They say Los Angeles is the hot rod capital of the world. They lie. Trust us when we say there isn't a cruise scene anywhere near here that draws a couple hundred cars a week, much less the for-real 2,700-plus street machines we witnessed on a Sunday afternoon at Baker's of Milford, Michigan, a town of 17,000 that's part of a conglomeration of Detroit-area burgs that comprise The Motor City: The real gearhead capital of the planet.
Milford is also home to the General Motors Proving Ground, staffed with enthusiasts like Chuck Lemont, who hooked us up with the deal at Baker's. With a car-friendly population to pull from, affable restaurateur Paul Baker had used his local pull and massive parking lot to create what became, in seven years, Michigan's largest weekly cruise night-and possibly the world's. It's no big deal to see a thousand-plus cars at Baker's on any Sunday afternoon, though the 2,700-plus when we were there may have been the biggest ever. Cruisers turned out in force for a very special occasion. And it wasn't to try and get in a magazine.
Sadly, just hours after he'd left us a voice-mail looking forward to our arrival in town the next day, Paul Baker suffered a fatal heart attack at the wheel of his car. Word spread like wildfire through the Detroit rodding community, hitting us in Los Angeles even before we got on the plane. By the time we pulled into the Baker's lot, a record-size throng was there to pay tribute to the man who used to shake the hand of every single driver during each and every cruise night. At these deals we're usually mobbed with people asking us how to get their car in the magazine. This time, countless guys approached us wanting nothing more than to let us know what a great guy Paul was, and how he selflessly contributed his cruise-night profits to local charities and special causes.
Then, in one of the most unusual and emotional moments we've ever witnessed at a car show, a sole bagpipe began to moan as a hearse with Paul's casket paraded through the parking lot. A crowd of hardened car guys rushed the black Cadillac and wept as they applauded the life of a local hero.
Paul left a legacy that will not be abandoned, and his sons will carry on the business and the cruise night to continue what their father started. Be there Sundays from May through September, and see bakersofmilford.com for more details.
'If Malcolm Bricklin had his way, there'd be Chinese knock-off big-block Chevys.
'In winter, downtown Milford is known for its business owners building ice sculptures in front of their shops. That's cool.
'GM is building a new center to test up to 150 rollover scenarios per year at the Milford Proving Ground. How fun would it be to wreck new stuff for a living?
'Milford has a population of about 17,000. In 2004, 1,591 traffic tickets were issued. That's a ticket for 1 in 11 people.