History of Back to the Bricks

In the fall of 2004, Al Hatch and other car enthusiasts began to discuss the possibility of a car show in downtown Flint that would complement and coincide with the ‘Woodward Dream Cruise’ in Detroit. Together, they began to take steps that would make Back to the Bricks® a reality. When the committee approached Jerry Preston of the Flint Convention and Visitors Bureau about sponsoring the event, he arranged a meeting with the Small Business Owners of Downtown Flint to enlist their support for a bold new venture that promised to revitalize the city and attract thousands to the area to celebrate the automotive industry and its role in the history of Flint.

With the backing of these two entities, the committee convinced city leaders to grant the necessary permits to close approximately three blocks of the historic “red bricks” under the arches of Saginaw Street for the first Back to the Bricks®, scheduled for August 2005. Still, with no operating budget, and no major sponsors, the fledging organization faced a daunting task. Committee member, John Chapin, volunteered the artistic talents of his son Jason, to design the first giveaway, a t-shirt that would market the event to potential participants, and promotional flyers to advertise the “Bricks.” Doc Watson of the Hurst Shifter Corporation agreed to underwrite the cost of the t-shirts, and Jeff Giesert, owner of Economy Print in Downtown Flint, volunteered his services to produce the flyers. Stories in The Flint Journal and on ABC 12 News brought additional attention and generated enthusiasm for the project.

Few believed or could have envisioned the success of the new venture. Thanks to corporate sponsors like General Motors, Buick, ELGA Credit Union, and many others, Back to the Bricks® has grown from a one-day event with only a few hundred cars and spectators to a multi-day extravaganza. The fun begins with Promo Tours each June to various locales around the Great Lakes. During the week before the Bricks, Tune-Up Parties across Genesee County set the stage for the Main Event. Combined, these festive celebrations today attract half a million car enthusiasts and spectators from around the nation and the world.

In 2012, Back to the Bricks® unveiled the first of several commemorative statues of important automotive pioneers. Life-size bronze replicas of David Buick, William C. (Billy) Durant, Louis Chevrolet, and Albert Champion stand proudly in GM Automotive Pioneer Plaza in downtown Flint. Statues of Walter P. Chrysler, Charles W. Nash, and “Rosie the Riveter” welcome visitors in the baggage claim area at Bishop Airport. A statue of Otto P. Graff stands at the corner of Court and Saginaw Street near the site of his early dealership. A bronze replica of Charles Stewart Mott, a local philanthropist, graces the campus of the college that bears his name. The Statue Project plans to honor other historic figures from the automotive industry including A.B.C. Hardy.

In 2015, Back to the Bricks® launched a strategic planning initiative. That effort produced strategic goals and objectives that have guided the organization to the present day. It also produced two mission statements: “To produce family-friendly automotive events that reflect Flint, Michigan’s automotive heritage with a positive economic impact.” and “To educate the community about Flint, Michigan’s automotive heritage with the construction of early automotive pioneer statues and the display and preservation of supporting artifacts.” It also produced a vision statement “To educate the community about Flint, Michigan’s impact on the development of the global automotive industry.”

For the first time in 2016, Back to the Bricks® and Buick sponsored an indoor winter car show, Chrome and Ice™. The inaugural event scheduled at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center in Flint, Michigan, featured a “summertime” theme, complete with sand, palm trees, and entertainment by a California-based “beach boy” band.

Fast forward to 2024, the 20th Anniversary of Back to the Bricks®. The organization has produced annual Chrome and Ice™ car shows since 2016, Dust “Em Off classic car shows since 2021, Promo Tours since 2010, Road Rallies since 2020, Tune-Up Parties in local communities since 2010, Bricks Flicks since 2009, Rolling Cruises since 2007, Cruise “N” Concerts since 2009, and Main Events since 2005. In addition, Back to the Bricks® gives back to the community we love. Since 2018, Back to the Bricks® has provided $10,000 annually for youth scholarships for a total of $70,000 to date. Several events are planned to celebrate the organization’s 20th Anniversary.