverview
