Anytime there is anything written about Woodward Avenue, and the storied days of cruising that historic twenty miles, there will be a select audience.  I and a few of my friends that are still living will never forget that unique time along Woodward Avenue in the 1950's. It was before the cops had radar guns and a speeding ticket was $10.00, and no points. There were no factory cars that could beat a mildly "hopped-up" hot rod. 

It was a special time for me and my friends. My parents, as most all, did not approve of the wasted time and hard earned money.  But, it was an addiction of sorts to a crazy community of would be future mechanics, and even automotive engineers.

In a new book about Woodward Avenue, Robert Genat tries to capture that special experience when gas was cheap and a Big Boy and milk shake was 88 cents. You and a gal could splurge and dine at The Suzy Q for a special chicken dinner with all the fixings and Root Beer for less than five bucks. She would later that night be the "flag girl" and conduct the more serious drag races that took place on the unfinished dark and abandoned Northwestern Highway. 

Genat has put a considerable amount of effort into the 159 pages trying to paint a picture of the dozens of drive-in diners, cars and kids, but there is a disconnect to the early times when Woodward on summer weekends was alive with the car culture of the 1950's, and at that time when the "Woodward experience" was established. 

The Woodward Avenue book does a fair job of reporting a much later time along Woodward when the factory "muscle cars" took over the cruising scene.
I felt a disconnect having known an earlier time when real hot rods ruled the strip.  There are many references to the better connected who took over Woodward in the 1960's with their Mustangs and Corvettes.  I wish that there had been more of an effort to find and interview some of the old time hot rodders, and not so much copy given to a few of the well known and connected street racers who have become well known due to some good public relations legends from the factories.

There are many pictures of a much later time along Woodward Avenue with a few reproductions of the old hang-outs like Big Town and Teds.  I can't fault the book for that because few if anyone thought to take pictures back then even if you had a camera.  The days of "greasers" with dirty finger nails and a pack of Lucky Strikes rolled-up in their tee shirt sleeve were far different than the better financed  1960's fellow in a new Dodge Charger.

Aside from that the Book is worth a read, and a proper addition to your collection of Woodward Avenue memorabilia.