2017 RCC WOODWARD DREAM CRUISE OUTING to the Woodward Dream Cruise, MI

RCC Outing Dates - August 15th – 20th

2017 RCC Woodward Dream Cruise Outing Information - UPDATE# 10

We have planned an exciting RCC group cruise to to attend the Woodward Dream Cruise. This event is a classic car event held annually on the third Saturday of August in Metropolitan , along Woodward Avenue. The WDC Event spans much of the avenue, from Pontiac through Ferndale in Oakland County, Michigan, all the way to the State Fair Grounds inside the Detroit city limits, just south of 8 Mile Road. For our cruisers, this will be a 6-day event that will have us leaving on August 15 with a route to go through Canada. The trip duration to MI will be around 6 to 6.5 hours with a return date of August 20. There are a huge number of exciting events that we have planned (Listed Below) that will keep you busy all week long, so we hope you can attend. We have limited this group to 25 cars so sign up soon. Main Dream Cruise Event date in MI is Saturday August 19, 2017 RCC members will leave on August 15th, 2017 for this event. Accommodations have been arranged at the following Hotel: Somerset Inn 2601 West Big Beaver Road Troy, MI 48084 Phone number: 1 (248) 643-7800 www.somersetinn.com 25 rooms have been reserved located in the Tower (3rd – 14th Floors). Cost in $105.00 plus TAX for a Queen or 2 Doubles. To make a reservation you must call the Hotel and ask for a room from the block of 25 reserved under the GROUP Rochester Corvette Club using your own credit-card to hold the reservation. If you would like to upgrade to a room with KING or Two Queen beds the rate is $130 plus TAX, be aware that rooms are subject to availability. NOTE: This event is filling up fast, we currently have 7 rooms left Our hotel is located in Troy, MI about 20 mins. north of Detroit proper. This is a very nice area with an indoor mall across from the hotel and adjacent to our hotel is the Somerset Park Golf Course. There are also lots of great restaurants in the area. THE WOODWARD DREAM CRUISE COMMITTEE. Barry Alt: (585) 766-9785 [email protected] Steve Popple: (585) 394-3428 [email protected] Thom Stevens: (585) 594-8342 [email protected] The Woodward Dream Cruise committee for the Rochester Corvette Club is Barry Alt, Thom Stevens and Steve Popple at this point and are working together to organize and coordinate the outing, as updates become available, they will be communicated. Cut off to sign up and reserve your room is June 30th. Please let Barry, Thom or Steve know when you have reserved your room as your place on the 2017 RCC Dream Cruise will NOT be locked in until you reserve your room Thanks ***With the route going through Canada you will need a valid US Pass Port or Enhanced License. We also recommend that you get a Canadian insurance card from your insurance agent***. Schedule of events for the week

We will follow this event itinerary subject to change. NOTE: Drive 2 End Hunger is the only mandatory event

• Aug. 15 – 9:30 a.m. RCC Caravan in four groups to Somerset Inn Troy, MI. Meet at Clarence Rest Stop • Aug. 15 – RCC Group dinner at P.F. Chang’s China Bistro • Aug. 16 – 10:00 a.m. GM Heritage Center tour, Sterling Heights - $10 pp. gmheritagecenter.com • Aug. 16 – 18 “Drive 2 End Hunger” event Exact times TBD Arrive starting 2 p.m. at the M1 Concourse, northwest corner of Woodward Avenue and South Boulevard, in Pontiac, Mich. Enter through the South Boulevard gate. Gates open at 2 p.m. Required $10 donation supports Open Hands Food Pantry.

An evening police-escorted parade through the four-mile Pontiac Woodward Loop begins around 6 p.m. Participants then continue south on Woodward to the Open Hands Food Pantry, 26998 Woodward Avenue at 11 Mile Road, Royal Oak, Mich. Additional outings coordinated by Larry Courtney and RCC include: All outings are free unless noted

• Aug. 17 – 10:00 a.m. Lingenfelter Collection tour, New Hudson. www.thelingenfeltercollection.com • Aug. 17 – 01:00 p.m. Corvette Racing AKA Pratt & Miller Eng. tour, New Hudson. www.prattmiller.com • Aug. 18 – 09:00 a.m. RCC Group only - The Henry Ford – Museum, Greenfield Village & Rouge Factory Note: We are investigating a group ticket purchase for the museum or a combination of the museum and Greenfield Village or Factory. Ticket pricing TBD www.thehenryford.org • Aug. 18 – 10:00 a.m. Webber Wildlife Museum tour, Clinton Township • Aug. 18 – after Webber Wildlife Museum - Stahls Automotive Museum www.stahlsauto.com • Aug. 19 – 09:00 a.m. Woodward Dream Cruise, Woodward Avenue. www.woodwarddreamcruise.com • Aug. 20 – Time TBD RCC Return to NY Departure as groups or on your own *Attendance to all events is voluntary but we will need a head count if you plan to attend any of these events. Other Michigan Attractions

• Frankenmuth: A small quaint German town with shopping about an hour north of our hotel www.frankenmuth.org • Back to the Bricks Car show & Concert in Flint: Aug. 18th – 19th Free Concert is on Friday night backtothebricks.org • The Henry Ford – Museum, Greenfield Village & Rouge Factory: 30 mins. south of our hotel www.thehenryford.org • The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant: First Model T plane 20 Mins. south of our hotel www.fordpiquetteavenueplant.org • Detroit Historical Museum: www.detroithistorical.org 20 Min. south from our hotel

2016 Event Map

Local Restaurants

At Somerset Inn:

• Crumpets European inspired cuisine along with a small restaurant & bar In Somerset Mall across the street from Hotel:

• P.F. Chang’s China Bistro • Chik-fil-A • Sweet Loraine’s Mac N Cheese • California Pizza Kitchen Chain Restaurants close by: • Carrabba's Italian Grill 600 W Big Beaver Rd, Troy, MI 48084 1 mile west across from Granite City Brewery • Chipotle Mexican Grill 3129 Crooks Rd, Troy, MI 48084 1 mile west and around the corner • Maggiano's Little Italy 2089 W Big Beaver Rd, Troy, MI 48084 within walking distance Other

• Estia Greek Street Food great reviews on Yelp, reasonable • 2897 W Maple Rd, Troy, MI 48084 • 2.6 mi. About 7 mins • Renee’s Gourmet Pizzeria great Yelp reviews, offers gluten free, reasonable prices 1937 W Maple Rd, Troy, MI 48084 1.9 mi. About 5 mins • Piada Italian Street Food, customizable Italian, reasonable menu, not sure of seating, might be better for take-out 2038 W Big Beaver Rd, Troy, MI 4808 Within walking distance • Crispelli’s Bakery & Pizzeria 2601 W Big Beaver Rd, Troy MI 2.7 ni. About 6 mins • Granite City Food & Brewery craft beers, diverse menu 699 W. Big Beaver Road Troy, MI 4808 1.1 mi. About 5 min drive, 20 min. walk

Updates from Larry Courtney*

Corvettes on Woodward: Update at the M1 Concourse Wednesday August 16. The exact start time is TBD. More important is they are building a 650 car paved parking lot near the tent, SO MAYBE 1000 CARS???. The will be two entrances to the parking lot. More details later. I am planning to make the flag again on the skid pad so I need 58 RED, 48 WHITE and 24 BLUE CORVETTES. If you can participate let me know. I also need help lining everyone up, that is volunteers to get everyone parked straight. Remember the main reason we are there is to help support two food pantries, don’t forget your donations food and cash. I also would like to have one of each generation for a display up by the tent. I am looking for not only a good representation of the generation but a good story about the car and owner. Send you story for consideration by June 30. Selected cars will be highlighted in the souvenir book. Another update with more specific times and addresses will be sent out after the Windsor Corvette Show. The Marriot Hotel, just two miles east of the M1 has invited all of us to three nights of parties beginning Thursday August 17 thru Saturday August 20 7-11 PM. This is open to all car guys and girls. Still working on details but, the will be food, DJ and prizes. Let me know if you would like to go. We have some volunteers but really could use some more help. Please email if you can volunteer, display your Corvette in the Flag or the Generations display. Thanks, Larry & Verna

*Larry & Verna Courtney are our Hosts

Woodward Background

A recap of previous Woodward Dream Cruises 2016 is detailed on the following pages as well as some Background and History.

Starting in 1848, when the roadway was converted from logs to planks, young carriage drivers would race along Woodward Avenue.[2] By 1958, the roadway was used for unofficial with cars. The wide width, median and sections lacking a large commercial presence attracted a reputation for the competition. The numerous drive-ins, each with its dedicated local teenaged clientele, were also popular. Woodward also had numerous car dealerships and automobile accessory shops in the age of the muscle car which completed the formula for young adults to cruise, race and hang out along the road.[3]

History

Berkley's Custom Police Cruiser, a 1991 complete with a 502-CID V8 and flames, donated by a group of residents for use in the Woodward Dream Cruise.

The Woodward Dream Cruise is the world's largest one-day automotive event, drawing about 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars each year from around the globe. Spectators can see muscle cars, street rods, custom, collector and special interest vehicles dating across several decades.[4] The majority of the cars on display are those that were available and prevalent during the 1950s, 60s and early 70s prior to the OPEC oil embargo, which led to the Corporate Average Fuel Economy regulations of 1975 and the proliferation of more fuel-efficient and less powerful automobiles. However, the Woodward Dream Cruise also welcomes vehicles of all models whose owners have either scrupulously maintained or customized their car to create a unique vehicle or statement.

Pamela S. McCullough, Mayor and Nelson House, a plumber from Ferndale, came up with the idea for the cruise in 1994 to help raise money for a children's soccer field in his community.[4] Organizers initially expected 30,000 or 40,000 people to come to the August 19, 1995, inaugural cruise on Woodward Avenue in Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Royal Oak and Birmingham. About 250,000 actually showed up.[4] It is now the largest single-day classic car event in the world, and brings in over $56 million annually to the economy.[5]

Although the cruise officially takes place on only one day, each year the celebration starts early in the summer with these classic vehicles brought out onto the streets in preparation, and ancillary events are scheduled in the sponsoring communities of Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, and Pontiac.[5]

Woodward Dream Cruise 2016 event recap:

Detroit’s ‘Corvettes On Woodward’ Expects To Double Turnout Next Month With Move To M1 Concourse

JUNE 27, 2016 POSTED BY Ron In Corvette Enthusiasts, Corvette Events, Corvette News, Corvettes On Woodward, Larry Courtney

Larry Courtney's annual "Corvettes on Woodward" event will draw scores of the sports car lovers prior to the Woodward Dream Cruise.

Watch for a major Corvette convergence in Pontiac, Mich. on Aug. 17 as hundreds of the sporty cars gather for the first time at the new M1 Concourse in Pontiac for the annual “Corvettes on Woodward.”

The three-day event, organized by Corvette owner Larry Courtney, occurs in advance of the Woodward Dream Cruise.

Courtney expects 1,000 Corvettes, double what he had for year ago at a Bloomfield Hills, Mich. hotel venue. “It’s going to be fun,” says Courtney, who drives the unique, Matick Chevy-sponsored, flag-wrapped “American Pride” 2005 Corvette.

Larry Courtney and his famous Matick Chevy-flag-wrapped Corvette.

“We finally have the room at the M1 location and we’ll be taking full advantage of the property.”

M1 (named after Woodward Avenue’s route number) is an 87-acre complex featuring climate-controlled, private car condos, racetrack, repair shops and restaurants.

How fitting, say car buffs, that the huge facility is located on a former GM Pontiac West assembly plant.

Courtney can’t wait to host the event, which raises funds for the Open Hands Food Pantry charity. “It’s going to be the largest Corvette event in Michigan,” he says.

He even hopes to gather red-, white- and blue-hued Corvettes and park them in a way to form a huge U.S. flag.

As the M1 Concourse grows, says Courtney, “it will be extremely good for Pontiac, Oakland County and even the metro Detroit region.”

Another charitable activity this year involves Flint, challenged with lead-tainted water issues. “The Flint Corvette Club has challenged us to donate 100 cases of water to Flint and we’re going to do that,” says Courtney.

Because of the shift to Pontiac, Courtney is also planning to donate funding to a Pontiac-based food charity.

Courtney and wife, Verna, bought their Corvette in 1999. In 2012, Matick Chevy and Courtney agreed that the dealership logo and American flag could be decaled onto the car. The car gets a workout between St. Patrick’s Day through Halloween. In the winter months, the Courtneys put the car in storage.

Courtney loves all things Corvette.

Larry Courtney at the 2015 event.

“When I meet a new Corvette owner, I tell them all the great things in store for them because they are now part of the Corvette family,” says the affable retiree who left his career in management.

“There are clubs, shows, road trips, autocross, National Corvette Museum, drag races and other speed events. It is even OK if all they want to do is park it in the garage and drool a little bit.”

Courtney’s influence is far-reaching. He keeps track of 2,000 contacts in his email database and travels to Corvette events across the U.S. and Canada.

Friends from Sweden even had their Corvette shipped to the U.S. one year so they could participate in Larry’s annual Corvettes on Woodward gathering.

That event started back in 2003 when Courtney spotted a pack of yellow Ford Mustangs going down Woodward Avenue. “I said to Verna, ‘We can do better than that because we know a lot of Corvette owners.’”

The gathering started out small, he recalls, but grew over the years with more than 500 Corvettes assembling each August.

About four years into the event, Courtney decided to begin collecting for a Royal Oak food charity. “When we’d parade down Woodward, we’d turn around at 11 Mile Road to head back north into Birmingham and beyond,” he says. “The place we turned around near was the Open Hands Food Pantry.”

Something clicked, and Courtney asked for donations.

Vette Magazine took notice, calling Corvettes on Woodward one of 10 best regional events east of the Mississippi, says Courtney.

He’s looking forward to Aug. 17. “It's going to be a crazy-busy eight hours,” he says. “We’ll try to make sure everybody has a good time.”

CHECK OUT MORE INFO VIA THESE LINKS: http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2016/04/13/corvettes-woodward-charity-event-changing-locations-2016/ http://www.corvetteblog.com/2016/06/detroit-corvettes-on-woodward-2016/

YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vlZRbC4o1E