August 10, 2001

Dear Friends,

Have you ever walked up to a car and said "There's nothing special about that. It's just a tool - a means to get around." I had a friend say this to me recently, and I quickly disagreed.

"On the contrary," I replied earnestly! "Cars are more than a mode of transportation. They help to define who we are and what we have come to appreciate in ourselves and in the rich history of this country." And I can't stray from that thought after a week of mulling it over in my head.

I don't know how you feel about vintage cars, but I really think that a car tells a story. It's a brief snapshot of history in which we can see what the style of an era was. It's an excuse for us to learn about more than what was happening in Flint, MI design labs - it's an excuse to learn about what was happenning at the time our car was rolling off the assembly line. It's a statement of where engineering and technology had advanced to.

And most importantly, it's a reason for me to fellowship with the likes of you! Here - and at the shows and tours I get to attend.

If you have some thoughts on why a car is a tool or something more send me an email! I'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter and will gladly post them for others to read!

Happy Motoring!

James Burnes