Crowds expected for inaugural Hines Drive cruise

Don Nicholson has done his share of car shows and cruises, but he has to admit that he's “blown away by the day” by the response to next Sunday's inaugural Cruisin' Hines Drive.

“I've been told that this will be the Dream Cruise of Wayne County,” the Westland resident said of the Aug. 28 event. “I've had more hits to print the registration form on the website that there should be 5,000 cars bumper to bumper from Ann Arbor Trail to Outer Drive.”

Hines Park will be closed Sunday, Aug. 28 to “normal” traffic from Westland to Dearborn, and that section of roadway will be limited to classic cars and hot rods. A classic is any car that is 25 years and older, while a hot rod is anything that is modified, said Nicholson, the cruise organizer.

The event is drawing interest from in and around the metropolitan area as well as outstate and out of state. Inquires have come from Lansing, London, Ontario and Ohio.
“People seem to really like it because it's the only cruise where you'll see just classic cars and hot rods,” Nicholson said.

Nicholson is asking cruisers to download the registration form at www.DonNicholson.net and fill it out in advance to make registration move faster at the Nankin Mills pavilion on cruise day. All cars will have to enter and register at the Ann Arbor Trail entrance. There is no charge for registration.

Spectators will enter at Merriman, Telegraph and Warrendale. All three of the pavilions in those areas will be free to spectators during the cruise. Vendors will set up in those areas, and several car clubs have rented locations “to do their thing,” said Nicholson.

“The bike path will be open so people can still ride their bikes,” said Nicholson. “There will be cars along the route so we ask people to be kinds to the cars, if they're on their bikes.”

There will be parades of one brand or model of car in single file on the hour and Henry's Field in the Nankin Mills area is reserved for all pre-1931 vehicles. The Motorsports Hall of Fame will have Kenny Bernstein's top fuel funny car on display and the original Monkeemobile and Ghostbuster car will also be there.

The Six Foot Poles will perform from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the band stand in the Nankin Mills area. It's sponsored by Gordon Chevrolet. WOMC will be doing live remote feeds from the same stage from 2 to 6 p.m.

“Six Foot Poles was the cruise band for Cruisin' Michigan Avenue and for my Wayne Skills Center car show,” said Nicholson. “I think they've become the official car show and cruise band.”

Mixed in with the vendors will be charitable groups like the Wayne Rotary Club, which will be doing fundraising for Fallen Soldiers. They're being sponsored by Tennyson Chevrolet.

Nicholson wants to see the public come down and watch what he says will be a “moving car show.” He would love to see 15,000 cars come for the cruise, While he doesn't think he'll see that for the inaugural event, he “would like to make Hines Drive into one big traffic jam.”

“The park lends itself to this; it's so natural,” he said. “I wish I had done this sooner.”

As read on: http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20110821/NEWS16/108210472/Crowds-expected-inaugural-Hines-Drive-cruise