Cruisin Weather!

The warm weather is here and in the Motor City that means the folks with their restored vintage cars are on the road again! I'm making it my mission to photograph as many models of my family's old cars as possible this summer. With that in mind I've put together a list of some of the events in the metro Detroit area where old car enthusiasts will be gathering. Of course on any given day in the summer in Michigan there is an vintage car club meeting somewhere, but here are a few of the "big draw" events/venues for 2008.

June 14 10th Annual Cruisin Gratiot - Saturday, June 14th is the culmination of a week of car shows in the area of Eastpointe. Gratiot Avenue has a long history as the place for cruisin on Detroit's east side so it only makes sense to for it to have it's own official Cruise! The cruise will be on Gratiot Avenue from 8 Mile Rd. to 10 Mile Rd., 8am to 10pm.

Cruisin' Gratiot is an annual, week long celebration of automotive history, tradition and memorabilia in the City of Eastpointe, MI.

The events include many car shows, contests and family outings; all culminating in a day long extravaganza centering on one of the most time honored traditions in Detroit history...Cruisin' Gratiot. [More]

June 28 9th Annual Cruisin' Downriver - Fort Street is the avenue of choice for Downriver cruisers and Saturday, June 28th is the 2008 date for the official Cruise!

The 9th annual Cruisin’ Downriver will begin at 10 a.m. June 28, 2008 and cruise through the cities of Lincoln Park, Riverview, Southgate, and Wyandotte.

More than 500,000 car buffs and enthusiasts are expected to line Fort Street in hope of getting a sneak peek at their dream car. [More]

The Telegraph Tomorrow Classic Car Cruise (formerly known as "Cruzin' Telegraph") has been held in July for the past 3 years but I can't find any information on the event for 2008. I know they've had difficulty with sponsorships and reimbursing the participating cities in the past. If anyone knows what the story is regarding this year's cruise please leave a comment!

July 12 First Annual Cruisin' Michigan - cruisin' the cities of Dearborn through Wayne on Michigan Avenue, U.S. 12!

This will be the first cruise in multi cities along Michigan Ave. But not the first auto event for Don Nicholson. Don originally got involved with cars racing at Detroit Dragway and Milan Dragway back in the middle 80's. [More]

August 16 14th Annual Woodward Dream Cruise - this is the granddaddy of them all!

...the Woodward Dream Cruise, the world's largest one-day celebration of car culture, attracts more than 1 million visitors and more than 40,000 muscle cars, street rods, custom, collector and special interest vehicles.

Cruisers and spectators will be driving along a 16-mile route of nine communities including Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac and Royal Oak.

Although many communities host events during the preceding days and nights, the Woodward Dream Cruise officially takes place 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, August 16, 2008. [More]

In addition to these street cruises, there will two major vintage car events at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI. This is the centennial year for the Model T!

June 14 & 15 Motor Muster - Featuring vintage cars from the 1930s-1970s. Great photo ops!

View over 500 authentic vehicles from the 1930s to the 1970s. See pass-in-review parades, vote for your favorite race car, enjoy a free lecture on classic cars, swing music of the 1930s and 40s and more. At this year's event, we will highlight the 100th anniversary of General Motors Corporation. The late 1950s were the heyday of GM, and 1958 saw not only the celebration of company's 50th anniversary, but also the introduction of the enduring Impala nameplate. [More]

September 6 & 7 Old Car Festival - Featuring vintage cars from the 1890s through 1932.

Journey back to a time when the automobile was a new technological wonder. The longest running antique car show in the country, Old Car Festival invites you to immerse yourself in America ’s automotive past.

On September 6th & 7th, the streets of Greenfield Village are filled with hundreds of early vehicles from the 1890s through the 1932. Tour through this one-of-a-kind festival and talk to proud owners about their treasured machines.

2008 marks the 100th anniversary of many important milestones that would lift the American automobile industry into a world leader. We celebrate the centennial of the Ford Model T, General Motors, and several American victories in competitions and races that made a name for many fledgling American automobile companies. [More]

And Henry Ford Museum has a permanent display of almost 300 vintage cars ready to explore in The Showroom of Automotive History Exhibit.

Whew! That's a lot of cruises and car shows! I'm looking forward to seeing all those old vintage beauties. Hopefully by the end of the season I'll have all the photos I want!