DETROIT, June 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The MotorCities National Heritage Area and the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) announced today the biggest lineup ever for AUTOPALOOZA, their annual, summer-long celebration of Southeast Michigan‘s largest and most unique automotive cruises, races and shows, which will kick off on Friday, June 10 at Metro Beach in Macomb County with the arrival of the Hot Rod Power Tour and wrap up on Saturday, August 20 with the world-famous Woodward Dream Cruise in Oakland County.
The Hot Rod Power Tour will bring over 3,000 muscle cars, hot rods and collector vehicles from this year’s starting point in Cocoa Beach, Florida to Metro Detroit, where thousands of additional high performance vehicles, and over 10,000 spectators, are expected to congregate at Metro Beach from noon until 6 p.m. The DMCVB, WatsonHurst and the City of Warren will be hosting a free “Afterglow Party” at Warren City Hall Plaza starting at 7 p.m., with a display of Hurst collector vehicles – including the unveiling of WatsonHurst’s limited edition 100th Anniversary Chevrolet Camaro – and live music from Fifty Amp Fuse 2.
According to Chris Baum, Senior Vice President of the DMCVB, and a Director of the MotorCities National Heritage Area, “The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau is delighted to have sponsored the return of the Hot Rod Power Tour to the Motor City in 2011, and we are equally excited to announce that this high profile, national event will actually originate from Metro Beach in Macomb County in 2012, which should double the $1,000,000 plus that will be spent in area hotels and restaurants this year.”
Visitors to this year’s gathering on the shores of Lake St. Clair should be sure to check out the MotorCities National Heritage Area/DMCVB special display, “The Golden Age of Drag Racing,” with iconic racecars such as Dick Harrell‘s original 1968 Camaro funny car, the 1964 Bob Ford Thunderbolt, Bud Faubel‘s “Honker” altered wheelbase A/FX 1965 Dodge and an original Z 11 Impala, “Good Ole Mr. Wilson” among those scheduled to appear. A travelling exhibition celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the National Hot Rod Association is also scheduled to be on display at Metro Beach on the afternoon of June 10.
In addition, the MotorCities National Heritage Area has arranged for most of Southeast Michigan‘s automotive museums and attractions to offer two for one, or 50 percent off admissions to all registered Hot Rod Power Tour participants on June 10-11.
In other major news, the Concours d’Elegance of America will be making its debut at the Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth on the weekend of July 29-31 this year, after many years at Rochester‘s Meadow Brook Hall. The new venue will allow more classic, racing and collector cars than ever to be on display, including a special presentation of over 30 classic Indianapolis 500 racecars, in honor of that storied track’s 100th Anniversary this year.
For information on all of the 2011 AUTOPALOOZA events, please go to autopalooza.org.
The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to market and sell the metropolitan Detroit area on a worldwide basis as a destination for leisure and business travel including conventions, trade shows, corporate meetings, tours and incentive travel and as a film location to maximize additional visitors, visitor expenditures, state and local tax revenues, and job opportunities.
More than 800 businesses are represented in the DMCVB’s membership. The DMCVB was founded in 1896 as the world’s first convention and visitors bureau. www.visitdetroit.com
MotorCities National Heritage Area is an affiliate of the National Park Service dedicated to preserving, interpreting and promoting the automotive and labor heritage of the State of Michigan. The programs and activities of the MotorCities National Heritage Area are designed to increase tourism throughout the region; develop and deploy educational and informational programs that tell the story of the American automobile industry and labor in our region; and encourage revitalization through conservation. For more information visit www.motorcities.org
SOURCE Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau
CONTACT: Chris Baum, +1-313-202-1920, +1-313-701-6837, cbaum@visitdetroit.com
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