January 19th, 2024

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.

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. 

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!

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

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