Detroit Muscle

“Detroit was always made of wheels. Long before the Big Three and the nickname “Motor City”; before the auto factories and the freighters and the pink, chemical nights; before anyone had necked in a Thunderbird or spooned in a Model T; previous to the day a young Henry Ford knocked down his workshop wall because, in devising his “quadricycle”, he’d thought of everything but how to get the damn thing out; and nearly a century prior to the cold March night, in 1896, when Charles King tiller-steered his horseless carriage down St. Antoine, along Jefferson, and up Woodward Avenue (where the two-stroke engine promptly quit); way, way back, when the city was just a piece of stolen Indian land located on the strait from which it got its name, a fort fought over by the British and French until, wearing them out, it fell into the hands of the Americans; way back then, before cars and cloverleaves, Detroit was made of wheels.”

--Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides

I love this quote from Eugenides’ novel, Middlesex. It stands out to me not just because I think he is one of the best writers of our day, but because it’s about a city that means the world to me; a city that’s downtrodden with negative labels by those who know her least; a city filled with a rich history, a stark present, and an underestimated future; a city that produced cars and music; a city that is full of proud, hardworking, capable citizens. It’s the city I grew up in, the city I love: Detroit.

“Restore a car” was added to my list for one simple reason: I don’t like them. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I like that they get me from point A to point B faster than a bicycle; and I like that I can stay warm in thewinter and cool in the summer when I’m traveling the aforementioned course; and I appreciate that they are one of the coolest inventions created in human history.

But I don’t love them the way many people do. I don’t get awed by their shiny exteriors, oohed by their leather interiors, wowed by their little gadgets and buttons, or turned on by their ability to move so fast (I find the last one particularly terrifying, as a matter of fact). I have no idea what transmission fluid does; why I need to get an oil change every however-many-thousand-of miles; or how to change the battery. I can drive them. I can jump start them (at least I think I still can; I’ve done it once). I can refill the washer fluid (although, admittedly, I’ll wait as long as possible before replenishing it). And I can put air in their tires. But that’s about it. Seriously. Like that’s all.

So I decided that this year, I would get to know a car on a much more personal level—to strip it to its bare bones and rebuild, to learn how it’s made and how it works. Afterall, I grew up in the Motor City. At a minimum, I would understand cars. At a maximum, maybe by understanding them, I’d appreciate them and love them like so many of my friends. Was it a big task? Yes. I recognized that I would unlikely restore an entire car. But I’d be a part of it.

I had a trip planned back to the D in August and I decided to complete this resolution there—to restore a car in the city that started it all. I got a hold of my contacts—the few friends I know that restore cars or work in the automotive industry, and tried to meet up with some when I returned. Unfortunately, we couldn’t coordinate our schedules.

But the seed had been planted. I wanted to write not just about me fixing up a car, but about Detroit; this resolution became less about me, and more about her. The whole country has been hit by the bad economy; but Detroit has been particularly hit: rapid job loss, the bankruptcy of the automotive industry, and a mass exodus from the streets and homes of a once beautiful city have stripped her to her bones. And yet it is so loved. Detroiters will defend their city to the death.

But why? Why do we think Detroit is so great?

Here are some Detroit fun facts: it gave us cars and Motown music; it has some of the greatest sports’ teams in the country (Tigers, Pistons, Red Wings) and is the Sports’ Capital of the Midwest; it’s the only city in the United States to be North of Canada; it’s the birthplace of the traffic light; Detroit is the first city to pave a road; it is home of the first soda (Vernor’s); it gave us Francis Ford Coppola, Sonny Bono, Madonna, Dianna Ross, Stevie Wonder, Eminem, and Kid Rock—not all born in Detroit—but certainly Made in Detroit.

Outside of the tidbits about Detroit, it’s a great place because of the feeling you get as a Detroiter. It’s a mixture of feeling at home and feeling pride, knowing that the people from this city are loyal and committed to their town and that they’ll work as hard as they can for as long as it takes to keep her bright and beautiful, that you feel connected to strangers just by seeing the famous Tigers’ logo on their hat, that you say Hockeytown and everyone knows instantly you’re a Wing, that you come from a place that has given our country so much and has asked for little recognition in return. It’s a feeling that never leaves you, not even when you live all the way on the other side of the country.

All of this talk about Detroit doesn’t mean that I didn’t complete this resolution. Granted, I didn’t restore a car, but I did learn about them—which is the first step, right? I still hope to participate in a full restoration, but for now….here is what I learned...

I now know where the engine is located, that belts and hoses should be inspected for frays and tears each month, how to check my oil (remove the stick, wipe it, insert it back, remove it again--if it's low, replace it), how to replace the battery (sort of), how to check the shock absorbers.

Ahh…the power of the internet J

And I actually looked under the hood of my car and “located” all of the parts on my list.

I'm still open to helping someone restore a car, officially. So any takers, let me know. I will “addend” this entry. In the meanwhile, it was great to take some time out to talk about Detoit—it is not a scary, dirty place to live (despite what the media may tell you). It has its share of danger and problems, like any metro city in the country.

But mostly, it has history, architecture, a beautiful river, and a strong spirit. It’s a tough time in Detroit right now, but with that sad reality, is the realization that she could—and will—be restored. If there is anything I know about Detroiters it is that they are resilient and strong. And that they will rebuild their city. It will take work. But Detroiters are one of the hardest working people in the world—they can handle the work. It will take time. But the love that Detroiters have for their city makes them patient enough to take the time. It will take good government leadership (it’s had its share of corruption with Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick). And it will take hope, which may be lacking a bit right now in the streets of Detroit (but I think will take form again in time). Detroit will heal and flourish again. Of that I have no doubt.

Then maybe we can add “greatest rebirth of a great city” to the fun facts.

Thanks for stopping by. And as always, please be sure to follow.