Hot Rods, Classic Cars Expects to Draw Throngs of People for Annual Cruise Night

ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI — One of the most popular end-of-summer events in St. Clair Shores is expected to draw hundreds of hot rod and classic car enthusiasts downtown .

Local businesses will be opening their doors and parking lots on Aug. 31 as people from throughout the region come out to this year’s Harper Charity Cruise.

Carl Papa, of Shorewood Kiwanis, told the St. Clair Sentinel that one of the biggest parties every year is held at Rico’s Auto Specialty Shop, 23515 Little Mack Ave., where Little Mack intersects with Harper.

“He donates all the food and he suggests what people (donate) for it, and then he gives us all the proceeds, which is really nice of him,” Papa said.

Rico Kouri, who owns the shop, said they’ve been hosting an open party for about 25 years.
“We give away everything. One hundred percent of what we collect goes back to the Kiwanis,” he said.

For more than 20 years, the Harper Charity Cruise has been has been a late summertime fixture to Harper Avenue, and it has also been an event sponsored by the local Kiwanis Club.

This event is modeled after other commercial cruises, but with an eye toward charity and giving back to the community. The largest cruise event in southeast Michigan is the annual Woodward Dream Cruise, which typically draws as many as 1.5 million visitors each year to the one-day event.

In 2005, Shorewood Kiwanis was approached to "take over" the coordination and up-front funding of this important event.

The proceeds from the Harper Charity Cruise, after expenses, benefit the many charitable organizations that Shorewood Kiwanis support, and help fund other community service projects.

In preparation for the cruise, student artists from Macomb Community College participated in a contest to design this year’s logo, The Macomb Daily reported.

The contest gives students a chance at earning some money for college. This year, the winner of the logo contest was Matt Stephens, of Warren, who was awarded $1,000.

Second place and $600 went to Sandy Bombassei, of Armada, and $400 and third place went to Daniel Stephens, of Warren, brother of Matt Stephens. The cash awards were matched by tuition scholarships from MCC.

Kiwanis members Karen Biafora and Roseanne Minne coordinate the contest for their club.

“This part of the cruise is one of my very favorites.” Biafora told The Macomb Daily. “It is Shorewood Kiwanis’s first act of community service regarding the Harper Charity Cruise, one of giving back to community.”

VIDEO: Courtesy of YouTube/Harper Charity Cruise 2010