Detroit’s 2012 North American International Auto Show is only days away from opening its doors to the public! For those who, like me, attend the show each year, anticipation is building as our local news broadcasts and TV commercials are alive with information about the coming big event. After several down years in the auto industry, there now seems to be a sense that Detroit is rekindling its title as the “Motor City”.
I have been a car enthusiast even before I was old enough to drive. I have attended the auto show every year for as long as I can remember – always looking with particular interest at the new car models that will be offered in the year ahead, as well as the concept cars that give ideas of what may be on the mind of the auto makers for future years. I will be in the market for a new car this summer so I will be looking closely at several models that may be the next one for me.
I have to admit that, since my teen years, I have had an interest in cars that have had, shall we say, a few horses to spare under the hood. My more potent rides have included a ’69 Plymouth Roadrunner, a Dodge Daytona Turbo-Z, a Corvette, a couple of North Star powered Cadillacs and a Dodge Charger – the SRT-8 model, of course. A few years ago, my childhood re-emerged and I picked up another ’69 Roadrunner – now a classic muscle car rather than the run-of-the-mill car as it was back in the day.
This year I will be excited to see the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart and Cadillac ATS being debuted at the Detroit Auto Show. Hey! Anyone hear anything about Chrysler’s 6.2L Supercharged Hemi rumored to be hitting the streets soon? That ought to be a screamer for sure, eh?
Well, one day soon be waiting in line with many of you when the doors open for the Auto Show!
Insurance Planning Service is an independent insurance agency offering a full range of insurance products – auto – home – business – life – health – to individuals, families and businesses throughout Michigan. Call or visit us on the web today for a quote on your insurance!
What do you get when you combine an estimated 40,000+ classic collector cars with 1.5 million people? None other than the Woodward Dream Cruise, of course!
Thought to be the largest cruise event in the world, the 17th annual Woodard Dream Cruise takes place on Saturday, August 20, 2011 on a 16-mile stretch of the infamous Woodward Avenue – running north from 8-Mile Road to the Woodward Loop in Pontiac, Michigan. Bringing back the nostalgia – the good old days of convertible tops, drive-in restaurants, and muscle cars & hot rods where an occasional run from the turning of a green traffic light could be seen (or heard).
Nowhere, aside from the Woodward Dream Cruise, can such an eclectic bunch of automotive memorabilia be seen! From antiques vehicles to classic muscle cars, from old fire trucks to motorcycles, street rods and race cars – they all sneak out of the garage to join the fun and festivities of the Woodward Dream Cruise! From individuals to entire car clubs – all come out for the massive event! According to woodwarddreamcruise.com, an estimated $56 million is brought into the Detroit area economy each year from this event! They say cruisers from California, Georgia, Canada and all points in between caravan to Metro Detroit to participate in what has become, for many, an annual rite of summer. Even cars from as far away as New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the former Soviet Union have been seen at the Cruise.
One of many clubs that participate each year is the Michigan Mopar Muscle Car Club. The array of gorgeous 60s – 70s Mopars from this club will be parked along W. Lawrence Street off the southbound side of the Woodward Avenue Loop in Pontiac.
A few tips if you plan to visit the Woodward Dream Cruise:
Wear comfortable and supportive walking shoes!
Apply sunscreen to avoid sunburn
Drink plenty of fluids – food and beverage vendors are everywhere!
Look, BUT DON’T touch the cars! Owners spend a lot of time and thousands of dollars to get their cars looking great.
From all of us at Insurance Planning Service have a great the day at the Woodward Dream Cruise – enjoy the cars and the memories! And keep in mind that Insurance Planning Service insures collector cars!
Insurance Planning Service is an independent insurance agency offering a full range of insurance products – auto – home – business – life – health – to individuals, families and businesses throughout Michigan. Call or visit us on the web today for a quote on your insurance!
In case you have been living under a rock for the last several months, Chrysler began an aggressive ad campaign with the above commercial during one of the most anticipated advertising events – the 2011 Super Bowl. The commercial was designed in collaboration with Portland, Oregon, based agency Wieden+Kennedy, whose broad portfolio boasts other such clients as Nike, Heineken, Coca Cola, Delta Airlines, Disney, and the wildly popluar, hilarious, and manly Old Spice campaign. Since its unveiling in February, the campaign has rolled out several other videos highlighting the 2011 Chrysler model line: the 200, 300, and Town & Country.
All of the spots feature prominent celebrities who have a Detroit connection. Eminem is a critically acclaimed rapper and recording artist who grew up and lives in Detroit, and whose lyrics portray many of the hardships that accompany a blue collar life in the city. His Academy Award-winning song “Lose Yourself” provides the soundtrack to several of the commercials, and garnered one of five awards for the spot at the Cannes Lions 58th Festival of Creativity held in Cannes, France.
Other celebrities include Dr. Dre, Ndamukong Suh, and John Varvatos. All have a “Detroit Connection.” USA Today describes the commercials:
Dre, a major figure in the West Coast rap scene, going back to his start in Los Angeles. His connection to Detroit? He played a big role in the career of Eminem. Dre is shown at work, not only in music, but with his premium headphones and iPod speakers business, Beats by Dr. Dre.
Suh, a Detroit Lions rookie who quickly became a star, returning to the family home in Portland, Ore., and getting hugs from his mom. The ad aims to show how far the 6-foot-4, 307-pound defense tackle has come in his 24 years.
Varvatos, a star of the fashion world for his hip, casual men’s designs, working late at night in his New York studio. Since he grew up in Detroit, the goal was to “show where you are going — without forgetting where you are from.”
What strikes me most about this entire advertising campaign is its distinct lack of advertising. None of the commercials discuss any technical features of the vehicles; in fact, the only one that even states the name of the car verbally is for the Town & Country after the humble tagline: “Quietly, convincingly, the best-selling minivan in America.” Other than that, none of the spoken material during any of the five commercials is devoted to the vehicles themselves; rather, they point to the deeper mantras and values of the City of Detroit and, consequently, its people. Chrysler is continually establishing that its values are intrinsically tied to those of the Detroit’s residents, and the values – hard work, determination, humility, respect – are what makes the product great.
“That’s who we are; that’s our story.” When I first heard these words in the middle of the Super Bowl ad – quietly and raptly attentive to the phrases rolling off the raspy, worked voice of Michigan native Kevin Yon – I got chills, and I teared up a little. While many critics have decried the ad for being overly sentimental and a false portrayal of Chrysler’s corporate status, I disagree. Remember that Chrysler, as has Detroit, went to the brink of bankruptcy, and has been clawing its way back ever since. It has rebounded well: leaned up and presenting well-designed vehicles, it has returned to the values that have kept Detroit in the map and continue to reshape it today.
A continuing series of videos highlights interviews with other Detroit natives who may not have the high-profiles of Eminem and Ndamukong Suh, but have the same drive and ambition bred in “the hottest fires that forge the strongest steel.” Warren police officer Rowland Bell speaks on dedication; figure skating two-time national champion and world champion hopeful Alissa Czisny talks about perserverence and hope; and Pastor Larry Callahan and his choir from Praise Tabernacle sing of the voice, soul, and music that runs “in the water” of Detroit. These extra stories, which have no real advertising momentum, speak to the deeper motives and values that Detroit has always held dear.
The opening line of this more recent Chrysler 200 ad says it in chorus with the motto of the City of Detroit: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus. The translation from Latin reads “We hope for better things; it will rise from the ashes.” Like a self-fulfilling prophecy, Chrysler, and The D, have begun to do just that.
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Insurance Planning Service is an independent insurance agency offering a full range of insurance products – auto – home – business – life – health – to individuals, families and businesses throughout southeastern Michigan. Call or visit us on the web today for a quote on your insurance!
Insurance Planning Service has been an integral part of the Metro Detroit community since 1957. Even though we are located in Livonia, we have clients all over the area, and love seeing revitalization efforts being made throughout the city of Detroit where it is needed the most.
That’s why we are starting a series called ”Our Detroit” that will chronicle new and exciting things that we see going on in and around Detroit and helping to move it in the right direction. Feel free to suggest topics for discussion, businesses to highlight, movements moving, or any generally good thing going on in the city of Detroit.
Detroit may have been through some rough times, but things are looking up and it is our responsibility, as friends, neighbors, and residents of the city, to help it on its path of recovery.
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Insurance Planning Service is an independent insurance agency offering a full range of insurance products – auto – home – business – life – health – to individuals, families and businesses throughout southeastern Michigan. Call or visit us on the web today for a quote on your insurance!
