There were some Tigers staying at the hotel, others came by to help get this rolling while some were meeting new and old friends. As I pulled into the hotel, people were arriving and getting checked into their rooms. Around the back there were GTOs parked everywhere. All of the trailers were parked along the back of the lot; it looked like the inside track at a Nascar race. Some people were wiping their cars down after the long trip they just made, others were just socializing and unwinding from their journey to GTO heaven, [at least for this weekend].

After some hellos and handshakes, we went around trying to get everyone in line for the ride down Gratiot Ave. to Continental Lanes. WGT members were blended into the line to help lead the parade. At 5:15 it started. I knew that. Being near the middle of the row, I could hear the tires squealing on Gratiot in the back. There were about 60 cars at the hotel when we started. As we drove down Gratiot, people were coming out to see what was going on. People at Causley Pontiac were also checking us out because Dave Herbert, who works there, told them what time we would be coming. There were GTOs joining us along the way too, which helped to increase the size of this parade.

When we arrived at the cruise spot, the cruise staff was waiting for us, passing out door prize tickets and directing us to our parking spaces. Some cars were already there, and the rest began filling in the last of the spaces. Within a half hour, most of the front parking lot would be full. The total count that night was 127 GTOs. Other Pontiacs and local cruisers began coming later. They had been out on Woodward and said that it was crazy out there, so they came back to the east side.

The D.J. was spinning tunes; the cruise staff was starting the Bar BQ. People were walking around, checking out the cool cars, like a ‘64 with a chopped top and custom paint. There were cars with modified interiors, chromed engine compartments and custom wheels, not to mention the original restored cars. All were beautiful, and a sight to be seen, especially since we were in the heart of MOPAR country. Normally us GTO people are out numbered on Friday nights, because of all of the Chrysler workers who live in the area, but tonight that was not to be the case. We filled the place up with the one that started the whole thing up back in 1964.