4 minute read

Woodward Dream Show and Parade

Hot rods, customs, cruisers, muscle and even European exotica, plus Corvette and Mopar celebrations. It’s all lined up for August’s big event

GET READY FOR ONE OF THE WORLD’S biggest Corvette celebrations, as the Woodward Dream Show presented by Comerica Bank returns for 2023 bigger and better than ever.

Each year we bring together hot rods, customs, cruisers and muscle cars for a twoday festival of American automotive dreams. However, this show is set to be the best yet, kicking off on Friday August 18.

We’re putting together a fitting celebration of the US’s favorite sports car on its 70th birthday – we’ll have a line-up of Corvettes from each year of production, including the one and only example from 1983. We are collaborating with the National Corvette Museum to bring some of its most treasured models to M1 Concourse, alongside legendary racing cars and other surprises from invited guests. There will be prizes for the best Corvette, as well as people’s-choice awards. Whatever your favorite era, you can anticipate seeing plenty of examples lining up.

This year we also pay our respects to the Mopar brand, so you can expect M1 Concourse to reverberate to the muscular sounds of Chrysler’s greatest with our Celebration of Performance. You can reckon on Chargers, Road Runners, Barracudas, Superbirds and many others bringing the glory days of Detroit muscle to life via factory-perfect restorations, restomods and everything in between.

You will be able to pick up hints and tips on renovation and modification from likeminded enthusiasts, and perhaps track down hard-to-find parts. It’s all part of the enjoyment and excitement of the Woodward Dream Show, which reveres these icons of American motoring. All are welcome, whether you’re a hot rodder or love your cars just as they first rolled off the production line.

If you fancy taking to the circuit, the Race Speed Track Experience Laps will give you a thrill ride with an instructor around the North Loop of the M1 Performance Track, while you can hone your remote-control car skills on our dedicated track that provides an addictive offroad challenge. Meanwhile, the Insiders Garage Symposium on the M1 Stage will delve into the past, present and future of American motoring with a selection of special guests and experts.

It’s not just American metal – imports are also welcome at the Woodward Dream Show, and you can expect to see a vibrant collection of exotica, alongside movie and celebrity cars.

Saturday August 19 sees a brand-new feature – in addition to all the sights and sounds of Friday, for the first time an escorted group of 200 cars will take part in the Woodward Dream Parade, as part of the Woodward Dream Cruise. The parade will leave M1 Concourse and travel along Woodward Avenue and into downtown Pontiac. There will be a group photo opportunity on Saginaw Street, before the parade returns to M1 Concourse – all in aid of helping revitalize the area and hark back to the glory days of American motoring. Visitors are also welcome to bring their cars on site via the M1 Cruise In at a cost of $20 per vehicle, limited to 1000. There are 650 slots on the M1 Circuit, 150 in the Arena and 200 at Turn 9.

Looking to enter your car into a class? All you need to do is fill out a form on our website. If you fancy taking part in the show with a club, the Car Club Corrals are available on both days; chalet suites and hospitality packages are offered as well. Let’s come together and make 2023 the best Woodward Dream Show yet – a true festival of American motoring. More info at www.m1concourse.com/wds-home.

ABOVE Icons of American motoring are revered here, and all are welcome – whether modified or just as they rolled off the line.

Woodward Dream Show classes 2023

Class 1: Corvette C1 (1953-1962)

Class 2: Corvette C2 (1963-1967)

Class 3: Corvette C3 (1968-1982)

Class 4: Corvette C4 (1984-1996)

Class 5: Corvette C5 (1997-2004)

Class 6: Corvette C6 (2005-2013)

Class 7: Corvette C7 (2014-2019)

Class 8: Corvette C8 (2020-present)

Class 9: Mopar – Dodge

Class 10: Mopar – Plymouth

Class 11: Mopar – RAM

Class 12: Mopar – Jeep

Class 13: Mopar – Viper

Class 14: Mopar – Chrysler

Class 15: Pontiac Fiero (1984-1988)

Class 16: American Classic (up to 1989)

Class 17: Import Classic (up to 1989)

Class 18: American Performance (post-1990)

Class 19: Import Performance (post-1990)

Class 20: Muscle Car (pre-1990)

Class 21: Pony Car (pre-1990)

Class 22: Hot Rod (all years)

Class 23: Custom (all years)

Class 24: Exotic/Supercar (all years)

Class 25: Celebrity/Movie Car (all years)

Class 26: Truck/SUV/Wagon (all years)

Class 27: Motorcycle (all years)

Class 28: Rally

AUGUST 2022’S MOTORTREND PRESENTS

Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge was an enormous success, with Mopar fans bringing the noise to Woodward Avenue in Pontiac, Michigan in huge numbers. In fact, a record 40,000 petrol-heads made the pilgrimage to M1 Concourse to salute Dodge.

The event returns on Saturday August 12, 2023 for the eighth time, again with the backing of MotorTrend and the Dodge brand. Hosts Mike Finnegan and David Freiburger will be mingling with fans and enjoying the best the Mopar world has to offer. You’ll also be able to look at project cars from the show up close, and see the program come to life before your eyes.

On the strip, two street-racing classes are available. Last year, 120 cars took part in two categories: Big Tire and Small Tire. Racers in the latter use a set of DOT-legal tires that are no larger than 28in tall by 10.5in wide and are mounted on a 15-inch-diameter wheel; W-style rubber is strictly prohibited. The Big Tire section evokes memories of the original Pro Street days in Memphis. The strip happens to be a specially converted stretch of Woodward