By Genine Hopkins
Before heading to Harrison Street Fair on Friday, August 22, the Old US 27 Motor Tour heads to the City of Clare on Thursday, August 21, from 6 to 8 p.m., allowing car enthusiasts to view hundreds of classic cars and vehicles. This yearly event is enjoyed by so many people and this year’s event may prove to be the biggest yet!
Starting in Coldwater and ending in Cheboygan, the tour started in the early 2000s by a man named Craig Parrish. Born in Lansing, Parrish had fond memories of cruisin’ the streets of Lansing in his youth, and worked tirelessly to have US 127 Business Route (US 27 at the time) designated as a historic highway. That dream became a reality in 2010 when Michigan’s Legislature passed the bill, with the first tour actually taking place in 2007, to help build support for the bill.
Indeed, people from the metro Detroit area and even the UP were well aware of the City of Clare’s significance to driving when cars began to hit the road and become popular. Once Henry Ford began mass producing the Model T cars at an affordable price, and introduced the concept of a weekend off where families could travel in their new vehicles, Clare became the stop along the way further north simply because one tank of gas would get you there from Detroit. At roughly 160 miles north of the big city, Clare was the favorite stop of many a traveler.
Parrish passed away in 2021, after a long battle with cancer, but his dream lives on in the Old US 27 Motor Tour, bringing life to many small towns along the route he envisioned.
As more and more people began to drive the journey along US 27 (now renamed US 127 for both business and highway), there is an excitement each year as hundreds of cars stop off at Clare to show off their classic cars and vehicles. The cars will be parked along McEwan Street and at the Doherty Hotel for the duration of the visit, as participants grab a quick bite at one of the many restaurants in Clare, or do some shopping or just listen to some great music. This year, Kevin Chamberlain will be performing at the Doherty Hotel.
Remember though that due to the Tour, McEwan Street (Old 127 business) will be closed and detours will be up from roughly 5/5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. when the roads open back up. The downtown parking stations will be closed earlier, at around 1 p.m., with the McEwan Street closure from 3rd Street to 5th Street closed, and the Northbound lanes of McEwan Street closed off as well to State Street. While detours will be posted, it is best to find your parking well before the Tour drives through, allowing yourself ample time to be ready to see the classic vehicles and talk to the owners, as well as enjoy the other festivities.
