Totem Pole, Ted’s, and Crusin’ Woodward

Another Woodward Dream Cruise has just come and gone, and again it was a smashing success. There are now cruises all over the country, but none come close this one. I’ve heard estimates of between one and two million people that show up for this festive occasion.

That’s a whole lot of people. And, they come from all over the world to be a part of this spectacular automotive event. It’s the kind of event that you’d expect to take place in the Detroit area, the automotive capital of the world. Officially, it’s only for one weekend each year, and you can’t possibly see it all in that short amount of time.

Cruising Woodward is something that goes way back to the 1950’s and 60’s. My first experience was in 1962. I wasn’t yet old enough to get my drivers license, so I had to ride with other guys. My cousin Bob (R.L.) Utley took me out to Woodward in his 1960 Jaguar convertible.

We cruised through the Totem Pole and the Big Boy then headed north to Ted’s on Woodward at Square Lake Road. I was absolutely sure that I was the coolest dude in town and that all the girls were looking at me. They probably liked the car too.

At all of these drive-in restaurants there was a continual flow of Baby Boomers in hot rods and sports cars. On Woodward Avenue it was sorta like American Graffiti on steroids. The trick was to back into a parking spot where you could see and be seen. But, if you parked, you had to buy something. French fries and a Coke were the usual fare.

The next year I got my drivers license and going out to cruise Woodward became a regular activity on Friday and Saturday nights. If memory serves me correctly, and sometimes it does, my favorite place to park was at the Big Boy facing the street. There was a stoplight there and every time the light turned green a drag race occurred. Pretty girls, cool cars, loud music, greasy fries, watered down cokes, and screaming, smoking tires. Ah, those were the days!

Sometimes I get real melancholy when I think back to those glory days. But then I remember that I married Christine (my Woodward Avenue co-pilot) many years ago and life is still good. It’s especially good when my grandson Gabe tugs on my arm and says, “Papa, would you take me for a ride on your John Deere tractor”?

Well, it isn’t a tire burner, but it is kinda fun to ride and it will do the quarter mile in less than 6 minutes. “OK Gabe, let’s rock-n-roll”!