Motorists, Enthusiasts Kick Off Annual 'Cruisin' Gratiot' Car Celebration

EASTPOINTE (WWJ) -- A group of classic car lovers and their favorite automobiles gathered at the Big Boy on Gratiot in Eastpointe on Monday night.

It's the first of a weeklong series of events along the strip ahead of this year's Cruisin' Gratiot. President Harvey Curley said that this event is not like the Woodward Cruise where classics will drive up and down the street a week before the event, instead, they hold classic car shows.

"They park the car, people go by and talk to one another," Curley said. "The big day -- Saturday -- we have a dedicated lane that the state lets us close down. The classic cars get on the inside lane and they pay a fee to do that so we can give that money to charity."

Diehard cruisers waited out the rain and reminisced about their youth cruising along Gratiot. Motorists gathered at the Big Boy on Nine Mile Rd. -- the traditional turn around point.

"Tuesday we'll be at the Cloverleaf, Wednesday we'll be across the street at First State Bank, Thursday we'll be at the Villa WOW with a car show and then Friday and Saturday we'll be at the [East Detroit] high school," Curely said. "Of course, the 20th is our big day."

More information about the week's events can be found at www.cruisin-gratiot.com.