While driving down Rochester Road today, one of those big car-hauler semi trucks passed in the other direction. It was loaded with what looked like sports cars tightly hidden under protective coverings. Often times in the Detroit area, you’ll see these top secret cars being driven with only the windows exposed to protect the secrecy of the design.
I remember one time when I was very young: My parents and I were heading South on I-75 near the new Chrysler Tech Center. From seemingly out of nowhere, 5 or 6 extremely hot Dodge Vipers (each in a different color) came roaring past us, weaving in and out from one another. The Dodge Viper was not available for sale yet…these were clearly some of the first off the line and some high-powered execs had the pleasure of taking them for their maiden voyage.
This moment on Rochester Road brought to light a very special phenomenon that most people in this country, or the world for that matter, never get to see. What I have taken for granted for years is really something special: Witnessing the birth of new generations of cars and trucks, leading technologies and inventions. This moment made me smile, to be at the center of vision and creativity realized…