Calling all cooks and car lovers

MADISON HEIGHTS — A two-in-one car show and barbecue contest will bring together fans of both subcultures at Civic Center Plaza this fall.

Registration is now open for those looking to showcase their ride or flex their skills at the grill.

The free event is called Revin’ in the Heights, set for Saturday, Sept. 14 in the parking lot at Madison Heights City Hall, 300 W. 13 Mile Road, right next to Civic Center Park. The event is held by and benefits the Madison Heights Human Relations and Equity Commission, or HREC,  a group that advises the City Council on matters of diversity and inclusion.

Councilman Quinn Wright represents the City Council on the HREC. He said Revin’ in the Heights is a spiritual successor to Motorama & Smoke, an event that was planned last year but canceled due to weather. The HREC is still considering rain dates as a backup this year.

If all goes as planned, attendees can expect a wide variety of modern and classic cars on display that will be judged by a panel of auto enthusiasts. They can also expect to see cooks competing in several contests: one for chicken, one for ribs, and one for kids making burgers.

“Culture is where people intersect in terms of their world — their environment, their upbringing — and for us in the metro Detroit area, we have a huge car culture here, and we celebrate it because it provides a living for the majority of us, and a lifestyle. We all grew up around cars and that culture shaped all of us either directly or indirectly,” Wright said.

“The same goes for cooking,” he said. “Cooking is a part of everyone’s culture. Food is a cultural ambassador that brings us together to have conversations, and those conversations make us closer and connect us to one another. So we want to celebrate cooking as well. This is ultimately about bringing the entire community together.”

It’s also about raising money for a good cause. Each contest has a registration fee, with the proceeds benefiting HREC initiatives such as a community cookbook that will feature recipes from residents of Madison Heights — yet another way to bring neighbors together.

There is a $20 preregistration fee to exhibit a ride in the car show, or a $25 fee on event day. As for the cook-off, it costs $25 to compete in the chicken contest, $50 to compete in the ribs contest, and $25 to compete in the kids’ burger contest. Registration links will be available at the HREC page at madison-heights.org.

The cook-off will follow Kansas City Barbecue Society rules, with a certified pitmaster helping to ensure the rules are being followed, and the food being judged by a panel in three categories: taste, tenderness and appearance.

While the entries will no doubt look and smell delicious, spectators won’t get to eat them due to liability concerns. Instead, there will be several food trucks selling chicken, ribs, hamburgers, hotdogs, and more. There will also be a truck selling vegan and gluten-free options, and desserts as well. Drinks will also be available at the food trucks.

In addition, Joyful Jungle Learning Center plans to have activities for the kids, with possible ideas such as building cars and racing them.

There will also be a booth by the Madison Heights Food Pantry. Guests are encouraged to donate nonperishable food items, as well as money so that the nonprofit group can purchase items to help those in need in the community.

Attendees are also encouraged to bring family recipes for the HREC’s community cookbook. The current plan is to finish the book by the end of the year, at which point it will be purchasable for a donation to the HREC, or borrowable from the Madison Heights Public Library.

“This cookbook is an awesome way to get people involved in something that will collectively belong to the entire community,” Wright said.

Syed Murtaza-Rose is a member of the HREC subcommittee organizing the event. He hopes Revin’ in the Heights will become a new tradition.

“I enjoy any time that we’re able to come together as a community regardless of what it is, whether it’s Juneteenth or the fireworks or Trail Tunes. I think this is another opportunity to gather over something we maybe already love, or to have new experiences,” Murtaza-Rose said. “For me personally, I’m not very much into cars, but I like that there is a culture around them, and I want to learn more about it. And it’s not just classic cars here, but also modern cars and unique cars. I think sometimes when we think of car shows, we think of classics, or Lamborghini or Ferrari, but this really is an opportunity to showcase any car that someone is passionate about.

“And then you attach the food, and it becomes something more,” he added. “I just hope this  event is something we can make a yearly opportunity where we come all together, break bread and enjoy each other’s company.”