Poll: When Do You Think Cruising Should Begin, Birmingham?

They've been out for weeks now, the cruisers and their fans, and the nightly buzz is building ahead of the Woodward Dream Cruise on Aug. 18 — a joyful sound to some and a headache to others.

The celebration of Metro Detroit's car culture, which takes place the third Saturday of each August, draws more than 1 million visitors to a 16-mile stretch of the historic avenue from Ferndale to Pontiac.

This year's event — the 18th annual cruise — will run between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. But that hasn't stopped classic car buffs from getting an early start.

, which means racing and squealing tires and are not permitted.

Are you enjoying the sights and sounds of pre-cruise activity — the motors revving, the crowds gathering along Woodward after dark? Or, are you trying to figure out how you can get out of town for as long as possible to avoid the hubbub?