DETROIT, July 28 /EMWNews/ -- MotorCities National Heritage Area

will begin mailing special "VIP Cruiser" packages to thousands of Woodward

Dream Cruise participants and fans beginning August 1. The VIP Cruiser

packages, the first ever offered in conjunction with the Dream Cruise, are

being made available to just 12,500 registrants for $25 each. The packages

provide special access to select automotive activities throughout the

greater Detroit area in August, a limited edition Woodward Dream Cruise

plaque, and discounts and benefits worth more than $100.



    "The idea of a VIP Cruiser program hit us as a great way to get people

more integrally involved in the Dream Cruise itself and in the activities

and opportunities surrounding it," said Gary R. Familian, Managing Director

of MotorCities National Heritage Area. "It will provide 12,500 Dream Cruise

fans an actual commemorative plaque of the Cruise and will also give them

discounts on official Woodward Dream Cruise merchandise and other

products."



    MotorCities has already announced a half dozen special offers as part

of the VIP Cruiser program and will be announcing additional offers between

now and the actual cruise on August 16. In addition to the discounts on

Dream Cruise merchandise, the packages offer 25% off on annual membership

to The Henry Ford, two for one entrance to the Walter P. Chrysler Museum,

free membership in MotorCities National Heritage Area, and a variety of

other discount offers.



    Proceeds from the sale of the VIP Cruiser packages will go to the nine

host communities along the route to help defray costs of running the

Woodward Dream Cruise and to MotorCities National Heritage Area for

creating and managing the program.



    "We still have some packages left but expect to sell out well before

the Cruise begins," said Dale Dawkins, president of WDC, Inc. "We think

they'll be a real hot commodity during Dream Cruise week."



    VIP Cruisers must register online and can do so at

http://www.motorcities.org , http://www.detnews.com/joyrides , or

http://www.woodwarddreamcruise.com .