2014 Back to the Bricks in Flint

[RBeckman]

This is what we have been telling you guys for a while about Back to the Bricks in Flint. It has grow year after year and is now one of the top auto events for 2014. I know Flint gets a bad rap and some of it is deserved but we do love our cars. Below is a copy of the news letter I just got as well as the link to the schedule which has grown to 2 more Michigan cities this summer.

http://www.backtothebricks.org/schedule/


FEBRUARY, 2014
BACK TO THE BRICKS, INC.
MONTHLY UPDATE

1. Lot’s to report on this month and first and foremost is the that General Motors has named Buick as the ‘Presenting Sponsor’ for the ‘Back to the Bricks’ for the next five years. It is extremely important and appropriate to have Buick as our ‘Presenting Sponsor’ in as much as it was with the Buick Motor Car Company that led to the formation of General Motors and it started right here in Flint. As we move forward, we look to a long and mutual beneficial relationship with Buick and we welcome them as our ‘Presenting Sponsor’.

2.Also joining the ranks of BttB sponsors are the following new ‘Gold’ level sponsors. Edelbrock, Pratt-Miller and Fidelity Investments. Edelbrock, one of the nation’s premiere automotive performance suppliers in the world. If you are looking to enhance your cars performance look to Edelbrock. They have you covered from top to bottom of your engine and as we are very proud to say, Edelbrock’s parts are ‘Made in the U.S.A.’ Look for the large display semi on the Flat Lot in downtown Flint. Next is Pratt-Miller. At Pratt-Miller Restorations and Specialty Vehicles, they are committed to providing the highest quality and the most detail driven restorations in the industry. Their auto expertise, experienced staff and stringent attention to detail sets them apart from the rest. Visit their website at: http://prattmiller.com/markets/specialtyvehicles to see what they are up to at the shop. And be sure to look for their large display on the flat lot when our event rolls around in August. Our next new ‘Gold’ level sponsor needs little introduction as they are recognized as one of the top world investment companies and that is Fidelity Investments. Like our treasured cars are considered investments, Fidelity can help us all out with our fiduciary investments and help guide each of us to a secure financial future. Be sure to contact the local Fidelity Investment advisor in your area and while you at it; thank them for the support of the BttB.

3. Big news on the North American Auto Events scene! MSN Auto Events editorial staff has named ‘Back to the Bricks’ as one of the top auto events in the nation for 2014. Other events include Pebble Beach, Barrett-Jackson, Bonneville Speed Week, Hot August Nights, Back to the 50’s, Detroit’s Autorama, Woodward Dream Cruise and others. To be named to this elite group of auto events is really special and speaks reams about out event. And how did all this happen in just a short ten years? It is because of you, our valued and much appreciated car owners, spectators and especially our sponsors. If it were not for you, we would not even be a ‘blip’ on the radar! Thanks to all of you and for the complete list visit http://editorial.autos.msn.com/best-...ents-of-2014-1

4. Detroit’s famed ‘Autorama’ is coming up in just a short two weeks. As the BttB has been absent from ‘Autorama’ for a couple of years, we will be back in full force this year with a whole new display and four fantastic cars on display. As they say in the Olympics, we are going for the gold this year for the best in show for none commercial displays. Our Autorama co-chairs Dale Frey and Bob Ayre and their fellow committee members have been working for the last three months on the display. Look for the Flint Arches and the committee members in bright yellow pit crew shirts. Be sure to stop by and say ‘Hi’ as we look forward to seeing each of you.

5. Can’t get by without saying a few words about this year’s BttB Promo Tour (the Michiana Tour) which will take place from June 20th thru the 24th, 2014. We have laid out a great tour with five overnight stops in Michigan and Indiana with five automotive museum visits as well as other tour stops. Breakfast, mid-morning coffee and donut stops and daily lunches included with the $35.00 registration fee that also includes two-tour tee-shirts, two lanyards and window cling. You can’t beat the price and if you stay all five nights, your name will be entered into the drawing for a brand new General Motors 350ci, ZZ4 crate engine. But keep in mind; you have to stay all five nights on the tour to be eligible to win. Visit www.backtothebricks.org, click on the schedule tab, then on the tour heading. From there you can download the registration form and get the hotel listings for each host city.

6. Now for somewhat of a tragic story from Florida. The first night my wife and I arrived in Florida, we stayed in the Sarasota area. She wanted to go a Publix grocery store to pick up a few items so off we went. We had just exited the store and were in our vehicle and we heard the sounds of crunching metal. My wife looked to her left and saw the second car from us with a mid-90’s Chrysler sitting on the hood of what turned out to be a very pristine late model Pontiac Trans AM convertibles, probably one of the very last one’s to be built. I immediately got out of our car and I and another guy were the first to offer assistance. The elderly gentlemen that were driving the Chrysler inadvertently hit the gas pedal instead of the brake and as you have guessed already, launched the Chrysler over the bump curb and into the Trans Am. Fortunately he was not injured physically and we had to help him out of his car which was now sitting about 4-1/2 feet off of the pavement! Once we got him out of the car, his first words were (pardon my French here) ‘Holy Shit’! At that point, I was more concerned that he might suffer a heart attack but fortunately that was not the case. By this time, a crowd has started to develop around the scene with more cell phone pictures being taken than at the Super Bowl! For the lighter side, can you imagine that you are in the grocery store and over the PA system comes the words ‘if you own a Pontiac Trans Am convertible, please report to the parking lot immediately’! Yes, the cars can be fixed and a year from now all we see the lighter side of this story.

7. That is it for this month and keep in mind, spring is just a short four weeks away.

Al Hatch,
Back to the Bricks, Inc.