Not many U.S. cities can boast a signature, domestically manufactured  product the way Detroit can automobiles. For people living there, GM is not merely regarded as the primary employer in the region, but embraced as a part of their heritage. Which is why for the past sixteen years during the Chevy Dream Cruise,  over a million auto aficionados from the city and from around the globe flock to Woodward Avenue to celebrate the Motor City‘s rich tradition.

The excitement along Woodward Avenue during the Annual Parade rivals that at the tents during New York Fashion Week. It draws over one million visitors each year, with locals setting up lawn chairs along the strip for up to two weeks before in anticipation for the event.  Many regard the classic muscle cars to be the highlight; in this category no brand is more esteemed  than Chevrolet.

2011 has been a landmark year for Chevrolet. In addition to celebrating its 100th birthday on November 3rd, it has built its 100 millionth small block engine this year.

In honor of the brand’s Centennial, this year’s Woodward Dream Cruise, which took place from Thursday, August 18th to Saturday, August 20th, centered around Chevy. Being able to participate in it was a rewarding experience for die-hard Chevy lovers such as myself.

After receiving the keys to my canary yellow 2011 Camaro the first stop was the GM Performance Build Center for the Performance Division and Performance Parts display.

Professional engineers demonstrated how to disassemble and reassemble a Corvette ZR1 engine. Corvette fanatics will be ecstatic to learn that they now have the option to visit the Build Center to build their own engine under the supervision of GM’s engineers.

The same engineer oversees the project from start to finish, and photographs are taken to document progress from conception to delivery.

The E-ROD emission-compliant 1955 Chevy Bel Air and other featured hot rods were spectacular, but the most inspiring part of the visit was speaking to GM‘s employees. Everyone I spoke to had been with the company for at least a decade, and one engineer had been there for twenty six years.

The note of pride in their voices and the glimmer in their eyes when stating their loyalty to the company revealed how much they truly loved what they did; they regarded it as much more than just a job that paid the bills, and no one seemed to be counting down the days until they didn‘t have to work anymore. In fact, many former Chevy employees continue to practice their craft even after they retire.

The Cruise kicked off with a parade featuring the 50 Chevy Volts, 20 employee-owned Chevy heritage vehicles, the new Chevrolet Sonic, and the Camaro ZL1.

This year has been an especially triumphant one for the Volt, which has received the title of Motor Trend Car of the Year and was chosen as Automobile of the Year by Automobile Magazine.

Also present at the Cruise were iconic vehicles that have defined Chevrolet throughout the generations, from the four cylinder 1914 Royal Mail Roadster  to the 2012 Corvette Centennial Edition with its edgy monochrome appearance.

After the parade our fleet of Camaros headed to the Rust Belt, a market celebrating local artists and designers. Among them were Salikas, who handcraft jewelry and accessories out of sustainable materials such as recycled license plates, and Detroit GT, a line of automotive inspired tees and apparel.

Outside, in the parking lot were some classic  Chevys, including a 1969 Camaro that was featured in July’s Car and Driver and was chosen for the 6.0 version of Gran Turismo. With 780 hp and a max speed of over 170 mph, it was a perfect fit for the game. Also impressive was a Mazda Miata with a Chevy V-8 engine; being in such a miniscule vehicle with such a powerful engine gives the feeling that we are only a step away from building flying cars.

Coming from a family of loyal Chevy owners, Corvettes in particular, I’ve grown familiar with the strong sentimental attachment that comes with owning one of these vehicles. The advantage that Chevy has over other auto companies is that they don’t have to work to create that bond; it already exists.

Chevrolet is not just a brand, but a lifestyle, a symbol of the time when achieving the American Dream was less of a struggle; perhaps this is why so many of Detroit’s residents are so proud to claim it as their own. This year’s Woodward Dream Cruise and the incredible energy surrounding it were evidence that GM and Chevrolet can and will continue to flourish.