By Eric Czarnik
C & G Staff Writer

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP/BIRMINGHAM — Woodward Avenue became Memory Lane once more as hundreds of thousands of people and cars flooded the thoroughfare for the 14th annual Woodward Dream Cruise Aug. 16.

Visitors unfolded lawn chairs or stood along the avenue’s grassy sides and watched a caravan of classic cars roll past. Spectator Chuck Paige of Belleville talked about the muscle cars he saw.

“People love cars, whether they’re old cars, muscle cars, fast cars, new cars,” he said, “as long as they’re good looking.”

Some classic car owners popped open their hoods and showed off their prized possessions to the public. Others took their vehicles out for a spin.

At the Bloomfield Township Classic Car Show just south of 16 Mile Road, township resident Bruce Babiarz drove around his red 1964 Corvette Stingray convertible. Although the convertible only gets about 12 miles per gallon, he said he sometimes drives it to work in the summer. “I don’t worry about paint chips and stones,” he said.

While some of the classic car owners were locals, others traveled hundreds of miles to reach Woodward. Jesse Rathel transported his turquoise 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air all the way from Lancaster, S.C. He said the car took 1 1/2 years to restore, and it won awards at car shows. “I want people to see what a South Carolina guy can do,” he said.

In downtown Birmingham, the Dream Cruise brought foot traffic from faraway places like Ohio and Florida, said sales associate Tanya Fey from the apparel store This Is Me. “It’s definitely a more diverse crowd,” she said.

Ice cream truck driver Nail al-Malak said he made about $100 in four hours, but he said the profits are small. “I pay for the gas; I pay for the parking,” he added.

Near the Hunter House burger joint in Birmingham, Elvis impersonator Greg Jaqua spent his time greeting motorists. The cruising atmosphere is a natural place for the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, he added.

“Elvis started in the ‘50s, so I guess that we have that in common,” he said. “He loved cars. He was famous for giving people Cadillacs.”

Birmingham Police Deputy Chief Donald Studt said things were quiet on his patrol since he started in the morning. Although his bicycle lacked the horsepower of most vehicles on Woodward, he said that wouldn’t stop him from doing his job effectively.

“You can get around on a bike better than any other way,” he said.