MSNBC.com

June 24, 2008

DETROIT, Mich. - The Woodward Dream Cruise will be revved up with excitement this summer. A brand new automotive celebration is planned that will last nine days called Cruisin' MotorCities.

The fun starts Friday Aug. 8 with a Hot Latin Night at Campus Martius featuring high-style low-rider custom cars and hot rods set to Latin and Hispanic music.

The Detroit Festival of Speed and Style is Aug. 10 in Campus Martius, and there is an auto fair at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Aug. 9 through the 16 with auto art exhibits, music, and a special Michigan drive-thru memory set up by Big Boy.

The executive director of Cruisin' MotorCities, Gary Familian, said, "Just picture it, you turn off of Woodward, you drive into the fairgrounds, the street is lined with roller skaters who take your order. You can eat in your car or sit down at a picnic table. It's truly a Michigan memory."

New this year is the first annual Flint to the Fairgrounds Motorcycle Ride Aug. 9 and 10. It includes a Saturday night reception at the Alfred P. Sloan museum to see the Rides and Rebels motorcycle exhibition on Sunday. The ride itself travels from Flint to the Walter P. Chrysler museum in Auburn Hill, before continuing to the Michigan State Fairgrounds for a barbecue and concert.

There is the Whitney restaurant's garden party and classic car show on August 11.

GM headquarters will be hosting tours on Aug. 12, and in honor of the model T's 100th anniversary, Ford is offering free model T rides at Campus Martius on Aug. 14.

Also on Aug. 14 is the Woodward Dream Cruise Downtown Detroit event with a Tigers game at Comerica Park, followed by hundreds of classic cars on display along Madison Street. People can also go to the Detroit Opera House to enjoy chamber music, finger food, a collection of vintage cars, and take part in games and activities.

A million spectators are expected for the Woodward Dream Cruise which is Saturday, Aug. 16.

Familian says, "The city of Detroit needs the revenue that auto tourism can generate so it is up to us to collectively put our heads together and be creative. Do things that can draw people and and generate revenue to this place."

The events will help raise some funds to support the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, next year's dream cruise, and the Walter P. Chrysler museum.