There's no better place for Chevy's Corvette to make an appearance than right in its own backyard on Woodward Avenue as General Motors kicks off its Woodward Dream Cruise activities with a special appearance of the latest model of the all American icon--the 2009 Corvette ZR1--at a private function for media on Thursday, August 14, at 3:45 pm at Athens Coney Island.
The GM festivities continue Saturday, August 16, at 7:30 a.m. EDT, when the GM Heritage Center presents the GM Century Cruise, led by a concept Corvette Z06 powered by E85 ethanol and driven by GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner. More than 100 classic GM vehicles will cruise from the GM Global Headquarters at the Renaissance Center up Woodward Avenue to the heart of the Woodward Dream Cruise in Royal Oak, Birmingham and the surrounding suburbs.
General Motors, Chevrolet and the GM Heritage Center
Visit http://dreamcruise.gmnext.com to see the GM Century Cruise vehicles and then cast your vote for the "Top Cruiser" by texting the number of your favorite vehicle to 466398 (GMnext).
6:00 p.m. The first annual NextCruise kicks-off in Pleasant Ridge at 23925 Woodward Ave and will showcase the 'Lean, Mean and Green' technologies and vehicles of nine automakers. GM vehicles either on display or available for Ride and Drive will include the E85 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Pace Car, Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle, Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, Cadillac Escalade Hybrid and the Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid. Assorted GM executives and subject matter experts will be available for interviews, including among others Bob Kruse, executive director of Global Vehicle Engineering for Hybrids, Electric Vehicles and Batteries.
6:30 a.m. GM Century Cruise vehicles assemble in Lot D1 (east of the Renaissance Center at St. Antoine and Atwater).
7:00 a.m. Century Cruise media check in at Lot D1 - Century Cruise participants will be available for interviews at the assembly site, along the route, Athens Coney Island in Royal Oak and the Birmingham Triangle in Birmingham. Media Trucks will be available for use along the parade route. Arrangements can be made for media to ride in a classic car the entire route all interested media should go to the media check in desk in Lot D1.
7:30 a.m. GM Century Cruise - 100 classic GM vehicles depart the GM Global Headquarters at the Renaissance Center and proceed up Woodward to the heart of the Dream Cruise in Royal Oak, Birmingham and the surrounding suburbs.
The caravan is expected to pass the following locations at these approximate times:
7:40 a.m. - Comerica Park 8:15 a.m. - Ferndale
7:50 a.m. - Wayne State University / DIA area 8:25 a.m. - 13 Mile / Woodward
8:10 a.m. - Palmer Park area 8:35 a.m. - Woodward / Maple Rd.
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Meet General the Future Leader Dog - GM begins its second century with a partnership with Leader Dogs for the Blind by sponsoring the training of Future Leader Dog General. General is a golden retriever puppy that will begin his Leader Dog training when he turns a year old and once he completes the program General will go to someone who is blind in Southeast Michigan. General will be available for media photos and autographs for the public 8:00 a.m. to noon at Athens Coney Island.
9:00 a.m. NextCruise 2008 displays open in Pleasant Ridge at 23925 Woodward Ave.