'Roadkill Nights' Opens Woodward Dream Cruise

METRO DETROIT, MI — Woodward Dream Cruise week got off to a hot start Saturday with a day full of street-legal drag racing. “Roadkill Nights” challenged amateur drivers on a ⅛-mile strip of Woodward Avenue in Pontiac. Rain, unfortunately, marred the event and canceled a showdown of the top five qualifiers.

Gary Box, a driver from Cleveland, Ohio, was named the overall winner by virtue of his top qualifying time. Three Michigan drivers finished in the top five. Box won $10,000 by posting the only time under six seconds in his Corvette Stingray. Dodge sponsored Roadkill Nights.

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A host of events are planned this week in celebration of the Woodward Dream Cruise. Since it is the birthplace of the Dream Cruise, the city of Ferndale is going all out. According to the Ferndale Dream Cruise website, they include:

• Thursday, August 17 (West of Woodward): PBS Channel 56 2nd annual television special, Dream Cruise Road Show, showcasing classic vehicles and the people who own them. The show will be filmed LIVE on Nine Mile Road, west of Woodward, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Spectators are welcomed. For more details: dptv.org/programs/dream-cruise-roadshow/
• Thursday, August 17 (East of Woodward): Downtown Ferndale will host the Get Reel Outdoor Movie Night. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a memorable evening under the stars, on Vester Street (between Woodward & Bermuda) beginning at dusk. For more details: downtownferndale.com/outdoor-movies/
• Friday, August 18 (East of Woodward):17th Annual Ferndale Emergency Vehicle Show (1:00 pm - 8pm) will showcase classic, restored, custom and current ambulance, fire and police vehicles, along with the unique and spectator favorite Lights & Sirens Cruise (5:30 pm) and the official Dream Cruise Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (5:00 pm).

Other Dream Cruise events include:

Friday Aug. 18

• 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Performance Park Classic Car Show. GM Performance, vendors and food court.

Saturday, Aug. 19

• 6 a.m. – 8 p.m.: 104.3 WOMC Broadcast Tower at CVS Corner. 13 Mile and Woodward
• 6 a.m. – 8 a.m.: 104.3 WOMC LIVE Broadcast with Boogie Brian
• 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.: “Cruise In Shoes” 5k Run/Walk at Shrine High School Athletic Field.
  • To register, click here.
• 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.: Classic Car Show at Northwood Shopping Center.
• 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.: Performance Park Classic Car Show, GM Performance, vendors and food court at Memorial Park.
• 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.: Ford Family Zone & 104.3 WOMC at Pioneer Park.
• 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.: Live Entertainment w/ Fifty Amp Fuse at Duggan’s Irish Pub

Photo by Pardee Ave. via Flickr Commons