Vintage cars and trucks cruise Jackson Road Saturday
Brothers Demos and Phillip Vulicevic along with Kaiwen Smith watch the 2013 Jackson Road Cruise, Saturday, July 13.
Courtney Sacco I AnnArbor.com
Anyone traveling on Jackson Road Saturday, between Wagner and Parker roads, may feel like they're thrown back in time. Vehicles that span the latter half of the 20th century and even some from the early part of the century are showing their stuff for the fifth annual Jackson Road Cruise in Scio Township.
The smell of exhaust and the sound of revving engines filled the parking lot at Bell-Mark Lanes Saturday morning. Many proud vintage car and truck owners proudly displayed their vehicles.
The 2013 Jackson Road Cruise, Saturday, July 13.
Courtney Sacco I AnnArbor.com
"I just had the notion I wanted to do a cab over truck," said Don Colliau of Dexter about his 1947 Dodge COE. "It's all custom. The only things that are original are the cab and the front fenders."
According to Todd Bailey, cruise chairperson, as many as 800 vehicles may be participating in the cruise, which is also a car show. Numerous businesses welcome participants in the cruise to stop by Saturday for a variety of activities. The total route is seven miles.
"Businesses on Jackson Road will reap the benefits of all the people we attract today," said Connie Kelly of the West Washtenaw Business Association.
Classic, custom, hybrid, electric, domestic and foreign vehicles were all invited to participate as well as motorcycles and trucks.
"We don't care what kind of car it is," said Bailey. "Any vehicle of interest is welcome. It's about bringing out what you're proud showing off and having fun."
Pat and El Wier from Ann Arbor were showing off their black 2001 Cobra Mustang with their matching black lab mix Buddy sitting in the back seat.
"The Cobra is a racing car, which sets it apart from the standard Mustang," said El Wier.
The grand marshal of the 2013 Jackson Road Cruise Miss Michigan USA Stephanie Rushlow, of Dexter, waves during the parade.
Courtney Sacco I AnnArbor.com
"I just think it's beautiful," said the Ann Arbor resident about his car, which had the top down. "This event is a good way to meet people who enjoy cars, too."
Bailey said that the oldest car that's ever been part of the Jackson Road Cruise was a 1910 Detroit Edison car. Most of the participating vehicles are from the 1950s.
There was a parade this morning featuring the cruise's grand marshal, Stephanie Rushlow, 26, Miss Michigan, U.S., who is from Dexter.
"I am excited to be riding in a 2013 427 Corvette from the Suburban collection," she said. "It's the car's 60th anniversary."
Activities including bands and refreshments last until 6 p.m. For more information, go to http://www.jrcruise.org/events.html.
Interested in cars? See more auto-related coverage from Friday's Rolling Sculpture Car Show in downtown AnnArbor:
- Photo gallery: Images from the Ann Arbor Rolling Sculpture Car Show
- Founder of Rolling Sculpture Car Show displays homemade V8
Lisa Carolin is a freelance reporter. Contact the AnnArbor.com news desk at news@annarbor.com.
Comments
franklindavidson
Sun, Jul 14, 2013 : 3:07 p.m.
Sorry, but this is not any kind of classic car cruise. It should more realistically be called the Belmark Lanes Car Show. Anyone who's been to the Woodward, Gratiot, or Downriver cruises - even Flint's "Back to the Bricks" cruise night - knows what a cruise looks like - thousands of vehicles, arriving the day before because they're so eager to get started, actually DRIVING the road for thousands of appreciative onlookers. Ann Arbor's event encourages classic car owners to PARK their cars at one of the designated parking lots, leaving two or three (or zero) classics to actually cruise each side of the boulevard. The only time a cruise takes place is during the "parade," another micromanaged and silly thing that the successful cruises above don't have or do. To get a CRUISE going, event organizers apparently need to encourage a "parade" every 15 minutes to get people out of the parking lots and into the street. Also, extending the route so that it goes from Baker all the way to Huron and then turning around at Main downtown, would turn this cruise into a true competitor to the Woodward event. (But that awful moon-crater stretch of Huron between Maple and Main would have to be repaved first.)
John of Saline
Sun, Jul 14, 2013 : 9:51 p.m.
And the bikes would ignore traffic laws, same as usual.
djacks24
Sun, Jul 14, 2013 : 5:25 p.m.
I can't believe Ann Arbor is letting any kind of cruise happen or even mentioning it. Of course this area isn't really considered Ann Arbor city limits. If a cruise were ever to happen in Ann Arbor it would be a classic bicycle cruise.
GoldenGirl
Sun, Jul 14, 2013 : 2:47 p.m.
@ Brad: The yellow car in the photo is a 1968 Firebird owned by Mark & Linda Evans of Chelsea.
leaguebus
Sun, Jul 14, 2013 : 1:15 a.m.
George Bedard gave his usual great set from 4 to 6 In front of Belmark. We need more people! The tent was not full. Great way to see George's two hours of music. Good beer from Belmark, too!
Tom Drake
Sun, Jul 14, 2013 : midnight
top photo 68 or 69 firebird.
Brad
Sat, Jul 13, 2013 : 11:31 p.m.
Can anyone ID the car in the top photo?
easy123
Sun, Jul 14, 2013 : 11:27 p.m.
I think it is a Ford Taurus or a Cortina for England and or Australian production. Looks very different from a camaro
GoldenGirl
Sun, Jul 14, 2013 : 2:48 p.m.
See GoldenGirl response below.
jcj
Sun, Jul 14, 2013 : 1:57 a.m.
My mistake I did not scroll to the top photo!
jcj
Sun, Jul 14, 2013 : 1:56 a.m.
If you are talking about the red one it is definitely NOT a Firebird. See the Chevy emblem on the grill? I thinks the red one is a 2012 Camaro.
B2Pilot
Sun, Jul 14, 2013 : 12:41 a.m.
68 or 69 firebird would be my guess- defiantly a firebird though
Morris Thorpe
Sat, Jul 13, 2013 : 10:14 p.m.
Really like this event. Good job by all involved. I enjoy watching the old timers photograph the cars. I do love Ms. MI's quote. So natural and off the cuff: "I am excited to be riding in a 2013 427 Corvette from the Suburban collection," she said. "It's the car's 60th anniversary."
kodiakbear
Sat, Jul 13, 2013 : 8:32 p.m.
It would've been a really nice if they'd have mentioned I'd have hundreds of cars blocking my path to work awhile before hand. I saw signs about the Cruise, but nothing mentioning that they'd block the road from letting cars pass. The police either should've done a better job of blocking the various turn-arounds or something. I love gorgeous cars as much as anyone else but some people work weekends.
Homeland Conspiracy
Sun, Jul 14, 2013 : 12:34 a.m.
How years has this been going on? I live off Jackson & I knew enough to not even go near Jackson. If you really "love" old cars like you say you do, you would of taken Saturday off!!!
Ann English
Sat, Jul 13, 2013 : 10:20 p.m.
Should annarbor.com have included this in its Events menu? I know it's easy to miss articles.
jcj
Sat, Jul 13, 2013 : 8:46 p.m.
You live in the area of the cruise and had no idea what might happen? Amazing!