By Maria Allard
C & G Staff Writer

EASTPOINTE — The parking lot of Big Boy on Gratiot was the place to see and be seen the evening of June 11.

Classic cars of various makes and models adorned the asphalt for the annual Big Boy Cruise-In car show, one of many activities held throughout the 10th annual Cruisin’ Gratiot, which kicked off with a week of festivities June 9. Cruise Day is June 14.

At Big Boy, car hoods were propped open, car buffs shared cruising memories, Rockin’ Ronnie spun oldies hits, and spectators snapped pictures to remember the golden age of the automobile. 

“It’s a great turnout, better than last year,” Big Boy owner Daniel Curis said. “It’s nice to see all the people come to the city. It’s good for the business people. It’s nice to see everybody working together to make it happen.”

Warren resident Gary Johnson, 62, displayed his 1936 prowler yellow Dodge Coupe. He’s had the vehicle about five years, and pretty much started from scratch to build his baby.

“It was in a garage for nine years two doors down from me,” Johnson said. “I carried this home in pieces. My wife thought I was crazy.”

When he retired, Johnson took the car out of his garage every day for six weeks to work on it.

“I did it right in the driveway, so all the neighborhood kids watched me,” said Johnson, adding everyone came out when he “fired it up for the first time.”

Johnson, like many classic car and hot rod owners who came out to Big Boy, planned on attending other car shows this week, including at the Villa Restaurant and Colonial Dodge.

“You get to meet new people and make a lot of friends,” Johnson said. “Once you meet somebody, they seem to remember you. The friendships stay with you because of the cars.”

Mike Dziekan, 33, of Eastpointe parked his dad’s cream-colored 1965 Ford Galaxie convertible in the lot.

“It’s comfortable. It’s got a good exhaust,” Dziekan said. “I get a lot of people saying this is the first car they ever owned or the first car they ever drove.”

Warren resident Robert Allsop, 42, hung out with the crowd and his 1955 Thunderbird. Allsop owns brake shops and a number of classic automobiles. Because of his knowledge of mechanics, he’s able to repair and maintain his prized possessions.

“It’s my hobby,” he said. “An expensive hobby.”

Allsop used to race dragsters professionally.

“My car ran 312 miles an hour,” he said.

The cruise-in brought back memories for Dayna Hartwick, also of Warren. Allsop’s “Motown” license plate pays homage to Hartwick, who at age 14 began playing piccolo on “hundreds of” Motown songs, including “Tears Of A Clown,” “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” and “Standing In The Shadows Of Love.” She occasionally sees some of the artists with whom she recorded.

“Everyone has been great to me,” she said.

This year’s cruise marks a decade of Cruisin’ Gratiot. Curis, vice president of the Cruisin’ Gratiot committee, has participated as a sponsor for as long as he can remember. Cruisin’ Gratiot raises money for local charities.

Curis and wife Ann got a chance to check out the cars that lined the parking lot.

“It seems like everyone seems to know everybody,” Curis said.

“There are a lot of familiar faces,” Ann said. “The camaraderie is nice.” 

Last year, the couple, which has four children, purchased a ’68 red convertible Corvette, which can be spotted cruising along Lake Shore Drive from time to time.

“It’s very relaxing,” Curis said. “Now I understand the other side of this thing. I always had a soft heart for these cars growing up.”

Curis began working in the restaurant business as a kid. His father at one time had Michigan’s second largest drive-in, located at Telegraph and Plymouth roads. Curis’ duties at the time included placing napkins, creams and sugars on trays before carhops took them out to their customers. He remembers wanting to be out near the cars, but had to work. 

Eastpointe police and Cruisin’ Gratiot volunteers and board members helped keep the Cruise-In organized. Among them was volunteer and Roseville resident Joe Wilamowski. The 43-year-old, who parked his 1965 Ford Fastback Mustang, has been interested in cars since he was a young boy.

“I just love the cars, and my boys are into it,” said Wilamowski, adding that cruising and car shows attract “some of the nicest people in the world.”

You can reach Staff Writer Maria Allard at allard@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1045.