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Shades of Champ Car/IRL: Birmingham exits Dream Cruise, starts own same-day event
At first blush, the city of Birmingham's decision to pull out of its official relationship with the Woodward Dream Cruise doesn't strike us as a big deal. After all, 40,000 or so classic cars are expected to descend on the historic Woodward Avenue just south of the Motor City whether Birmingham has representation on the Dream Cruise's Board of Directors or not. Officials representing the Cruise, though, don't quite agree with this assessment.The Detroit News reports that Dream Cruise board President Greg Rasse sent a not-so-friendly letter to Birmingham City Manager Tom Markus requesting that the city cease-and-desist using Woodward Dream Cruise logos and event name when promoting its own event, which is scheduled to run concurrently with the official Dream Cruise. Not terribly surprising, given that Birmingham's departure from the Dream Cruise Board means that the city is not paying the Board or its Executive Director any money.
No matter what happens, the show must go on, as they say, and we'll be there as always this August with digital SLRs in tow and live streaming video of all the action. We don't imagine that many of those attending the Cruise in 2009 will notice the difference, and we hope the organizers and the locales involved can get along well enough not to ruin an enjoyable event.
[Source: The Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jer 8:36AM (6/17/2009)
Shouldn't that say just "north" of the motor city?
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MichaelS 9:26AM (6/17/2009)
Yeah, it's definitely north of the Motor City. In fact, if you're downtown at COBO or the Renaissance Center and head due south, you end up in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Well, first you end up in the Detroit River unless you opt for the tunnel or bridge, which would be wise.
UCJR 9:09AM (6/17/2009)
Seeing as how I had read something about the Dream Cruise not going further south than 8-Mile Road this year, with Birmingham bowing out, is it only really going to take place on all of a few miles of Woodward Ave.?
Here's the link:
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/28/woodward-dream-cruise-retreating-back-across-8-mile/
I wonder if it'll still go up to Pontiac...
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Redeemed 12:15PM (6/17/2009)
Going south of 8 mile requires your car to have option code CPL - Concealed Pistol License.
mkM3 9:08AM (6/17/2009)
As long as they do not use the logos and branding, I don't think there's much that can be done or much to be upset with. I can see both sides, but if Birmingham feels they can run a successful event on that day without paying the normal fees, then that is their perogative. Granted, part of the fees will go toward enhanced security and other safety and convenience measures at the event, but Birmingham can take care of their own I suppose.
And If their event is successful, then maybe it suggests that all the money spent on organizing the Cruise is a bit over the top. After all, it did start out as a loosely organized event with no governing body. But it has perhaps become a bit overdone in recent years. Its money that could be better spent elsewhere, and the cruise is till going to go on regardless.
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Matt 9:47AM (6/17/2009)
Most of the money raised from the cities and merchandise sales goes toward paying an executive director. If there is money left over it is supposed to reimburse cities for police and fire overtime, yet there wasn't any left in the past two years for that. I can see why Birmingham wouldn't join because of its lost of corporate sponsors (GM) and the fact that they could put the money to better use.
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