Spectators and car enthusiasts are set to gather for this year's Ludington Street Cruise event, a two-day event showcasing classic and custom vehicles in downtown Escanaba. (Photo courtesy of Craig Woerpol)

ESCANABA – The community will once again gather in downtown Escanaba this May as the Ludington Street Cruise carries on legacy of the former Krusin’ Klassics Fun Run.

Car enthusiasts and spectators alike can enjoy a wide range of vehicles on display, including classic and custom cars, as well as motorcycles.

The weekend will kick off Friday, May 29, with a parade at 7 p.m. through downtown Escanaba. Construction on Ludington Street will affect the parade route this year, according to Escanaba Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Director Craig Woerpol.

Activities continue Saturday, May 30, with car show registration beginning at 8 a.m. and the show running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A mobile chassis dynamometer known as the Rhino Dyno will also be on site Saturday, giving participants the opportunity to measure their vehicle’s wheel horsepower, torque, air-fuel ratios and other performance data.

“All that time you’ve got bragging to your friends about how much power your car has and how fast it is, now is the time to prove it. You pull your car up onto the Dyno and you make two runs, see how much power your car makes, take it down, life’s good,” said Ludington Street Cruise chairperson Justin Lauscher.

Organizers will also present trophies in 20 categories, with awards scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday. Both registration and vehicle voting by participants and spectators will be handled through a mobile app.

One of the featured attractions this year will be “East Bound and Down: The Ultimate Smokey and the Bandit Tribute,” sponsored by local Edward Jones financial advisors. Members of the tribute group will take part in the Friday night parade and will also be available for photos with fans during the Saturday car show.

“There is going to be the whole cast, people playing the cast from the movie. We are going to have the Trans AM, the cop car, the semi truck. It will be a pretty cool Smokey and the Bandit show,” said Lauscher.

Lauscher noted that the event is being organized by a mix of new participants and familiar faces from the original Fun Run.

“We’ve got a new group of people with a couple of familiar faces from Fun Run planning the event,” said Lauscher. “It’s people highly involved in the community who want to see the show succeed.”

The event also carries personal meaning for Lauscher.

“I grew up becoming a car guy because of my day, because of all the things that he did with me,” said Lauscher. “I feel that helped to set a real good path for myself for success. So, I love the idea of being able to help other people enjoy the show. I hope it will work for somebody else.”

He added that the Ludington Street Cruise aims to keep the spirit of the beloved Krusin’ Klassics event alive while continuing to draw car enthusiasts and visitors to Escanaba.

Additional event details and registration information will be announced in the coming weeks. More information is available on Facebook and at ludingtonstreetcruise.com.