By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
For your traffic report this weekend, expect 28th Street to be packed full of hot rods, classic and vintage cars as the 2018 28th Street Metro Cruise takes place this Friday and Saturday.
The epicenter of the two-day event will once again be Rogers Plaza, where there will be food, vendors, the Pin Up Girl Contest, and of course cars, cars, and more cars. WKTV also will be on site recording the 14th annual event.
“The love affair West Michigan, and the entire county, has with the classic and collector cars is still going strong,” said Bob O’Callaghan, the president of the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, the organization that hosts the annual event. “We know the cars are the stars and always will be. We invite every type of car and car lover to attend our two-day showcase to celebrate these cars.”
Started in 2005 as a way to bring business back to 28th Street during the construction of the M-6 bypass, the event has grown to an annual attendance of more than 275,000 visitors in 2017 and more than 15,000 classic cars including hot rods, muscle cars, low riders, antiques and many more. The family-friendly event is 15 miles of cars, fun, and history running from Grandville to Cascade.
Get a pre-look at the cars with the Blessing of the Cars, which takes place Thursday, Aug. 23 from 5 – 9 p.m at Wesley Park United Methodist Church, 1120 32nd St. SW. The lot will be open for cars starting at 5 p.m. Cars should enter off of 32nd Street or Michael Avenue.
The 2018 Metro Cruise kicks off at 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24. The alternative Latin rock group Cabildo will be on the main stage at 4:30 p.m., followed by local favorite, Delilah DeWylde at 7:30 p.m. performing a range of hillbilly and blues. Friday closes at 10 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 25, kicks off at 9 a.m. with the opening ceremonies which will include the GM Foundation presentation to local charities.
“We have a few new things this year,” O’Callaghan said. “Among the activities, we will have the Midwest Mobile Dyno on hand for car owners to test their vehicles.”
For us non-motorheads, a dyno or dynamometer is a device for measuring force, torque, or power. Spots for the dyno had to be pre-booked (cost is $30). There is a free spectators viewing area near the test site which will be close to the Jet’s Pizza on the east end of the plaza. The testing will run from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
There will be a Walk-Up Pinewood Derby Racing event from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Hosted by Boy Scout Troops 354, 312, and 318, visitors can bring a car, build a car, or use one that is available. Derby car kits will be available for purchase on the day of the event. The Pinewood Derby will be in the Metro Square at Rogers Plaza.
The music starts at 11:30 a.m. with the Seventh Son Blues Band and breaks at 2 p.m. for the the 2018 Pin Up Girl Contest. At 3:30 p.m. performing rock hits and covers is Mid-Life Crisis with southern rock country Bourbon Legends performing at 6:30 p.m.
Known as “Mr. Walleye at Night,” Mark Martin will be at Steve’s Antique Auto Repair’s Booth located at Rogers Plaza. Martin is a fishing promoter, who travels extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada for tournaments, tv shows, and other events to teach walleye wisdom and lead children’ fishing clinics. At Metro Cruise, Martin — who will be there both Friday and Saturday — will be displaying his restored 1969 AMX as he talks about fishing, hunting, and cars.
Also at Rogers Plaza will be a relaxation tent and two food courts featuring an arrange of offerings such as barbecue, burgers, pizza, tamales, tacos, burritos, wraps, and ice cream. Shuttle service will be available from and to the KDL Wyoming branch, 3350 Michael Ave. SW, and the Wyoming High School, 1350 Prairie Pkwy SW.
Of course the activities will not be just at Rogers Plaza, but local business such as Marge’s Donut Den and many of the Grand Rapids New Car Dealers Association members will be featuring cars and other activities.
For example, Harvey Automotive, 2600 28th St. SE, will showcase multiple car clubs with up to 90 classic vehicles in attendance. At Dan Pfeiffer Lincoln Mercury, 2424 28th St. SE, will be featuring Dean (Dino) Arnold, the creator of the sleek 1961 Ford Thunderflite. Dino is the owner of Dinos Rod and Customs, based in Middlevile, Mich. Joining Dino will be registered rat fink artist Kit-Kat, who is known for her paint builds and signature pin stripping which she will be demonstrating at the event.
