A number of classic cars heading south on US-23 following the Old US-27 Motor Tour will make a stop in Alpena on Sunday, providing the public with an opportunity to see a variety of vintage cars, muscle cars, street rods, classic cars and more. The "Ride Home Cruise-In" is sponsored by the Ramblin' Rods Car Club, the Downtown Development Authority and the Alpena Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The event begins at around 11 a.m., when members of the Ramblin' Rods Car Club will meet the motor tour cars at the old Kur Vans at the corner of US-23 and French Road. Together, the cars will cruise down US-23 South to downtown Alpena, where the motor tour members will enjoy a complimentary lunch and the hospitality of the local car club before departing around 2 p.m. The classic cars will be parked along downtown streets and the public is invited to come and check them out.
The Old US-27 Tour is a six-day classic car cruise that takes place this week, beginning in Auburn, Ind., and ending in Cheboygan.
This is the third year for the Old US-27 Tour, but the first year that US-23 has been added as the official ride home route.
"US-23 and Old 27 have much in common," said Tour Director Craig Parrish. "Both roads are historic and nostalgic ... US-23 has already been designated as a Heritage Highway and we are asking the federal government to designate 27 as a National Historic Road.
According to Parrish, US-27 once led millions of residents and visitors through central Michigan from Coldwater north to Cheboygan, but with the advent of the interstate, the 305-mile corridor was all but forgotten.
The tour is designed to draw attention to the roadway and give people an opportunity to take a step back in time. "We want to encourage people to get off the freeway, see a beautiful road and great communities," he said.
Vic Bays of the Ramblin' Rods Car Club said that when club members learned of the opportunity to host the Old 27 cars, they enthusiastically agreed.
"We are looking forward to showing off our town and having the opportunity to meet other enthusiasts," he said. "We encourage the public to help us make them feel welcome by watching the Cruise-In and then coming downtown to check out the cars."