2023 CLAWSON CAR SHOW

The annual DOWN ON MAIN car show took place this weekend in Clawson, Michigan. Each year around 500 classic and customized cars cruise into the city's downtown where a 1/2 mile of Main Street is closed to traffic for displaying them. The event is a fundraiser for the local Lions Club. 

The highlight of the Down on Main Clawson Car Show for me was a 1962 Austin-Healey. This British sports car maker had a twenty year run (1952-1972) making some of the finest roadsters of the time. I would love to have one of these to enjoy as a summertime weekend fun car. Imagine driving it on the open road for a road trip!

This Austin-Healey was the model for the first Barbie dream car created by Mattel. Its owner keeps with one of the toys that he had Earl Scheib paint for him in its original peach color. Talking with him brought back memories of my first car in high school that I had bondoed out the rust and had Earl Scheib repaint if for me. That Buick Skyhawk was my pride and joy all the way through college.

The movie geek in me was also thrilled to see a Delorean parked on Main Street. Who hasn't dreamed of putting the pedal to the metal to hit 88 mph in a Delorean? No flux capacitor in this car though. So, the only time traveling this Delorean will be doing is providing nostalgic memories for those of us who were around to see the Back to the Future movies when they originally played in theaters. Still based upon this being a classic movie car it is always exciting to get a close up look at one.

From motor city muscle cars to customized VW bugs there was a lot to take in at this car show. If you missed this year's event, I recommend making an effort to stop by this car show in 2024. The Down on Main car show takes place each August the Saturday the week before the Woodward Dream Cruise. Mark your calendar! This downtown Clawson car show absolutely earns a Geek Daddy nod of approval for being an interesting event whether your interest in cars is as a casual driver or you are a diehard gearhead. Walking the mile loop around Main Street is not just a scenic delight but also a nice way to get your steps in for the weekend.

FOUR HOBBIES TO CONSIDER IF YOU HAVE SOME FREE TIME

When most people think about hobbies, the first things that come to mind are usually sports or activities that take place outdoors. While those can be great pastimes, they're not the only options available to you. If you're looking for something new to try, or if you just have some free time and don't know what to do with it, consider these four hobbies: collecting, learning a language, fixing old cars, and gardening. 

Collecting 

There are many different things that you can collect, from stamps to coins to antiques. It's an excellent hobby for people who like to find bargains and who enjoy learning about new things. Plus, it can be quite lucrative if you find the right items. 

If you're thinking about starting a collection, do some research first to find out what kinds of things are valuable and what isn't. You don't want to waste your time and money on something that isn't going to be worth anything in the end. There are also many online communities devoted to collectors where you can learn more about the hobby and meet other like-minded people. 

Learning a Language 

With the rise of the internet, it's easier than ever to learn a new language. There are many different resources available, from online courses to apps to native speakers who are willing to help you practice.

Learning a new language can be difficult, but it's also very rewarding. It can open up new opportunities for travel and work, and it's a great way to connect with people from other cultures. If you're feeling stuck in a rut, learning a new language can give you a whole new perspective on life. 

Fixing Old Cars 

This hobby is great for people who are mechanically inclined and who enjoy working with their hands. It can be a lot of work, but it's also very satisfying to see an old car that you've restored to its former glory. 

There are many different ways to get started with this hobby, from taking classes at a local community college to joining a car club. Of course, you'll need to invest some time and money into Ford car parts and other things, but if you're patient, it can be a fun and rewarding experience. Old cars can be found for relatively low prices, so you don't have to spend a lot of money to get started. Just make sure that you do your research before you buy anything so that you know what you're getting yourself into. 

Gardening 

Gardening is an excellent hobby for people who enjoy being outdoors and who like to see things grow. It can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be, and it's a great way to get some exercise. 

If you're thinking about starting a garden, the first thing you need to do is decide what kind of plants you want to grow. Next, do some research on which ones are best for your climate and soil type. Once you've decided, get started by planting some seeds or buying some young plants. Gardening can be a lot of work, but it's also very gratifying to see your efforts pay off. 

These are just four of the many different hobbies that you can consider if you have some free time. Of course, there's no wrong way to spend your leisure time, so find something that you enjoy and stick with it. Who knows, you might just find a new passion that you never knew you had.

Going Car Watching: Our Roadtrip to the Woodward Dream Cruise

This year is the 20th anniversary of the WOODWARD DREAM CRUISE, an annual event in Metro Detroit that is like a combining a parade, block party and carnival together to celebrate classic cars and the area's automotive heritage.  This Saturday event gets to be very congested with more than a million people clustering along Woodward Avenue for the day and we normally feel it is a little to hectic to take our young children to, but this year I decided to take the twins over to see the cars the Friday morning before the official event to check out what was going on before all the crowds arrived.  So we took a road trip just a few blocks down the street from our house to go car watching.

I have to say taking a wander along Woodward Avenue the morning before the event was great...we saw lots of classic cars without all of the crowds.  While many of the exhibitor displays were still being setup and not all of the cars were cruising around yet we still saw a lot of cool stuff and had some great experiences.  For example, Chevrolet had just unloaded a few of the cars that were used to portray the Autobots in the movie Transformers: Age of Extinction from a tractor trailer but hadn't set up the exhibit display for them yet.  The Chevy staffers let my son jump in the original car that had been used as the stunt vehicle in the movie to portray my son's favorite Transformer, BUMBLEBEE, and pretend to take it for a spin.

Chevy did have one of its exhibits all set up where we could look at some of their different race car engines and an Indy car.  While walking around this display my kids snagged some really nice car themed color books and Crayola crayons while I got my hands on a t-shirt compliments of Chevrolet.

We also saw a Monster Truck, a few dragsters on display, and some cars drag racing down the strip.

 

You don't always need to drive far away to have a fun and exciting road trip with your kids...sometimes the adventure can just be a few blocks away.  For more information about the Woodward Dream Cruise visit www.woodwarddreamcruise.com