Car Shows Approach the 2021 Starting Line

Here's who's got the green light

By Ross Boissoneau | May 29, 2021

If summer 2020 was all about pumping the brakes, summer 2021 seems to be the season to hit the gas, squeal the tires, and barrel into at 100 miles per hour. One American summer staple in particular — car shows and cruises — are looking ready to roll Up North. Some, like the National Cherry Festivals’ Old Town Classic Car Show in Traverse City, are even making some sweet modifications. By no means an exhaustive list, here’s who’s got the green light so far; we’ll share more as we hear ’em rev up.

Back to Bricks Promo Tour
June 6
Hundreds of classic cars will cruise into Boyne City when the state-famous Back to the Bricks Celebration Promo Tour rolls into town. This is the 11th year for the tour, and word is, more cars than ever are registered for this year’s event — more than a third of which are participating for the first time. The tour, which takes attendees to five different stops throughout the state, previously visited Boyne City in 2015 (as well as Petoskey in 2018 and Gaylord in 2019) and is designed to stoke gearheads’ pistons for the official Back to the Bricks week of activities and shows in August. Boyne City’s part in the promo tour will take place on Water Street between Lake and East streets, as well as on Lake Street between Water and Main streets.

Mustang & All Ford Show & Shine
June 12
Hosted by the West Michigan Mustang Club in Grand Rapids. So yeah, it’s in West Michigan, not northern Michigan, but the group boasts members from across the state, including Traverse City and Petoskey. The 40th Annual will take place June 12 at Frontline Community Church, 4411 Plainfield Ave. NE in Grand Rapids. www.westmichiganmustangclub.com 

Cruise-in Car Show
June 19
The show at the Emmet County Fairgrounds takes place at 4pm; more details to come. Keep apprised here. 

St. Ignace Cruise Weekend
June 24–27
Perhaps the granddaddy of northern Michigan car shows is the St. Ignace Cruise Weekend. More than 25,000 car lovers turn out each year for the event, which this year offers different cruise routes, a downtown street show, a drive-in movie, the famed Muscle On The Mac (a sunset cruise across the mighty Mackinac Bridge where cars break the Mackinac Bridge Record for highest horsepower on the bridge at once), a fireworks show, and, of course, the St. Ignace Cup, the only peer-judged car show competition in the country and the country's largest cash prize for an outdoor show. www.stignace.com

Old Town Classic Car Show
July 4
Part of the National Cherry Festival, this Independence Day auto show, held from 11am to 3pm, will take place about a mile from its moniker this year — on the significantly more spacious grounds of The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. The extra room will be welcome; 200 show-condition collector vehicles will be featured, with multiple judging classes; show up to wander the rows or register (required this year in advance) beginning June 1. www.cherryfestival.org

Car Show/Poker Run
July 31
Classic Instruments in Boyne City, profiled in “Running Down a Dream” in last week’s issue (story available at www.northernexpress.com) hosts this annual fundraiser for the Boyne City Police Department. www.classicinstruments.com 

Alden Classic Sports Car Show (pictured above)
Aug. 8
No hot rods, motorcycles, trucks, muscle cars, or replicas allowed — this is the only car show in Michigan featuring sports cars exclusively (and you can expect more than 100 of them built in Great Britain, Japan, the USA, Germany, and France). Now in its 22nd year, this sporting good event is sponsored by the Twin Bay British Car Club, old chap, and it takes place from 10am–3pm in the Village of Alden Park. www.twinbaybrits.org

Harbor Springs Car Festival
Aug. 8
Some 200 cars, trucks, and motorcycles will be on display in Zorn Park (City) Beach — many of them seldom seen rat rods, muscle cars, hot rods, sports cars, vintage and classic models. Not only is there no charge to enter your special vehicle but entry is free for those who want to wander around and drool, too. www.harborspringschamber.com 

Evart Car Club Cruise & Show
Sept. 3–4
The Evart Car Club holds its annual car cruise and shows Friday and Saturday of Labor Day weekend. The cruise winds through the city of Evart before heading out of town to the Eight Point Lake subdivisions, while the show takes place at Evart Riverside park. www.evartcarclub.com

Antique Car Show
Sept. 18
The living history museum known as Wellington Farm, USA, just southwest of Grayling, will opens its 60-acre property to anyone interested in seeing cars made in or before 1932. In addition to the antique cars, the entire park will be open. Crafters Alley will be in full operation, and historic buildings will be staffed by costumed interpreters, too. www.wellingtonfarmusa.com

BONUS EVENT
Best Thing on Two Wheels: BMW Motorcycles Demo Days coming north June 3 & 4
Everyone likes to come Up North. That’s true for Blane Kamp as much as anyone. The owner of BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids does so not only for his pleasure, but that of motorcycle enthusiasts in the area as well.

For the last eight years, Kamp and members of his crew have motored north to share their enthusiasm and their motorbikes with people from the north country. “We’ve always had a good rapport with [people from] Traverse City, Harbor Springs. It’s such a nice riding area,” Kamp said.

This year the company’s Demo Days are set for June 3 and 4. Each day from 9 to 5, the company offers those so inclined the opportunity to take an hour-long ride to check out its new models. “There are a lot of neat new bikes out,” Kamp says. They include advanced technology, such as traction control, gyro systems to help the bike stay balanced, and ABS pro, which slows down the bikes when braking without bringing them to a complete halt, which could cause the bike and rider to take a tumble. Kamp said such advancements have made riding much safer. One model even has active cruise control, which uses radar to automatically slow down if a car in front of it does.

The event is purposely scheduled on the Thursday and Friday right after Memorial Day, a time the roads are always less crowded than during the weekend, making for more fun and greater safety.

Kamp says that while he’s made three or four sales over the years from the Demo Days, it’s more about sharing the fun and enthusiasm with riders who wouldn’t necessarily make it down to Grand Rapids. It’s also more fun to ride the roads along Old Mission Peninsula than in the Grand Rapids area.

The headquarters for the event is 12372 Center Rd. Kamp suggests those interested in riding should contact him at the store to reserve a time as the slots often fill up quickly. The store’s phone number is (616) 530-6900.