- It's become a General Motors tradition for senior executives to drive Woodward the Friday night before cruise day. A soft news photo opportunity, because spectators at Woodward are more interested in old cars and customized vehicles, said GM spokesman Kevin Rose. However, the executive drive was moved to early Saturday morning instead. Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner drove in his 50th birthday present from his family -- a new, purple Chevrolet SSR. The special thing about Wagoner's car was the color -- although purple was the paint scheme used SSR concept vehicles; it is only one of 25 produced as the "Signature Series," with a nonstandard production color. And Gary Cowger, president, GM North America cruised in a new Pontiac GTO and a supped up Saturn Ion.
General Motors has been offering public showings of its concept Chevrolet SSR for the past two years during the Woodward Dream Cruise. This appears to be one of the production models coming out in 2004. (Photo: Joseph Cabadas, Canadian Auto Press) - The 155th annual Michigan State Fair was scheduled to open Friday, Aug. 15, three days earlier than normal, to coincide with the pre-Cruise festivities, but the gates remained closed until Saturday. At that point, the fairgrounds had portable power generators on hand and bottled water for visitors and did open to allow Cruisers to participate in "burnout contests" where muscle car owners could squeal their wheels off the street.
The PT Dream Cruiser III is fully equipped with all the luxury features expected in more expensive premium cars. (Photo: Joseph Cabadas, Canadian Auto Press) - With power out, there was an 8 p.m. curfew imposed on spectators and cruisers on Friday, except in the city of Ferndale, where power came back on for its carnival rides on east Nine Mile Road, and the mayor kept events open until midnight. For Saturday, Cruise day, the 8 p.m. curfew was extended until 9 p.m. as more communities had power.
- With less traffic, motorists were able to "make the circuit" from Detroit to Pontiac much faster, with less stop-and-go backups. But, the stretch of Woodward between Birmingham and Pontiac was lacking spectators and cruisers when compared to the southern half of route.
Woodward Dream Cruise Hit Hard by Blackout
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