via Busted Classic Garage ~ If you happened to drive through Pontiac, MI on August 10th down Woodward Ave., you would quickly realize that something was seriously off.
Detours, shut down roads, thousands of people in the streets, and the local front yards turned into parking lots. If you didn’t know what was going on you would have thought the city of Pontiac had lost its mind!
Roadkill takes over Pontiac, MI
Well, maybe they did a little bit, seeing they let Roadkill and Dodge take over a section of Woodward Ave in front of M1 Concourse. After the first successful Roadkill Nights at the Silverdome back in 2015, Roadkill wanted to “GO BIGGER”. So, what’s the next step?
Well, racing on Woodward Ave, of course. But why Woodward Ave?
Woodward’s deep history in racing
Woodward Ave has a deep-rooted history in racing. It all started on March 17, 1895. It was on this early morning that the first-ever ticket was given out for drag racing. 14 years later a one-mile section was paved making this the first paved road in America. Shortly after that, it became a place to meet up and race.
With this being the main road out of Detroit into the suburbs a lot of engineers and designers from the car factories would test and tune these new v8 powered cars on their way home. What better way to test a muscle car then with a stoplight drag race down Woodward.
One thing that has not changed in the last half-century is that there were and there continues to be a lot of unique cars and people.
Unique cars and interesting people
Besides all of the ratty Roadkill vehicles one short drive away from a breakdown, there were a lot of car builders and gearheads with very unique rides. Take for example Paul Terlosky’s Hellcat-powered, Police Dodge Coronet.
This car has 725-750 horsepower at the rear wheels and runs a 10.9 on a cool day with racing slicks. Basically, Paul just threw this car together for Power Tour and has already put on 6000 miles since the build.
Then there is Hemi Under Glass that has been racing for the last 50 years, although not the same driver who was doing crowd cheering wheel stands in the ’60s. Today’s 1968 Hemi Under Glass is piloted by Mike Mantel. It’s these cars and drivers that make-up today’s gearhead community that usually end up at Roadkill Nights.
Roadkill Nights 2019
Roadkill Nights is one of those events that I try not to miss.
For the last 3 years I planned on driving to Roadkill Nights with my 1979 Camaro Z-28, (which I call the Cursemaro), but every time I’m days from leaving, it has its own Roadkill moment.
Whether I take the Camaro or I’m forced to drive my shapeless blob, it’s the deep-rooted history in racing, the unique cars, and most importantly the down to earth people that keeps me going.
My goal has always been to race down Woodward Ave. Perhaps 2020 will be my lucky year.
