Site Tools: RSS | Email Alerts | Mobile

Memory Lane: Send Your Dream Cruise Memories

Woodward Avenue was a place for more than driving, back in the days of bobby socks and letterman sweaters. Tell us what you miss or remember about Woodward Avenue.

Click here to read the full story.

Post a Comment
 
Comments
marilynn01 - 10/11/2009 8:19 PM
Cruisin woodward 1958-1960, stopping at all the drive ins (when we had the money to pay for a coke and fries)Radio playing Happy, Happy Birthday baby, I'm Mr Blue, and Do you want to dance. Sometimes we had enough money to buy a Big Chief at the Totem Pole, or a Brawney Lad at Big Boy. I met my future husband cruising. Those were the days. Great memories, Thanks WXYZ.

plc223 - 8/14/2009 6:17 PM
My name is Pamela Curtis and cruising Woodward was the blast in my teens. Racing was a must. We would shut down 4 lanes of traffic to a crawl sometimes just to line up to take off in a race to the finish. Drivers never were upset. My best car I had for racing was a 1973 Firebird with a stick shift I named Siver Fox. She was a sleeper as 1973 Firebird Stick shifts were very rare. I remember racing against a true race car and looking in my rear view mirror and he was still back there. I was perplexed when I asked him why, he said his water pump had blown. My boyfriend, Dale Hughes, an auto buff always had a different car for us to drive because customers would sell a car to him dirt cheap if they thought repairs were out of control. The prize car he had was a 1969 GTO with a slap stick. Talk about enjoying a drive, WOW. My first car he paid $40.00 for, a 1967 Mustang, ran 4 and half months. Dale cleaned the oil supply and it blew up. Second car a $100.00 Chevy Impala ran great. Dale cut a deal with Dr. Smellsy, a foot doctor in Oak Park, had every fender bent from his driving tactics and ran like a charm. I paid 250.00 for 1967 Charger that fell off the lift at the gas station, still in prime shape with so many ashtrays and lighters amazing to cruise in until a torching bar broke. Dale placed a tennis shoe with a huge socket to mimic the torching bar and we sold the car to a collector for 275.00. He said he wanted a classic to fix up. You could find a car for a pretty penny back then. Racing is not as easy these days. Back then if we going to get caught by the police we pulled off woodeard, parked and hid in th bushes. The police started feeling the hood to see if it was still hot. Busted and issued a warning. THOSE WERE THE TRUE DAYS A CRUISING!!! Listen to 94.7 WCSX for great music while cruising. Enjoy with care 2009.

dsundiego - 8/13/2009 7:25 PM
Cruisin' Woodward was great. Peter, Paul and Mary even mentioned it in one of their albums (Paul Stookey went to school in Birmingham). From Teds down to "the Dipps" in Ferndale ~ nothing but kids cruising and adults being annoyed. Simpler days (and nights). Cars were customized then with Appletons, spinner or Moon hubcaps, scavenger pipes, lowered all the way around, or just shackled. Pinstripes by "Mouse", scallops ~ and every car had a name painted on the back. Great fun, lots of parties. You found out about them while sitting at "Dan's Big Town", or Maverick. I remember it all with great fondness...and loved it. I am in San Diego now, but back to MI every other year just to experience the nostalgia. Sure hope it continues. ~ Thanks, D.S. ~ San Diego

rckowal - 8/12/2009 9:58 PM
I will soon be 76 years young. I fondly remember cruising Woodward as early as 1951. We would start out in Ferndale near 8 Mile Rd. & go all the way North to Teds Drive-in (?Square Lake Rd.?)near Pontiac. In between, stops at the Totem Pole, Richards, A&W, etc. driveins were mandatory if you were being "cool". As someone else pointed out, drag racing from traffic signals was common - if you had a "hot" car. The Police would often stop us & give a stern warning. Only the flagrant speeders were ticketed. A friend of mine named "Joansie" blew right by a Police car doing about 100 MPH. He not only got ticketed but spent the night in the Birmingham jail as well. These were also the days when a lot of young guys cut their teeth on real muscle cars. Some, like DeLorean & Pete Estes went on to become high level Executives at GMC. DeLorean led a design team at Pontiac that turned out the GTO & the limited edition "Judge. In 1969, I bought a new, bright orange Judge with a big (like 440 HP) engine. Those were unique & very exciting days for young guys & their gals when you could have a lot of fun without spending a bunch of money. A coke & french fries made for a cheap date.

plc223 - 8/12/2009 7:35 PM
Cruising Woodward is a dream. Take your average learning driver teen, bring him/her to Woodward. Jump start the vehicle to 45 MPH legally and watch the knuckles on their hands turn white. Woodward should be mandatory for a Driver's License. If you cannot keep up, stay off the road.

plc223 - 8/12/2009 7:30 PM
Cruising on Woodward was so great in the mid 70's. Stopping 4 lanes of traffic politely to scream off and race was a teenagers dream. Hanging out at 13 & Woodward was a blast. Back then you good cruise way past the speed limit and get away with it. Cruising Woodward helped us High School grads.

200bowler - 8/12/2009 7:35 AM
Ican remember cruising Woodward Ave. first stopping at Ted's for a five by five then on down to the totem pole and beyond, I don't even want to count the times WE have been stopped by the police (never got a ticket). met lots of girls on that ave.

daver608 - 8/8/2009 3:50 PM
Just turned 71, of course that put's me in the era of the real cruisers, 1955 and forward. We would start out at the WXYZ broadcast house where Soupy Sales hung with us and was an honorary member of our club :"The Northwest Modifiers". We were a show and racing club. We actually gave Soupy one of our club jackets, I wonder if he still has it. We loved to cruise, we would cover every major cruise area from Detroit to Pontiac. Our members were mostly from around Northwest Detroit, the Grand River, Greenfield corridor. We would stop at Elias Brothers on Northwestern Hwy where Soupy would visit with us before and after his show. Being cruisers we hit all the drive in's, Richard's A&W, Daly's, Ted's to just name a few. Those were the days of the real cruisers. I have made 90% of the now Woodward Ave cruises with my grandchildren the bring back lots of memories. Thank you WXYZ for keeping the dream alive. Dave

redwings9 - 7/30/2009 10:24 AM
I miss walking down Woodward Ave. Going to Hudson's to shop, seeing Santa at Christmas with my Mom. Then going across the street to Sander's for a Cream Puff Hot Fudge. I miss Vernor's and all the shops along the way walking there. My Uncle's Shoe Shop was right off Woodward, my Dad and I would go visit him and then WALK all the way to Tiger Stadium for a game. My friend and I would take the Bus downtown and walk up and down Woodward and the people were everywhere. It was GREAT back in the Day. Now,40 years later my youngest son has a chance to sing on Woodward Ave,at the Cruise, Jason Cortez. I Love Woodward Ave. for all the Memories. Thank You Chef John Cortez Motorcity Casino.


Memory Lane

Woodward Avenue was a place for more than driving, back in the days of bobby socks and letterman sweaters. Tell us what you miss or remember about Woodward Avenue.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Cruisin' Idol
Channel 7 is teaming up with Art Van Furniture to find Detroit’s next singing sensation!

Thanks to everyone that entered! On Saturday August 15, watch the top singers will compete live on Channel 7’s Woodward Dream Cruise prime time special.

Official Rules
Cruisin' Events
Heading to the Dream Cruise? There are a ton of events to keep you entertained all weekend long. Car shows, concerts and even a bee hive contest.

FIND AN EVENT
Official Woodward Dream Cruise
  This site is hosted and managed by Inergize Digital.