| |
Gentlemen,
Start Your Engines!
By Joanne O'Day
Fairlane.
Customline. Thunderbird. Mustang.
 |
| Graphic
Courtesy of Ford Motor Co. |
|
For
car enthusiasts, the names ring like royalty. They are old school
automotive showpieces, the thoroughbreds of the classic car world.
It
is no wonder, then, that car lovers from across America turn
out in droves for Revvin' with Ford, an annual nostalgic
celebration of hot rods, rock-n-roll and good old fashioned
fun, sponsored by the Ford Motor Company.
 |
|
1964
Ford Mustang
Image Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
|
|
Revvin'
with Ford is actually the premier charity preview for The Woodward
Dream Cruise, the world's largest one-day celebration of car culture.
The annual festival, scheduled for August 18th this year, attracts
more than 1.5 million visitors and showcases some 30,000 muscle
cars, street rods, custom, collector and special interest vehicles.
The cruise stretches 16 miles through seven host cities in Michigan:
Berkley, Birmingham, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge,
Pontiac and Royal Oak. Special family-friendly events such as
live music performances, classic car parades, sock hops, swap
meets, streetside soda shoppes, Elvis impersonators, food vendors,
and children's activities span the route from city to city.
The
night before the larger celebration, Ford hosts a special gala
event in Birmingham to benefit the Children's Charities Coalition,
a collaboration of four local charities devoted to the needs
of children in the Southeastern Michigan area. Last year, the
charities raised $400,000 through ticket sales for the Friday
night Revvin' event, and an additional $50,000 through
a raffle for a restored 1956 Thunderbird donated to the charities
by Ford Motor Company. The 2001 event is expected to top a half
million dollars for the charities.
 |
|
1956
Ford Fairlane Victoria
Image Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
|
|
On
Saturday, the party continues with a Celebrity Pancake Breakfast
sponsored by Ford. Celebrities will be flipping flapjacks while
the kids enjoy the company of clowns and jugglers. The cost is
only $2 for children, $5 for adults, and all proceeds go to the
Children's Charity Coalition. Afterwards, Dream Cruise lovers
can enjoy free access to all Revvin' with Ford activities,
including displays of classic Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles,
live musical performances, celebrity impersonators, carnival games,
and a guest appearance by the legendary entertainer Fabian.
 |
|
1940
Ford Custom Sedan
Image Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
|
|
Of
course, the rest of the Woodward Dream Cruise will be in full
swing throughout the other host cities on Saturday as well, and
all events are free of charge. For more information about the
cruise, including directions, hotel accomodations and a listing
of community events in each town, visit dreamcruise.org.
To find out more about Revvin' with Ford, click on over
to www.revvinwithford.com.
|
|
Behind
in your reading?
Check out past ATOMIC features.
|
|
|
