1/12/19 -- Detroit’s Woodward Avenue has the distinction
of being a mecca for auto enthusiasts because it was the first paved road in
America, so it’s fitting that it is also the last dozen miles we cover in our Drive
Home treks. Early Saturday morning on Day 10 we met our friends at the Lincoln
of Troy dealership where the Ford had been repaired and several dozen members
of the auto community and media gathered for our sendoff toward Cobo Hall in
downtown Detroit and the North American International Auto Show.
On hand were the Michigan State Police
to provide our escort, and Bill suggested I be arrested since I had been
gaining a bit of a reputation for being at the wheel when our trucks
malfunctioned. (The handcuffs really hurt; thanks for always looking out for me, Bill.)
After coffee, pastries, media interviews,
and a briefing by the troopers about procession etiquette, we began the last
glorious drive down Woodward Avenue followed by a dozen or so classic car enthusiasts who had come out of follow us.
I rode in the International, and along the
way I interviewed Tabetha and Bill about their best memories of this
year’s drive, and you can see that here:
What an experience and feeling of
accomplishment it was to arrive at Cobo and drive our trucks into the
gargantuan event center.
It was even more gratifying since the team let me
drive the 1955 Chevy (yes, one of several I broke…), which was pushed partway but had enough temporary
repairs that it could be gently piloted into the building.
With the trucks set in place, the team
had a final celebratory lunch to toast our success.
But there was one more rendezvous with
an old friend in store for me, because the 1972 El Camino I drove last year had
been on display in nearby Cadillac Square for several months and needed to be
driven back to Lincoln of Troy. I volunteered to drive it and – consistent with
my luck this year – it wouldn’t start until Bill took off the air cleaner and
manually choked it.
Back at the hotel we quickly dressed for
a formal evening gala and the team surprised me by presenting me with the Drive Home IV
Hard Luck Award. I told them how much I appreciated the recognition and
although I wish I could say I didn’t deserve it, I guess I did…
The gala was a fantastic combination of terrific
food and high-end, spectacular exotic cars.
So here we are at the end of a 3,200-mile
journey that covered 11 states in 10 days with an incredible team that bonded
like family. It’s hard to know how to wrap this up, but I’ll say this: America’s
Automotive Trust (AAT) is all about honoring the automobile’s past, celebrating
its present and driving its future. There are a lot of ways this is done around
the country, but a winter cross-country drive of classic cars is unique and makes
a strong statement about AAT’s commitment to its mission. I’m proud to be a
part of the Drive Home effort, which is a truly special endeavor by an
exceptional (and fun!) group of people.
All that said, stay tuned for Drive Home
V happening in June of 2020 – there are some exciting things cooking for that
one and, if my team's memories fade a bit and I behave myself, maybe I'll get invited back again!
Cheers and Regards From Detroit!
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