I enjoyed, in Thursday’s Post, George F. Will’s column regarding Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and his plans for “reinventing” hapless Detroit with a new “culture of how to behave and act.”
I’m one of the few who still get a kick out of visiting the Motor City; that’s, of course, due to its ties to automobiles, a lineup in Cobo Hall once a year of the conceptual cars, and the fact the office doors of U.S. auto manufacturers are always open.
You should have been there, in old Russell Industrial Center building on a cold night in January, for the unveiling of the ’14 Corvette.
I recently sent a note of thanks back to Norma Saken in the Beverly Hills office of Lee Iacocca for the Iacocca-autographed book, “Heart Soul Detroit,” given to me in May.
We’ve kept the coffee table book in view in our living room, and not only do all my kids and their spouses repeatedly leaf through it and read parts, but even the next generation, my grandkids in their 20s, do so.
The book features conversations with and photos of dozens of famous persons who defined their careers in the city, including many Motown favorites.
Tim Allen, Eminem, Bill Ford Jr., Sutton Foster, Al Kaline, Della Reese, Lily Tomlin, Allee Willis – Detroit was their home. Iacocca, too, and he wrote a foreword, including this excerpt: “I believe you can never stop dreaming. And not just dreaming, but being diligent and purposeful to make your dreams a reality. That’s what made America great. That’s what made Detroit great.”
Even the profane made the book, a full-page photo of Iggy Pop “flipping off” the reader.
Excellent photography was by Jenny Risher; the book was edited by Matt Lee. A portion of proceeds are going to Focus:Hope in Detroit. Publisher is Momentum Books.
For more information, e-mail info@heartsouldetroit.com.
Subaru West technician 3rd best
Bret Carter of AutoNation Subaru West in Golden placed third in the recent Subaru U.S. National Technician Competition Championship in Cherry Hill, N.J. The competition consisted of a one-hour written test to gauge the contestants’ academic knowledge, followed by two hands-on technical challenges. Winner was Jason Sherrill of Wyoming Valley Subaru in Kingston, Pa.
Hands Down Auto car show Aug. 17
A Colfax Car Show will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at Hands Down Auto Sales, 6295 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood, for benefit of Children’s Hospital Colorado. For more information, call 720-358-5700.
Bud Wells can be reached via e-mail at bwells@denverpost.com.
