GM celebrates its next 100 years with a Century Cruise
There's no better place for Chevy's performance icon to make an appearance
than right in its own backyard on Woodward Avenue as General Motors kicks off
its Woodward Dream Cruise activities with a special appearance of the latest
model of the all American icon - the 2009 Corvette ZR1 - at a private function
for media on Thursday, August 14, at 3:45 p.m. at Athens Coney Island.
The GM festivities continue Saturday, August 16, at 7:30 a.m. EDT, when
the GM Heritage Center presents the GM Century Cruise, led by a concept
Corvette Z06 powered by E85 ethanol and driven by GM Chairman and CEO Rick
Wagoner. More than 100 classic GM vehicles will cruise from the GM Global
Headquarters at the Renaissance Center up Woodward Avenue to the heart of the
Woodward Dream Cruise in Royal Oak, Birmingham and the surrounding suburbs.
WHO:
General Motors, Chevrolet and the GM Heritage Center
WHEN AND WHERE:
August 7 - August 16
Visit http://dreamcruise.gmnext.com to see the GM Century
Cruise vehicles and then cast your vote for the "Top Cruiser"
by texting the number of your favorite vehicle to 466398
(GMnext).
Thursday, August 14
3:45 p.m. Media are invited to a private function at Athens Coney Island
in Royal Oak, Mich. with Tom Wallace, GM vehicle line executive
and global chief engineer of performance cars; Kim Kosak,
Chevrolet general director of advertising and promotions; and
their very special guests-two icons synonymous with Chevy
performance-as Chevy celebrates its launch of the Corvette ZR1.
Athens Coney Island is located just south of 14-Mile Road at
32657 Woodward Avenue; however, parking is not available onsite
during the function. Media should park at Pierce School located
at 1829 Pierce Street; Birmingham, Mich. 48009, where shuttle
service to and from Athens Coney Island will be available.
Please note: THIS IS A MEDIA EVENT AND NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
Friday, August 15
6:00 p.m. The first annual NextCruise kicks-off in Pleasant Ridge at
23925 Woodward Ave and will showcase the 'Lean, Mean and Green'
technologies and vehicles of nine automakers. GM vehicles
either on display or available for Ride and Drive will include
the E85 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Pace Car, Chevrolet Equinox Fuel
Cell Electric Vehicle, Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, Cadillac
Escalade Hybrid and the Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid. Assorted GM
executives and subject matter experts will be available for
interviews, including among others Bob Kruse, executive
director of Global Vehicle Engineering for Hybrids, Electric
Vehicles and Batteries.
Please note: Media are encouraged to schedule a Ride and Drive
time in advance for the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Electric
Vehicle.
Saturday, August 16
6:30 a.m. GM Century Cruise vehicles assemble in Lot D1 (east of the
Renaissance Center at St. Antoine and Atwater).
7:00 a.m. Century Cruise media check in at Lot D1 - Century Cruise
participants will be available for interviews at the assembly
site, along the route, Athens Coney Island in Royal Oak and the
Birmingham Triangle in Birmingham. Media Trucks will be
available for use along the parade route. Arrangements can be
made for media to ride in a classic car the entire route all
interested media should go to the media check in desk in Lot
D1.
7:30 a.m. GM Century Cruise - 100 classic GM vehicles depart the GM
Global Headquarters at the Renaissance Center and proceed up
Woodward to the heart of the Dream Cruise in Royal Oak,
Birmingham and the surrounding suburbs.
The caravan is expected to pass the following locations at
these approximate times:
7:40 a.m. - Comerica Park 8:15 a.m. - Ferndale
7:50 a.m. - Wayne State University 8:25 a.m. - 13 Mile /
/ DIA area Woodward
8:10 a.m. - Palmer Park area 8:35 a.m. - Woodward /
Maple Rd.
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Meet General the Future Leader Dog - GM begins its
second century with a partnership with Leader Dogs for the
Blind by sponsoring the training of Future Leader Dog General.
General is a golden retriever puppy that will begin his Leader
Dog training when he turns a year old and once he completes the
program General will go to someone who is blind in Southeast
Michigan. General will be available for media photos and
autographs for the public 8:00 a.m. to noon at Athens Coney
Island.
9:00 a.m. NextCruise 2008 displays open in Pleasant Ridge at 23925
Woodward Ave.
CONTACTS:
Chevrolet: Century Cruise Text Campaign:
Jan Thomas Ryan Eichler
Chevrolet Communications Weber Shandwick
313-665-2445 office 248-203-8142 office
313-618-7391 mobile 312-498-1923 mobile
jan.1.thomas@gm.com reichler@webershandwick.com
Century Cruise: NextCruise 2008:
Frank Sopata Phil Colley
General Motors Biofuels Communications
586-276-0694 office 248-857-4131 office
586-930-6734 mobile 248-613-9317 mobile
frank.sopata@gm.com phil.colley@gm.com
SOURCE General Motors Corporation
