Gratiot Cruise’s 2023 grand marshals are Rock 4 Tots organizers

This year’s honored guests are known as community do-gooders


Members of the Rock 4 Tots committee include from left Howie Hurula, Jimmy Klapp, Margie Anders, Screamin’ Scott Randall, “Loco” Joe Evangelista, and Joe Magolan. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

By MITCH HOTTS | mhotts@medianewsgroup.com | Macomb Daily

PUBLISHED: July 24, 2023 at 11:32 a.m. | UPDATED: July 24, 2023 at 11:32 a.m.

When it came time for the Clinton Township Gratiot Cruise organizers to name a grand marshal for this year’s event, they didn’t have to think too long.

The committee of community-minded individuals decided to honor another group of do-gooders in the Rock-4-Tots organizers for the Aug. 6 cruise along Gratiot Avenue, from 14 Mile Road to Wellington Crescent.

The Rock-4-Tots group collects new unwrapped toys, gift cards, and accepts cash donations. The group is made up of Howie Hurula, Jimmy Klapp, Margie Anders, “Loco” Joe Evangelista, Joe Magolan and “Screamin'” Scott Randall of WRIF-FM (101.1)

“We selected the Rock-4-Tots organizers as this year’s grand marshals as a thank you for their 15 years of community service to the Clinton Township Goodfellows,” said Gratiot Cruise spokesman Paul Silvestri. “And we thought it would be nice that they celebrated 15 years last year and we’re celebrating 20 years, it was a good tie-in.”

A grand marshal is a person selected at an automobile race by the track owner or race sponsor to be the public leader of events on race day or throughout the race weekend.

In the case of the Gratiot Cruise, the grand marshal serves as the celebrity of the day for the event. Their biggest duty is to participate in the ceremonial lap of the cruise route following opening comments by the master of ceremonies Jim Tignanelli and Clinton Township Supervisor Robert Cannon, and performance of the National Anthem by Rose Bednar.

According to their website, Rock-4-Tots was started by Margie Anders based on her childhood experience with the Goodfellows bringing Christmas gifts to their door.

Growing up, her grandmother and mother always crocheted dresses for the dolls that Santa provided to other children in need through the Goodfellows.

Years later, she worked with Jimmy Klapp, who was the owner of The Dawghouse bar on Groesbeck Highway. He wanted to host a toy drive to collect toys for the Goodfellows. The two of them reached out to Screamin’ Scott and together, the first Rock-4-Tots event was put together in two weeks time.

The inaugural event was such a hit, others jumped on board including Loco Joe, who was a performer at the event. From there, the group formalized into a committee and joined forces with Bob Turner, who was the Clinton Township Goodfellows president at that time. Turner was in charge of making sure the proceeds would benefit the children of Clinton Township.

The committee members and volunteers first worked out of a warehouse to package the toys. Over the years, the event has moved around based on Jimmy’s ownership of the bars, but eventually landed at Freddy’s, which so far has been a great fit.

At the event, there are 50/50 raffles, and an array of raffle items to choose from including a R4T exclusive rock box filled with swag from the R4T performers. Local musicians generously volunteer with 20-minute sets throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

In 2022, the group raised $26,000 in donations to benefit the Clinton Township Goodfellows.

This year’s Rock-4-Tots event is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2-3 at Freddy’s Bar on Garfield Road in Clinton Township.

This week’s Gratiot Cruise weekly car show partners with Music & Movie in the Park Night on Wednesday at the Clinton Township Civic Center, 40700 Romeo Plank Road (at Canal Road).

For more information, visit ctgratiotcruise.com.

Let’s cruise — Clinton Twp. Gratiot Cruise hosts pre-cruise car shows

Free car show series leads up to Aug. 6 Gratiot Cruise

By MITCH HOTTS | mhotts@medianewsgroup.com | Macomb Daily

PUBLISHED: July 9, 2023 at 12:42 p.m. | UPDATED: July 10, 2023 at 10:42 a.m.

It’s cruisin’ time on Gratiot Avenue.

The 20th anniversary of the Clinton Township Gratiot Cruise is gearing up for the big day on Sunday, Aug. 6.

Celebrating Macomb County’s largest procession of hot rods, roadsters, motorcycles, antique vehicles, pickup trucks and other wheeled contraptions that gather on Gratiot Avenue between 14 Mile Road and Wellington Crescent for a day of family fun.

In advance of the vintage vehicle showcase, the cruise committee hosts a series of pre-cruise car shows at businesses throughout the community that attract on average 100 classic cars.

“There will be food and drink specials at each car show, some sort of live entertainment (usually a DJ), and there will be classic car judging for prizes,” the committee said on its website.

The first one was held last week at Fern Hill Golf Club.

Car shows run 5-8 p.m. The show schedule includes:

  • Tuesday, July 11 — Freddy’s Bar and Grill, 40000 Garfield Road
  • Thursday, July 13 — Great Shots Backyard Bar, 36901 Garfield
  • Tuesday, July 18 — Kuhnhenn Brewing Co., 36000 Groesbeck Highway
  • Thursday, July 20 — Hennessey’s Pub + Kitchen, 42012 Hayes Road’
  • Wednesday,  July 26 — Clinton Township Civic Center, 40700 Romeo Plank Road (with Music & Movie in the Park Night)
  • Tuesday, Aug. 1 — Gratiot Pub, 34005 Gratiot
  • Thursday, Aug. 3 — Alibi Inn, 33025 S. Gratiot

There is no charge to attend the shows or the cruise, which runs from noon-6 p.m. Aug. 6, with festivities starting as early as 9 a.m.

The Clinton Township Gratiot Cruise Inc. is a non-profit organization registered in the State of Michigan and recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(4) organization.

The planning group’s purpose is to organize an annual car cruise within the Clinton Township Downtown Development Authority (DDA) boundaries to promote both the businesses along Gratiot Avenue as well as the community.

Clinton Twp. Gratiot Cruise committee ‘we’ll just to have to live with’ road construction

Traffic will be restricted to only two lanes on the cruise route

By MITCH HOTTS | mhotts@medianewsgroup.com | Macomb Daily

July 28, 2023 at 7:36 a.m.

Looks like Gratiot Avenue will be congested for the Clinton Township Gratiot Cruise coming up next month.

Organizers of this year’s cruise have been forced to make some changes to the route because of ongoing road construction.

The Michigan Department of Transportation has two of four lanes closed as work crews continue on a resurfacing project along Gratiot from 14 Mile Road to Wellington Crescent. MDOT says the project should wrap up this year.

The cruise committee said the event will go on as scheduled although participants may find the route a little backed up.

“The construction will definitely have an impact on our event,” Paul Silvestri, the committee secretary and treasurer said in an email. “Obviously, with the right two lanes closed, traffic will be affected and the viewing of cruising will probably be obstructed.”

According to Silvestri, the Family Fun Zone area will be moved from the Regional Shopping Center at Gratiot and 15 Mile Road  to the back of the McLaren Macomb “glass house” building at Gratiot just south of 16 Mile Road (Metro Parkway).

“We are not shortening the route or making any adjustments with the route, we are just living with it,” Silvestri said.

The committee also said “contrary to what some construction workers on Gratiot may be telling people, we will still be cruising Gratiot Avenue.”

MDOT spokesperson Diane Cross referred a reporter to Gratiot Cruise personnel for comment the changes.

The 20th anniversary of the Clinton Township Gratiot Cruise will be held on Sunday, Aug. 6.

Celebrating Macomb County’s largest procession of hot rods, roadsters, motorcycles, antique vehicles, pickup trucks and other wheeled contraptions that gather on Gratiot between 14 Mile and Wellington Crescent for a day of family fun.

There is no charge to attend the cruise, which runs from noon-6 p.m. Aug. 6, with festivities starting as early as 9 a.m.

Two pre-cruise car shows will be held at:

  • Tuesday, Aug. 1 — Gratiot Pub, 34005 Gratiot
  • Thursday, Aug. 3 — Alibi Inn, 33025 S. Gratiot