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Al’s Garage
Vol. 5, Issue #6
Touring the back roads of Michigan
Along with approximately 490 other people who were on the just completed fourteenth annual Back to the Bricks® Promo Tour, we all have returned safely to our homes. And what a tour it was! And we could not have had better weather with one exception when we were greeted with rain showers. But what the heck; it was a travel day from Jackson, Michigan to Cadillac, Michigan. By the time we arrived in Cadillac, the skies had cleared so ‘no harm’ done!
The tour committee organized one of the best tours to date. My wife and I have been on all fourteen tours and for the full tour of each of them. With that said, I think that I am justified with the foregoing claim. The tour stops were great and some of the stops were very unique. For example, take the ‘Natural’ tour of the wild animals on display in Clare, Michigan. Over three hundred and fifty varieties of wild animals from around the globe were on display in their natural settings. The Back to the Bricks® Promo Tour was honored to be the very first group to see what awaited all of us. I am sure that this display will turn into a major tourist attraction for anyone passing through Clare and that also includes the ‘Cops and Donut’ shop in downtown Clare. Now back to Cadillac.
We were told that the participation of local collector car owners along with the Promo Tour participants was the largest event hosted in downtown Cadillac. And what about spectators? Cool weather helped bring out the spectators and it was impressive. I commented ‘I think everyone who lives in Cadillac must be at the show’! And to add to the great turnout, Back to the Bricks® Merchandise, including hoodies sales set a NEW record! Gotta give credit to ‘Mother Nature’ for that one.
Skipping onto Port Huron, Michigan, adding a stop in the early morning at long-time partner and sponsor American Gasser in Saginaw, we started to arrive in Port Huron in mid-afternoon. A picture setting was arranged for all of us with the ‘Blue Water’ bridge in the background. If you have ever been to Port Huron, you will certainly understand why they named the bridge ‘Blue Water’. After getting our picture taken it was off to the downtown area which quickly became filled. One of the police officers told me that they were starting to turn away participants as there were no available parking spots available. He did indicate they were considering opening up the side streets for participants, but I did not verify whether or not that happened. At any rate, the Port Huron turnout was over the top!
Our last day stop was a the ‘Stalhs’ Museum in Chesterfield Township and the historic Packard Proving Grounds in Sterling Heights for lunch that was provided by the Packard Club of America. The Long Hauler street signs were handed out and what a way to end a tour.
BIG thanks go out to the Promo Tour Committee, McDonald’s of Michigan, the Hub in Davison, all of the host cities, Cook Chevrolet in Vasser for lunch on Tuesday, and all of our sponsors. Plans are already in the works for next year and we hope to see you there.
Safe driving for this summer and we will see you on the Back Roads of Michigan.
In next month’s newsletter, look for “Kevin and Pooch”.
Keep on Rollin'
Al Hatch
Founder of the Back to the Bricks®
Chairman Emeritus
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