BEHIND THE WHEEL

By David Madeira, AAT CEO

This column has always been called Behind the Wheel because I’m passionate about driving and riding motorcycles, and I love road trips! And of course, the title is descriptive of a major purpose of America’s Automotive Trust—to promote the use of collectible vehicles and to provide enthusiasts with the opportunity to engage with us and others in doing so.

Our annual The Drive Home rally to Detroit and the North American International Auto Show epitomizes those efforts. This vintage vehicle rally is now in its sixth running with each rendition from a different region of the country to the spiritual home of the automobile, Detroit. And I’m excited about this year’s run – The Drive Home: Great American Family Road Trip!

Road trips as family vacations are a long tradition in this country. I have photos of my Dad’s family on road trips from Pennsylvania to Niagara Falls, Yellowstone, Yosemite and even Mt. Rushmore in the early 1930s in their beloved Buicks – camping as they went as motels were virtually non-existent.

This reminds us of the bigger picture of why we treasure old cars, trucks and motorcycles – and why America’s automotive heritage must be preserved and celebrated. These vehicles are repositories for our memories, and as you’ll see in this issue of OpenRoad, they are catalysts for great storytelling of our shared human experience.

I’m excited that the Great American Family Road Trip run will feature ten family vehicles (vintage station wagons and even a 1st generation Minivan) departing from Jackson Hole, Wyoming and traversing an iconic route – one my own family took when I was a boy – from the Grand Tetons through Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, Devil’s Tower and into the industrial heartland of Milwaukee, Chicago and Detroit, where it all began. We’ll experience America’s spacious skies, amber waves of grain, purple mountain majesties and fruited plains. And we’ll meet enthusiasts and generous hosts along the way – as travelers have done throughout the years.

And, like the movie “National Lampoon’s Family Vacation,” we intend to have fun. Watch the film and then follow us on social media in our 1984 Chevy Caprice Wagon on this great adventure. And don’t be surprised if Aunt Edna shows up along the way!