Woodward Dream Cruise Gets Ready to Roll

The Woodward Dream Cruise is officially 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Aug. 17 – the third Saturday of August for the 18th year in a row. 

After nearly two decades, the event continues to attract thousands of classic, custom, nostalgic and collector cars – and it's still evolving, according to Greg Rassel, president of the Woodward Dream Cruise.

Here's a list of five new things for 2013:

1. Cruise in Shoes 5K has new sponsor

FirstMerit Bank is the new presenting sponsor for the Cruise in Shoes 5K, said Rassel. 

Last year, nearly 600 runners and walkers participated in the inaugural race, which took participants through Royal Oak neighborhoods and down a closed stretch of southbound Woodward from 13 Mile Road to Normandy.

Sign up for the race here: www.cruiseinshoes.com.

2. New interactive map available 

The Woodward Dream Cruise website has updated its visitor guide this year to include an interactive map of all the events from Ferndale to Pontiac, Rassel said.

Check it out at www.woodwarddreamcruise.com.

3. New merchandising partner

"We have a new merchandising partner - E.A. Graphic," Rassel said. "They will have multiple areas along Woodward to purchase official 2013 Woodward Dream Cruise merchandise."

Check out this year's collection of T-shirts, tank tops, polo shirts, hoodies and more at www.shopwdc.com.

4. WXYZ Channel 7 moves broadcast to Birmingham

The WXYZ broadcast crew will move from Duggan's Irish Pub's parking lot at 31501 Woodward Ave. in Royal Oak to the triangular area just south of the 555 building on Woodward Avenue in Birmingham.

Channel 7 Station Manager, Michael Murri told members of the Birmingham Principal Shopping District in May that Royal Oak served the TV station well "but there were limitations with the space," according to a Detroit Free Press report.

5. A smoother ride

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) wwill suspend the ongoing resurfacing of Woodward Avenue (M-1) on Monday, Aug. 5, for the upcoming Woodward Dream Cruise. 

While all the work on the $4.8 million project is not complete, cruisers should notice a smoother ride from Catalpa Drive (11 1/2 Mile) to 14 Mile Road.