• Ford Motor Company will celebrate hot rod cruisers and cool summer music as part of Birmingham’s (Michigan) annual Woodward Dream Cruise festivities in August.
• The legendary Beach Boys will headline “Ford Cruisin’ Legends’” charity celebration Friday, 19th August to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
• All Cruisin’ weekend Ford will pack downtown Birmingham with one-of-a-kind vehicle displays, special appearances and fun family activities.

Downtown Birmingham, Michigan (near Detroit) will be rockin’ with “Fun, Fun, Fun” on Friday, 19th August, 2005 as the Beach Boys bring in their sounds of summer to headline Ford Motor Company’s charity celebration kicking off the 11th annual Woodward Dream Cruise.

The charity celebration, Ford Cruisin’ Legends, begins the weekend of activities where classic cars, great music and family entertainment meet.

“Iconic cars like the Mustang, Ford Roadster and Thunderbird inspired a generation of cruisin’ music that remains a big part of American culture,” said Greg Smith, Ford’s executive vice president and president, The Americas. “Who better than the Beach Boys to help us bring together the hottest hot rod cruisers and the coolest summer tunes, all for a great cause?”

Ford is a longtime supporter of the local community and various children’s charities through its celebration of the American passion for cars as part of Birmingham ’s Dream Cruise festivities.

The country’s largest one-day automotive enthusiast event attracts roughly 1.7 million fans and 40,000 cars to Metro Detroit’s 16-mile long cruising strip on famed Woodward Avenue.

Greg Smith and Edsel B. Ford II are honorary chairmen of the fund-raiser event, which for the second year benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF).

“Ford Motor Company has been a dedicated partner of JDRF for more than 20 years,” said Karen Breen, executive director of JDRF’s Metro Detroit & Southeast Michigan Chapter. “Through its efforts locally and around the world, Ford contributes to fund the most promising research that is leading to a cure for diabetes and its complications.”

Cruisin’ has something for everyone

The Ford Cruisin’ Legends charity celebration will be centred in the Shain Park area of Birmingham from 6-11 p.m. – rain or shine. In addition to the Beach Boys performance, activities are to include:

• Ford’s Cruisin’ Legends Concours, which will feature legendary Ford and Lincoln Mercury vehicles competing for prizes and special recognition from a select panel of judges, including Ford’s Greg Smith. Awards will be presented in categories such as Children’s Choice and Best of Show.
• Gourmet buffet served by award-winning Forte-Belanger Catering with a special “Chocolate Fantasy” dessert bar in the Townsend Hotel Ballroom
• Silent auction of one-of-a-kind automotive items with proceeds to benefit JDRF
• Entertainment by popular local oldies group Teen Angels

In addition, Ford Cruisin’ Legends ticketholders will be eligible for Friends & Neighbours X-Plan Pricing on eligible Ford Motor Company vehicles.

Bid on ‘Little Deuce Coupe’ for charity

A reproduction of the popular hot rod 1932 Ford Dearborn Deuce TM Convertible, about which the Beach Boys lovingly crooned in “Little Deuce Coupe” in the 1960s, will be auctioned to help support JDRF. The auction is scheduled to begin in early August with the winning bid announced 19th August during the Beach Boys performance. Proceeds will be donated to JDRF.

Limited tickets on sale now

Tickets for the Ford Cruisin’ Legends charity celebration – including the Beach Boys concert, dinner and auction – are $175 (USD) each. A limited number of all-inclusive tickets of $750 (USD) earn the unique opportunity to meet the Beach Boys at an “afterglow party” immediately following their performance. A contribution from ticket sales will benefit JDRF. To purchase tickets, contact JDRF at cruisinlegends@jdrf.org or call + 1 + (248) 827-3015 (Michigan business hours).

Ford Cruisin’ Legends fun continues all day Saturday

A wide variety of displays and activities on Saturday, 20th August will be free of charge, including:

• “Built for the Road Ahead” Tour: Check out some of the newest, hottest Ford vehicles while enjoying a variety of fun activities, such as the Ford Super Duty “Payload” Challenge or the Freestyle “Go Configure” Challenge, for great prizes.
• Lincoln Mark LT Chopper: Visitors will be able to take an e-photo with Orange County Choppers’ two-wheel interpretation of the all-new 2006 Lincoln Mark LT luxury truck.
• Family fun and music: Clowns, face-painters and musical and entertainment acts including My Bed Bugs, Beatles tribute band The Beat Club and Jason D. Williams.
• Ford Racing Alley: Check out a variety of show/project cars and parts from SVT and Ford Racing Performance Parts, Saleen and Roush.
• Concepts and classics by the curb: Among the 150 unique Ford and Lincoln Mercury classics on display will be the 1964½ Ford Mustang specially built for Henry Ford II, a Mustang GT-R concept and Mercury Comet Cyclone GT dragster.
• Ford Mobility Motoring: Able Ambassador Chet Kuskowski will demonstrate an adapted 2005 Mustang GT while the younger set can clown around in the kids tent.

Hot rod cruisin' crooners Mike Love, left, and Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys stop by Ford World Headquarters to check out the 2006 Ford GT. The legendary band will headline the Ford Cruisin' Legends charity celebration 19th August in Birmingham to kick off the 11th annual Woodward Dream Cruise.