CIMPLE – A Curious Introvert's Musings & Photos about Life and Enjoyment

(Photos taken by A Curious Introvert  at Various Woodward Dream Cruises, Autoramas and NHRA Drag Racing)

This weekend we made our first classic car ride down Woodward Avenue in preparation for the 21st Woodward Dream Cruise being held August 15th (according to the countdown clock I checked earlier we are at 12 days; 17 hours; 58 minutes http://www.woodwarddreamcruise.com).  The “largest one-day celebration of classic car culture” that covers 16 miles on Woodward Avenue has grown from 250, 000 participants in 1995 to over a million people and 40,000 cars from around the world and has turned into a week-long event loved by car enthusiasts (may or may not be appreciated by commuters and local businesses).  The Woodward Dream Cruise is a fantastic event for classic car owners or anyone who wants to enjoy spending the day celebrating classic cars, listening to the oldies and visiting great restaurants (Redcoat Tavern, Duggan’s Irish Pub, Crispelli’s Bakery & Pizzeria, Rusty Bucket, Vinsetta Garage, and Buddy’s Pizza to name a few) to escape the heat and exhaust fumes, if needed.  My husband cruised Woodward and visited Ted’s and the Totem Pole in a ’62 Pontiac and ’54 Chevy with his friends and to this day remembers all the cars he drove and loves talking shop, but now that he spends his time cruising Woodward with me he has experienced a much different viewpoint of classic cars.  While cruising Woodward he may comment on the make/model of a car at the same time I may be exclaiming with excitement to look at that car with the same color scheme as my bicycle.  Next we may encounter a Pontiac classic car with a 421 Super Duty engine and while I have no clue what that means, I may be commenting on the cool looking cars with big engines and blowers out the hood (one of my favorite looks).  While my husband loves the true muscle cars and is a Pontiac man, I am prone to noticing the 1941 Willy’s, paint schemes and the unusual.

Technically, you have to go to the NHRA Drag Races to see a car light ’em up, but if you are free August 15th you can spend the day cruising to the classics and viewing beautiful classic cars in a party atmosphere of fun, food and the occasional roar of someone in the distance lighting ’em up.