The 7th Annual Back to the Bricks’ Promo Tour, aka, the “Friendship Tour” is history! We set a new record with 205 cars registered and over 400 participants, and it was by all accounts, the best ever! The host cities welcomed us warmly. Police escorts, great mid-morning donut stops, delicious lunches, views of the Lake, and scenic back roads made for a memorable trip. For the most part, the weather cooperated. The festivities began with a traditional and delicious breakfast buffet sponsored by Security Credit Union. Just a reminder that Security Credit Union will offer special financing for collector cars during the Main Event in August at the ‘Car Corral’ lot located at the corner of Court and Saginaw Streets.
Our first donut stop was the GR Auto Gallery, specializing in the sale of collector cars on consignment. Currently, they have about fifty cars on the lot. At the Willow Run Airport, we visited the Yankee Air Museum which features a collection of vintage aircraft and artifacts primarily dating back to WWII, and then checked into our hotels in Ypsilanti. The weather was perfect, and the Tour was off to a great start.
Saturday morning, we gathered for a drivers’ meeting, and departed for Port Huron. A mid-morning stop at LaFontaine Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac in Highland, Michigan proved to be a hit with everyone. LaFontaine, not only sells cars, but also features a boutique for the women, and a mini-Starbucks coffee and lunch bar. Upon our arrival in Port Huron, a police escort met us on Edison Parkway just south of the Blue Water bridge, providing plenty of photo ops. Main Street in Port Huron was blocked off for the evening, and we were welcomed by the local residents and car enthusiasts who turned out in force to see the cars and swap stories.
Sunday morning, we gathered for a brief devotional, aka sermon, by Dr. Stephen Anthony, one of our Tour participants, prior to our departure bright and early for East Tawas. If we had a trophy for the best baked goods, the winner would have to be the Cook GM Super Store in Vassar, hands down! We feasted on scones, rolls, donuts, muffins, and every imaginable pastry delicacy. Our hunger pangs satisfied, we continued our journey to East Tawas. The setting in the park on the shore of Lake Huron was breathtaking. The East Tawas Chamber of Commerce treated us to a pig roast luncheon. The highlight for many had to be the elaborate sand sculpture of a 1957 Buick bursting through a brick wall, emblazoned with the words “Back to the Bricks.” Just about everyone took advantage of the photo op, and had their picture taken by the sculpture. We were escorted downtown by a couple of vintage police cruisers which was unique and so appropriate. Sales were brisk for the merchants of downtown East Tawas who stayed open for us, as local shoppers and other tourists took advantage of the extended hours.
Monday morning, amid gray skies and a light rain, it was off to Grayling. The rain subsided by the time we arrived, and the skies began to clear. Although Camp Grayling is a major training center for the National Guard, we saw the construction of new barracks for the troops instead of military exercises during our driving tour of the base. Navigating the main street in downtown Grayling proved somewhat problematic because of construction on M72, but we made it. Camp Grayling, the Chamber of Commerce, and a local radio station donated three “giant” trophies to the cause, allowing us the freedom to choose the criteria and recipients. The surprise winners appreciated the recognition.
Tuesday morning, it was off to West Branch for the third year in a row where the Chamber of Commerce and the local car club “Rusted Nuts” welcomed us to their city. The line of cars extended for 1-1/2 miles as the police escort led us into town. As they had done the previous two years, Team Hodges Chevrolet-Mopar again had a great lunch waiting for us. There was music, great cars, and another surprise! The Chamber of Commerce and Team Hodges hired the “Drone Brothers” from Detroit to video the festivities. Each participant had an opportunity to sign up for a final edited copy of the film. Tour participants had a picture of their car taken in front of a beautiful hand-painted mural on one of the buildings in downtown West Branch.
Wednesday morning, cloudy skies and a light rain could not dampen our spirits as we departed for the “End of the Road” luncheon in Birch Run. When we arrived at “American Gasser,” the rain had stopped, at least temporarily. Our mid-morning break and tour lasted about an hour before we continued on to Birch Run. The Chamber of Commerce, the Birch Run Convention and Visitors Bureau, Suski Chevrolet-Buick, and LaFontaine Ford had arranged for a great “end of the road” lunch. Following the welcome speeches and dinner, approximately 160 “Long Haulers” received a metal sign with a replica of the Friendship Tour poster for being in attendance on each day of the Tour. In addition to those businesses and entities already mentioned, I would like to thank the following sponsors: Buick, ABC12-TV, Hagerty Classic Car Insurance, Argentine Care Center, Mega Coney Island, and the Houghton Lake Chamber of Commerce for their support which helped make the 2016 Promo Tour a reality.
A final note to the Tour Committee: You “hit a grand slam” this year! Plans are already underway to make the 2017 Tour even better!