Let Your Engines Roar at Harper Charity Cruise

Cruisers, get ready to start your engines.

The 2011  will take to the road Wednesday, and once again organizers expect thousands of cruisers and spectators from the Shores and surrounding areas to gather for an evening of family fun for a great cause—helping kids.

Although people start gathering by 8 a.m., official cruising hours are 4 - 9 pm. Drivers will roll down Harper Avenue from Old Eight Mile to Martin Road.

Last year Shorewood Kiwanis and other participating organizations raised over $27,000 after expenses to give to charity, thanks largely to generous support from local businesses.

Kiwanis volunteers will be going from car to car all day selling t-shirts and bumper stickers to raise funds as well.

“Last year, we had about 75,000 people, all the way from Eight Mile to Martin Road,” said Cruise Committee Chairman Jack Cascione. “By 7 p.m, the gridlock was all the way … The purpose of the cruise is (to help) children's charities. Kiwanis doesn't make any money off this—all proceeds are given to the charities.”

Beneficiaries include , CARE (Community Assessment and Referral Education), the Tree of Hope Foundation, Macomb Literacy, widows and orphans of police and fire department personnel, local Lions Clubs and the St. Clair Shores Cultural Commission.

Last year, more than 200 businesses either donated money or participated in other ways. For example, there were over 40 sponsored parties, a variety of food vendors and a slew of live bands and other entertainment.

There is no cost to drivers or spectators to attend. While organizers hope everyone has a great time, there are a few rules to keep in mind, notes Cruise Day Chairman Tom Ulrich,

• Drivers are not allowed to race or spin their tires.

• Loud music is also a no-no.

• No outside vendors are permitted.

“Other than that,we're just out there to have a good time,” he said, adding that the Harper Cruise is unique.

“You go to the Gratiot cruise, or to the Woodward cruise … Their cruisers … (are) out in the left lane and people are watching from the other side of the right lane,” he said. “Well, ours is right there. There are only four lanes of traffic, plus it gets clogged up quite often, so the cars are going pretty slow, and they start gathering at eight o'clock in the morning on Wednesday, so they park their cars at different businesses up and down Harper. People on the sidewalks can walk right up and look inside … they can talk to the owner. So it's really a personalized cruise.”

Randy Pullin of St. Clair Shores, member and past president of the Shorewood Kiwanis Club, and his wife, Marilyn go to most major cruise events in Randy's bright red 1964 Dodge Polara 500 convertible. He bought the car from its second owner, who had it for 25 years, and did a complete restoration, which included a change in tires and wheels, and putting a Max Wedge V8 under the hood.

“We put a lot of miles on it, traveling to different cruises, car shows and car events,” Pullin said. He likes the Harper Cruise.

“It's not as big … it's family oriented and there's a lot of community involvement,” he explains.