Back to the Bricks®

January 2024 Newsletter

January 19th, 2024

Latest from the Chairman of the Board

Hello Back to the Bricks® Friends,


I hope all of you are keeping up on New Year Resolutions so far. Our Back to the Bricks® leadership team has a few resolutions we are working on as well. Continuing to improve on the experiences that each of you have and can look forward to each year is at the top. Especially in this year, our 20th anniversary. From what I am seeing in the think-tank meetings, it’s going to really highlight the past 20 years, while pushing forward to the future.

 

I know that mother nature is having fun with the weather, and it’s really beginning to feel like winter again, so be careful driving and walking. My wife, Debbie, and I arrived in Florida for a few weeks. I say a few weeks, because before we know it, I will be back in Michigan for the upcoming Chrome & Ice™ show, February 9th – 11th. Big thank you to our presenting sponsor General Motors and our brought to you by sponsor Dort Financial Credit Union for all you do to help us put on these unbelievable events.

 

It's great here, the ability to work remotely, I enjoy my weekly zoom calls with our team, daily phone calls and texts with our Executive Director, and I know we have the right leaders in place working hard to put on another fabulous show. So, mark it on your calendars, this is going to be a terrific way to escape the winter blues.

 

The final plans are coming together for the VIP Experience event, Friday, February 9th 7-10pm at the Dort Financial Center. Just knowing that the proceeds from this event goes to high school seniors in Flint and Genesee County who are pursuing post-secondary study/training at a college or technical school in auto-body repair/painting, automotive design, auto mechanics, electrical / manufacturing / mechanical engineering, robotics, sales and marketing, software development for automotive applications, welding, or a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) related program makes it an easy YES for me to grab those tickets. It’s for the kids!

 

Seventy participants in one day registered for an event that will kick off in 140 days!!! We're now well over 125 and I know you all are excited. The team announced the 2024 Promo Tour would be called the Back Roads Promo Tour. What’s unique about the name is that’s what we travel on. Basically, any road that isn’t an expressway. We travel through and around, zig zagging our way through the most unique areas not normally seen. In our everyday world, most want to get from point A to point B with less miles, and in the quickest time. With some of the vehicles that register to go on the tour, traveling anywhere “quick” is a recipe for disaster. I hope you will be joining us on our 14th annual Back Roads Promo Tour in June. You can register now so get signed up and get your hotel reservations made. The tour committee picked four great communities for our car shows and they are busy laying out the routes in between the host cities. You will love the drive; you will love the stops and most of all you will love the memories and friendships you will make. I know some of my closest friends are those that I met on the tour.

 

Finally, congratulations to the University of Michigan Football Team. What an amazing turnaround in the last three years. Big Ten Champions and now National Champions! GO BLUE!!!! Now Let's get the Lions to the Superbowl!

My Best Wishes to you all and stay safe, 


Al Jones

Chairman of the Board

Back to the Bricks®

810-625-2713

aljones@backtothebricks.org

Chrome & Ice Is In 28 Days!!!

9th Annual Chrome & Ice™ Winter Indoor Classic Car Event

Feb 9th-11th 2024



Chrome & Ice™ is a three day winter indoor car show held at Dort Financial Center in Flint Michigan, presented by General Motors, and brought to you by Dort Financial Credit Union.


Year after year, the Back to the Bricks® team works hard to bring you a wonderful display of unbelievable cars, and this first show in 2024 will be another to get excited about.


This years show will include professional judges, for those that opted in and the Top 10 Spectator Awards, voted on by all that attend. The Awards ceremony will take place on the stage, Sunday February 11th at 3pm.


Judged Awards this year to include:


  • Best of Show - TOP AWARD
  • Best Exterior
  • Best Interior
  • Best Engine
  • Best Truck
  • One Fine Ride - Judges award


Did you miss out on registering?

Get on the waiting list HERE

Hours and Ticket Information


  • Chrome & Ice™ 2024 will be open to the public Friday, February 9th from 10AM to 8PM. 
  • VIP Experience, Feb 9th 7pm - 10pm for TICKET HOLDERS ONLY!
  • Saturday, February 10th from 10AM to 8PM
  • Sunday, February 11th from 10AM to 4PM. 
  • Awards ceremony starts at 3pm on Sunday, February 11th. 


GENERAL ADMISSION tickets are $10 for adults, and $7 for youth, ages 12-17. Children under 12 are free. Parking at arena is $5 at the gates

Chrome & Ice™ is an excellent way to ESCAPE THE WINTER BLAHS at a fun, safe, family-friendly event!

VIP Experience Tickets

Brought back by popular demand is the VIP EXPERIENCE on Friday night from 7PM to 10PM. Tickets for the VIP Experience will be $45.00 each and will include parking, general admission to the car show, coat check and live musical entertainment with Johnny and The Monsters!!!


PLUS with your VIP Ticket is a complimentary adult beverage at any of several bars in the arena, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, and dessert in the Blue Line Room from 7PM to 9PM, compliments of the Dort Financial Credit Union.


Proceeds from Chrome & Ice™ and the VIP Experience will support the Back to the Bricks® Youth Scholarship Fund.

Get your Tickets HERE!!!!

We are excited to launch an all new experience during the Chrome & Ice Winter Indoor Car Show called...

BREAKIN' THE ICE


With Celebrity Guest Host, Mickey York


Hear from local Classic Car Experts, talking about the topics we all want to know more about. The experts will answer YOUR questions! Included in your price of admission, times to be announced soon!


On Saturday Feb 10th, Mickey York Owner/Publisher of Cruis'n Media and Sports Anchor will be taking the stage for 3 times throughout the day, with 3 different car related topics. Mickey will host and lead the discussions with a panel of experts deep diving into YOUR questions.


Have a question and feel silly asking anyone? THIS IS YOUR CHANCE

Thinking about that "how to do" or "where to start" job and not sure? ASK YOUR QUESTION. 


Not all questions will be used, but we will do or best to get them in front of the guest panel experts to help you! Feel good asking your questions, our experts are there to HELP! If time allows, audience questions will be permitted. 


Here's the Topics of the Breakin' the Ice Panels:


  • TOPIC: Buying a Classic Car or Truck
  • TOPIC: Restoring a Classic Car or Truck
  • TOPIC: Going to, and putting a vehicle into Car Shows


We will even feature these questions after Chrome & Ice on social media and our website. Your questions are totally anonymous, and we are not asking for any personal information to submit them. 

Ask your QUESTIONS HERE

2024 Back Roads Promo Tour is announced

Registration is OPEN


14th Annual Back Roads Promo Tour will take place June 7-12, 2024


We've made it easy for you, click the link to the website, learn all about the tour and register today!


Early Bird Registration ends April 1st.


Back Roads Promo Tour CLICK HERE

The Emperors New Buick

By: Gary Fisher

President - Genesee County Historical Society


It goes without saying around these parts that the Buick is one of the most iconic automobiles every assembled. It’s history spans 120 years + of innovation and excellence and influence. But it’s just possible that the most influential owner of all time was a very unlikely individual, and one you might not ever guess. That owner was the last Emperor of China, Emperor P’u-i who purchased two Buicks in 1924.

 

Not only were they his first Buick’s, but they were also the first to cars ever allowed to pass through the gates of The Forbidden City. The emperor’s endorsement was so important that by 1930 nearly 30% of all cars in China were Buick’s. There was even an ad created by Buick that stated, “Buick Owners are mostly the leading men in China.” Sun Yat sen, regarded as one of the founding fathers of modern China was a huge fan of Buick and wasn’t shy about telling people how much he loved his.

 

After World War Two one of those original Buick’s survived and wound up as the property of Zhou Enlai, Chairman Mao’s right-hand man. He had decidedly Western and capitalists’ taste in things, chiefly among them automobiles. His love of the Buick was well known in Communist circles, and throughout China. Long after both Zhou and Mao were out of the picture, Buick remained as a prominent Chinese status symbol. By mid-century all the important Chinese government officials were tooling around in high end Buick’s

 

By the time China had begun implementing a hybrid form of capitalism General Motors Chairman Jack Smith intervened to make a strong move into the Chinese market. Smith thought he could leverage Chevrolet to start the process, but the Chinese had zero interest in the venerable brand. Opel, Cadillac, and Pontiac were not going to cut it either. The Chinese were open to only one brand- Buick.

 

So it was that China fully embraced the GM presence, which finally led to adding the other brands too. But it was Buick that really captured the Chinese market. One of the reasons beyond the important historical context was the fact that Buick really worked hard to cater to the unique tastes and proclivities of the Chinese auto maven. One example of this is the Buick minivan. Designed to cater to the high-powered Chinese executives and political leaders (who view the minivan as a kind of limousine) it included ultra-high-end interiors, and lots of room to host groups of power brokers at one time. Great for showing off, and a shiny example of social status in the new Chinese economy.

 

Along with the moniker “The Vehicle City”, Flint was also known as “Buick Town”, and later “Buick City”. On the other side of the world that means an awful lot to millions of Chinese who think Flint is the epicenter of one of the greatest automobiles of all time.



1980's we were Buick City

Sun Yat-Sen on Left in a Buick

I-75 Billboard in 1966

For more information visit: GeneseeHistory.org!

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Stop by and say hi to the staff, tell them we sent you!


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Al's Garage - SPECIAL EDITION

Al’s Garage

Vol. #5, Issue #1

"Bonding Over Cars"



Good day to everyone reading this. 


This is Al’s son, Phil Hatch writing this article, as he is on the mend from a recent surgery. First off, the family and I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and calls during this whole episode. He is home now, doing well, and will be on the road again real soon.


I wanted to write this article for him for a couple of reasons. One, so he can rest and recover without stressing. Two, because of the importance of the bonding he and I have had over old cars.


As you would probably suspect, I have been around old cars my entire life. Some of my earliest memories were going to car shows or swap meets. Admittingly I was not super into this idea as a child. What ultimately happened was a seed was planted that grew into a passion for me as an adult. Deep down in my subconscious I was listening and learning from my dad and his old car buddies. It had taken a few years for that to manifest in me, but it certainly has. I consider myself very lucky to have my dad as a father. The bond that was created over cars is amazing. I have many fond memories of being with my dad in an old car of some type. It could have been something as simple as running a mile up the road to Char’s Ice Cream Shop, going to my grandparent's farm, bringing a new “treasure” home (sometimes running, sometimes in baskets), and countless other adventures. But these memories will be with me for my entire life.


For every single parent and grandparent out there reading this, never underestimate how your children absorb being by your side at car shows or events. Get them involved. Get them out in the garage with you to work on your project(s). Teach them what and why you are doing certain things to your car. Have them turning wrenches. Tell them how to identify certain cars or car parts. Explain things in a way that makes this hobby fun! Also, car detailing makes for a good punishment, not that this angel ever had to be punished. (Insert eye roll) These few things will have an impact on them, as I know it did on me.


In closing, get your kids involved in this hobby with you, for they are the future of it. Pass on the knowledge you have. I am not sure if my dad knew truly what he was doing to me at the time, but it instilled a love for old cars. I am forever grateful for him doing that for me, and your children will be as well. Those early years of getting up at the crack of dawn for some “male bonding” as he called it, have stuck with me. I am positive that it can happen with the future generation to keep this car hobby living strong for years to come. 


See you all on the streets soon, and as my dad would say….Keep on rolling!


Phil Hatch

Son of Founder Al Hatch

Back to the Bricks®

Coupons & Specials From Our Partners

Denam Auto Brokers & Trailer Sales is offering ALL Back to the Bricks Friends and Family 10% off all WeatherTech Products!


Call today

810-244-6100


Order your new floormats, keep your floorboards DRY this Winter!

Cruis'n Media is offering a $5 off 2024 Chrome & Ice Show coupon!


Hover over the QR Code and SAVE TODAY!

Stay updated on our events by visiting our website! backtothebricks.org
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