Our remarkable culmination of the 2100-mile
Drive Home II journey began early today at the Lincoln of Troy auto dealership
where we had a grand reunion with our beloved ’61 Chrysler 300G. After breaking
an axle on Tuesday, Lincoln of Troy Owner Paul Sabatini and his team did an
amazing job getting our big-finned beauty road-worthy and operational in just a
48-hour period, and we’re truly grateful for that. A crowd gathered at the
dealership for our sendoff down Woodward Avenue, and a bonus for me was a visit
from my wife’s Aunt Kathy and Uncle Vic who live nearby. We had a great time
catching up, and it was fun introducing them to our Drive Home II team.
Dale answering questions from curious dealership employees about the Crane-Simplex
Aunt Kathy and Uncle Vic pay me a visit
At about 10:30 a.m. our procession departed the
dealership led by the Michigan State Patrol and followed closely by America’s
Automotive Trust CEO David Madeira and Rock Ventures COO Josh McManus who were driving
the open-air 1917 Crane-Simplex in the frosty 10-degree morning sunshine. Behind
the Crane were the proudly reunited three red classics, and the absolute
highlight of the trip was David telling me to take the wheel of the Chrysler.
Cruising the Chrysler down Woodward Avenue
We moved down Woodward Avenue past miles of fans and
onlookers who honked and waved as we made our way to Cadillac Square in
downtown Detroit. Once there, we held a press conference in a heated tent that
included remarks by Josh McManus about his company’s passion for the
revitalization of the city; Max Muncey who heads PR for the North American
International Auto Show; and David Madeira, who shared the mission of America’s
Automotive Trust to preserve the heritage of the American car and his gratitude
for the partnership with State Farm, Rock Ventures, the North American International
Auto Show and all of our sponsors. 
America's Automotive Trust CEO David Madeira speaking at the Detroit Press Conference
After a celebratory lunch with the Drive Home II team
that included victory toasts and a lot of laughs, I headed back to our hotel and
ended the day with a fun and relaxing dinner with Lisa McFarlane, my wife’s
longtime friend who lives in Detroit. 
A fun and relaxing dinner with Lisa McFarlane
We have one more day of events tomorrow, but I will
confess that driving the cars down Woodward Avenue and delivering them to
Cadillac Square was for me an emotional peak of an amazing 11-day adventure
that was simultaneously exhilarating, energizing, and exhausting. Our team
faced daily challenges – and many of them unexpected – but our collective
experience, professionalism and perseverance allowed us to overcome them. I’ve
been a part of many teams in the past 30 years, but the Drive Home II Gang was
truly amazing in every respect, and my compliments go out to each and every one
of them.
Like the great leader and salesman he is, David asked
me today if I’m in for the Drive Home III next year, which is rumored to originate
from somewhere near Miami and include muscle cars. I’m not sure what I mumbled
back in reply to his proposition, but if it includes a team like ours, Florida
and muscle cars, it could be hard to resist. 
The Drive Home II team in Detroit's Cadillac Square
In the meantime, I salute my Drive Home II partners –
David, Valerie, Ashley, Bill, Dale and Derek. Thank you for your commitment to preserve the heritage of our American cars and thank you for the
trip and adventure of a lifetime -- I’m truly proud to have traveled with you
on this terrific journey.
Cheers and Regards from Detroit,
Rock
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