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21st Annual Woodward Dream Cruise Off To A Rip-Roaring Start

DETROIT (WWJ) - The 21st Annual Woodward Dream Cruise is officially underway.

Thousands of car lovers from metro Detroit and beyond are descending on a 16-mile stretch of Woodward Avenue Saturday for the largest one-day celebration of classic car culture in the world.

Some cruisers even started revving up their engines before sunrise.

"It was kind of nice running up to Pontiac and back and having the top down, enjoying the weather," said early-riser Jim Jackson.

Ray Orlando, who was cruising in his wife's restored 1966 Mustang, said he looks forward to this day all year long.

"It brings back a lot of memories, a lot of good memories. Just a lot of fun, good music and good cars," he said.

The Dream Cruise, which stretches from Ferndale to Pontiac, is great whether you're riding along or just watching from the sidelines.

"They don't make them like they used to, you know, back in the old days," said Roger Talc, who prefers being a spectator. "Everything's changed, the muscle cars today are a lot different than the old ones."

[Guide To The 2015 Woodward Dream Cruise]

Some people come to relive memories while others, too young to remember these cruisers, just want to see cool cars. And more and more people are coming from out-of-town. Steve and Sharon Rankin make the trip every year from South Bend, Indiana.

"As a matter of fact I met my wife just cruising through the drive-ins back home and this is what we did during the 60s all the time," Steve Rankin said.

For people like Rich Nicolo of Highland, who was driving a 1940 Ford, the Dream Cruise is a chance to show off all the blood, sweat and tears poured into restoring these classic automobiles.

"We spent five years doing what we did, it was a labor of love," he said. "I had a lot of good friends that helped. We've been driving it quite a few years and have had a lot of fun with it."

 

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