Telegraph Tomorrow Classic Car Cruise

July 24, 2010

Hot rodders and classic car enthusiasts and spectators from throughout Southeast Michigan - and beyond - will converge on Telegraph Road (US24) for the sixth annual Telegraph Tomorrow Car Cruise on Saturday, July 24.

Spanning the communities of Taylor, Dearborn Heights, Dearborn and Redford Township, the event is expected to draw thousands of enthusiasts between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. from Eureka Road in Taylor to the south all the way to Puritan Road in Redford to the north.

Car club members and classic vehicle owners alike are encouraged to display their wares along Telegraph Road for this year’s event.

Several business owners and operators along the Telegraph corridor are making their parking lots available to cruisers and spectators, while others are hosting other cruise-related events. Many businesses are holding special events throughout the day. City officials caution that special event permits are required.

The cities of Taylor and Dearborn Heights are encouraging business owners interested in taking a more active role to register as event sponsors or supporters. For a nominal fee, the cities will list companies’ names and logos on their cruise-related websites, and include the information in all other cruise-related promotion.

For more information on sponsorship/support opportunities, contact the City of Taylor Department of Golf, Parks and Recreation at (734) 374-3906 or Bob Ankrapp in Dearborn Heights at (313) 277-7405 or rankrapp@ci.dearborn-heights.mi.us.

The current sponsors of the Taylor portion of the cruise are Howe-Peterson Funeral Home, Taylor Ford, Telegraph Dodge Chrysler Jeep, RightWay Automotive and UAW Region 1A. (See their logos below.) Other sponsors will be announced.

The Telegraph Tomorrow Classic Car Cruise, in its sixth year, is named for the Telegraph Tomorrow Association that works to improve and promote the U.S. 24 (Telegraph Road) corridor.

For updated information on the Taylor portion of the cruise, visit www.cityoftyalor.com/cruise.

WHAT'S GOING ON DURING THE CRUISE?

Telegraph Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep will be one of the many festive places in Taylor. Billed as a Telegraph Cruise Official Pit Stop, the dealership at 12000 Telegraph Road will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Management has invited all Mopar custom cars and clubs to display at no cost. There is parking available for 200 cars. WOMC-FM will have a live broadcast. The Blackjack Band will perform from noon to 5 p.m. Classic Concessions will serve refreshments. Restroom facilities will be available.

Hot rodders, classic car enthusiasts and spectators are invited to Quick Lane at 13635 Telegraph Road in Taylor to meet and greet Meltown and Marissa, the 2010 WRIF Rock Girl. Register to win free oil changes, rotations and a free set of tires (up to $300 value).

ŸUAW Region 1A in Taylor will be a "Telegraph Cruise Stop" with a motor sports theme from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free. There will be activities and games for kids, raffles, giveaways, food and refreshments. Visitors are invited to enjoy nostalgic hits from the 1940s, '50s and '60s. UAW Region 1A is located at 9650 Telegraph.

ŸBiker Bob’s Motown Harley-Davidson at 14100 Telegraph Road will be one of the busiest sites during the Telegraph Cruise. The day starts with a Telegraph Kruise for Kids motorcycle ride, a fund-raiser for Camp Yes I Can for amputees ages 4 to 17 to discover they can do anything. Registration starts at 10 a.m. The "kruise" leaves Biker Bob's at 11:30 a.m. and returns between 12:30 and 1 p.m. Admission is $20 per rider; $30 with a passenger. Free food will be provided by Buffalo Wild Wings. To register, visit www.AmpuTeam.com. There will be a car show open to anyone as space permits. Prizes will be awarded to the top two "best in show." Live entertainment will be provided by Detroit rockabilly band the Streamliners. There will be a Battle of the Babes from 1 to 3 p.m. featuring the Bobettes, Malarkey's LTB's, Hooters and BW3 Girls. The Bobettes Bike Wash is set for 3 to 4 p.m. Ray's Ice Cream will be available for purchase.

ŸThe Taylor Moose Family Center will offer parking for cruisers, have a DJ and activities outside and sell food and beverages. At night, the party will move inside with karaoke, food and drinks. The lodge is located at 9981 Telegraph Road.

ŸThe St. Alfred Youth Group and Scout Troop 816 will grill hot dogs and brats and serve hot pretzels and nachos on the edge of campus on Telegraph Road near Banner. The day of fun and fellowship will feature plenty of lemonade, snow cones, soda pop and water to keep participants cool. The Downriver Wanderers Car Club still has open slots available for classic cars at $10 each. All proceeds benefit St. Alfred Youth Ministries.

ŸThe McDonald's restaurant at 10236 Telegraph Road will have something for everyone throughout the day. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. radio station WOMC-FM (104.3) will be cruisin' with Dr. Pepper and McDonald's. Stop by to spin the Super Jackpot Machine for a chance to win concert tickets, T-shirts and more. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., visitors can enjoy a free sample of the new frozen strawberry lemonade. The sweet strawberries and tangy lemons mix together for a unique drink, starting at $1.59 every day.

Drinks Saloon at 9015 Telegraph is usually one of the liveliest spots on cruise day. This year, there will be food, T-shirts and vendor giveaways, plus a DJ providing the entertainment.

The party gets started early at Glass Mug Again, 8214 Telegraph. There will be a free cruise party inside the bar on Friday with a DJ and beer and liquor promotions. On Saturday, there will be a big tent outside with a DJ, food and such events as a Hula Hoop contest, frozen t-shirt contest and golf. Starting around 6 p.m. Saturday inside the bar, there will be a DJ, a visit from the Bud Girls and a Red Stag party.

Cavill's Lounge at 14383 S. Telegraph in Taylor will have a free car show to go along with a "99 cents day." Classic car owners can enter their vehicles in the car show, while space lasts. Trophies will be awarded in different categories. A tent will be set up outside the building to allow spectators to watch cars pass by. And there will be a barbecue with hamburgers, hot dogs, sloppy joes, brats and corn on the cob, plus popcorn, pop, ice tea and bottled water -- with each item going for 99 cents. Cavill's is located near the turnaround just north of Eureka Road.

ŸTreehouse Bar & Grill at 12213 Telegraph will feature the rock band Three Card Monte from 2 to 7 p.m. along with hot dogs, burgers and pop outside.

The Home Depot store at Telegraph and Goddard roads will sell bottled water, Coke products, candy and other snacks inside the store. There will be in-store specials. Outside, along Telegraph, Wes Gaydos will be a privately operated booth with Telegraph Cruise T-shirts and other merchandise. Cruis'News Magazine will be on hand as well.

A Moment Forever will sell such concessions as soft drinks, Gatoraid, water and prepackaged snack food in the ESSCO shopping center (former Handy Andy site). There will be fun items for kids, such a car-themed toys.

Entertainment Superstars will be playing '50s and '60s music from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. just south of Home Depot at Telegraph and Goddard.

Taylor firefighters will be out in force for the annual Fill the Boot fund-raising campaign to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Members of the Taylor Professional Firefighters Union Local 1252 will solicit donations on Telegraph at Eureka roads.

Taylor resident Elaine Filiak notes that her church, Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church in Dearborn, will be participating in cruise activities for the fifth straight year. Cruisers looking to park can do so in the church lot, located at the corner of Telegraph and Cherry Hill. Organizers request a $10 donation to park in the lot; $20 in the row by Telegraph. There will be plenty of food and beverages, face painting and bouncers. Clean indoor restrooms are available all day. Proceeds benefit the church’s Veterans Day program and other programs throughout the year.

For more information about the Telegraph Tomorrow Cruise, call the City of Taylor Department of Golf, Parks and Recreation at (734) 374-4027. For updated information about the cruise, visit the website www.cityoftaylor.com/cruise.

Note to Telegraph Businesses, Churches and Other Groups: The information in this report came from organizations that obtained the necessary city permits and reported the information to the Taylor Department of Golf, Parks and Recreation. For more information, call (734) 374-3906. To submit information about your event, e-mail it to taylornews@aol.com. Be specific as possible (name, address, time of activity, details and a contact name and phone number for more information).