Expand Dream Cruise to Include Detroit

For the past several years communities along the Woodward Dream Cruise route have been complaining that it has become too large and unwieldy to handle and does not generate enough income to pay for police and other services to support it. Now the talk is that organizers are looking for other communities to join in and help with the burden and generate some new income, presumably through new sponsors in those new communities. They are even looking toward the City of Detroit as a possible co-sponsor and I say the time is ripe. We should begin plans immediately for a new, expanded two-day Dream Cruise that adds a full day of cruising and events on the Sunday following the now one-day event on Saturday.

The cruisers, motorheads and other car lovers would be willing to cruise another day in a fresh venue, and several locations in Detroit would work perfectly. Already, several Dream Cruise events take place in Detroit including car shows at the State Fairgrounds on Woodward Avenue at 8 Mile Road, and downtown in Eastern Market. The Metro Cruisers -- a major Detroit car club -- the Detroit Parade Company and Roger Penske could plan and implement the day's events. Here's how we do it:

The Sunday after the present-day Saturday Woodward Dream Cruise is a perfect day. This gives Detroit officials and sponsors all-day Saturday to prepare dowtown while the office buildings are closed and traffic is light. The Detroit cruise route begins with Belle Isle, travels west on East Jefferson toward downtown to Woodward Avenue, then north on Woodward to Grand Boulevard.

The beauty of this cruise is that the event can still use the name Woodward Dream Cruise. And don't let the logistics of Belle Isle worry you -- several Grand Prix auto races including one this Labor Day weekend have been staged on Belle Isle and are proof that a major car event can be held successfully on the island. General Motors Headquarters at the Renaissance Center is a perfect stage for special events and car shows (and GM a natural sponsor) as is Eastern Market. Crowds along the Jefferson route can spill over to the new RiverWalk. On a Sunday there will be plenty of free street parking as well as available pay lots. We know people love to come downtown for these sort of spectacles and a downtown cruise on the Sunday following the original Woodward Dream Cruise is no exception.

Mark my words. This will happen.