Back to the Bricks®

March 2025 Newsletter

March 21st, 2025

Latest from the Chairman of the Board

Hello Spring!

 

I’m sure you are just as anxious as I am for the weather to warm up completely. Don’t get me wrong; I appreciate the warm days since March 1, after one of the coldest and snowiest (I’m not sure that’s even a word) February in recent years.

 

Now that Spring is officially on the calendar, we can get serious about our plans for our classic cars to get on the road as soon as possible. Last month, I told you about some changes to my rides that I’m making right now. I bought the wheels and tires for my 65 Buick and hope to get them on the car very soon. I’m getting a new dual exhaust system installed by April 15. I want to be ready for Dust ‘em Off on May 18.

 

You need to do it today if you haven’t registered for it yet. It’s going to be our best one so far. This will be the fifth annual spring show, and we have a new chairman for the event, David Stilber, and co-chair, Jim McKeny. They have put together a fantastic team of volunteers who have made significant improvements to fix our problems at the first four. It will be at a different location this year, so get registered, and you can get all the details on our website.

 

Finally, this year, we are so grateful to all our sponsors who generously provided the funds to keep our engines running. I especially want to thank General Motors for their ongoing commitment to Back to the Bricks®, the city of Flint, and Genesee County. We don’t take this contribution for granted and strive every year to have our community enjoy some of the best car shows in the country.

 

God Bless! I will see all of you at the Dust ‘em Off car show!

See you on the open road! 


Al Jones

Chairman of the Board

Back to the Bricks®

810-625-2713

aljones@backtothebricks.org

2025 Car Show Events Schedule

We've got a busy car show season coming, with everyone's favorites, Dust 'em Off, Road Rally's, Tune Up, and Main Event Week being scheduled and planned.


We do make changes, to make their experience even better, so to stay up to date on all events, visit BacktotheBricks.org

Summer Events

Back to the Bricks® Road Rally

We’ve partnered with Shea Automotive, and UAW Region 1-D, and will offer a full day of fun for all our participants! 


NEW this year, we are rocking this Rally with a special partnership raising the much-needed funds for the United Way. Let's have FUN together and raise MONEY!


LEARN MORE HERE

Back to the Bricks® Tune Up Week

Excitement builds as Tune-Up Parties are officially planned and will take place over the course of a week around the county.


Attractions and activities will vary by location but include concessions, Official Back to the Bricks Merchandise, vendors, DJ and giveaways, including 250 collectors T-shirts.


LEARN MORE HERE

5th Annual Dust 'em Off Car Show

Sunday, May 18th

NEW Location, and Registration is OPEN!!


The 5th Annual Dust 'em Off Car Show is honored to have a NEW Brought to you by Sponsor, Owosso Speedway with Special Thanks to Wild Bills Craft Beverage Co. for helping to bring back this VERY POPULAR Spring Car Show!


See full details and REGISTER today on the website.

Visit the DUST 'EM OFF Page

We're down to less than 25 spots!!!!

Registration is OPEN


The 15th Annual Back Roads Promo Tour will take place

June 6-11, 2025


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


Only 250 Spots are available, and we have over 220 registered today!!!

Sunset Promo Tour CLICK HERE

Al's Garage - SPECIAL EDITION TRIBUTE

Al’s Garage

Vol. #6, Issue #2

"A Tribute to a Remarkable Individual"


From the moment we encountered Joseph "Joe" Rundell, it was evident that he had exceptional and unwavering integrity. His dedication, kindness, and ability to lead by example left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him.


Joe's journey began in a small town, where he was raised in a close-knit community that valued hard work and mutual respect. From an early age, Joe exhibited an insatiable curiosity for American history and art, which came to him naturally. Before he became a sculptor, he was known worldwide for his engraving capabilities. Especially when it came to engraving firearms. Scrimshaw gun stock engraving was his first passion before pursuing sculpture. He possessed a great gift of natural artistic talents that came to him as a gift from God.


Upon entering the professional world, Joe quickly distinguished himself as a visionary leader. His career was a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence and commitment to positively impacting. Whether through his innovative ideas, strategic thinking, or ability to inspire and motivate those around him, Joe's contributions to the art world were remarkable.


Joe's achievements were numerous and varied. He was instrumental in spearheading projects that transformed not only our organization, but also set new standards within the art industry. His leadership style, characterized by empathy, inclusiveness, and a relentless drive for results, earned him the respect and admiration of his peers and colleagues.


Despite his professional accomplishments, Joe never lost sight of the importance of giving back to the community. He actively participated in numerous charitable initiatives and strongly advocated for causes close to his heart. Joe's generosity and willingness to lend a helping hand were evident in his volunteer work, his mentorship of young professionals, and his support of local organizations.


Joe believed that true success was measured by one's professional achievements and the positive impact one could have on others. His commitment to fostering a sense of community and his efforts to uplift those around him was a testament to his character and the values he held dear.


Joe Rundell's legacy will undoubtedly endure for generations to come. His unwavering dedication to his principles, passion for innovation, and commitment to making the world a better place have left an indelible mark on all who knew him. Joe's life is a powerful reminder of the profound difference one can make through determination, compassion, and integrity.


Reflecting on Joe's life reminds us of the importance of pursuing our passions, standing firm in our beliefs, and striving to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Joe's story inspires and is a testament to the enduring power of human potential. It is also a call to action for all of us to live our lives with purpose and conviction.


As we honor Joe Rundell, we celebrate a life well-lived and a legacy that will continue to inspire. May we all strive to embody the qualities that Joe so graciously exemplified and carry forward his spirit of generosity, innovation, and unwavering integrity. In doing so, we ensure that Joe Rundell's legacy will live on, touching the hearts and minds of future generations.


When you are at Bishop International Airport, downtown Flint, or on the campus of Mott Community College, you will find his artwork in the form of life-size bronze statues honoring Flint’s automotive pioneers. These are Joe’s legacy. Learn more about our statues, and the hard work Joe did on our website.

https://backtothebricks.org/statues-page/


CORDially,


Al Hatch

Founder & Chairman Emeritus

Back to the Bricks®

Statue Joe made of former Flint mayor Floyd J. McCree. Thank you MLive for the nice article.


READ HERE

More postings from MLive about Joe's contributions to Back to the Bricks and the statues in and around Flint.


READ HERE

Sculptor Joe Rundell created the statue of Graff was unveiled Jan. 15. 2014.


Photo from: The Davison Index

Joe completed Rosie the Riveter, and was so proud to work on the first female statue of the Automotive Heritage Collection.


See more HERE from MLive

Joe's Obituary HERE
Stay updated on our events by visiting our website! backtothebricks.org
 
Back to the Bricks® | Website
 
Facebook  Instagram  Linkedin