By William Hall. Photos by author and Derek Klein.
Today’s departure from Kansas City was the warmest we’ve had, in more ways than one. We started with a cars and coffee meet, organized specifically for the crew of The Drive Home, our continuing cross-country trek from the LeMay-America’s Car Museum in Tacoma to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. I sent out a call to Hemmings Nation to show up in force to cheer us on and they responded in spades. Approximately 40 collector cars braved the brisk morning to show up at The Roasterie in downtown Kansas City for coffee and camaraderie. The venue could not have been better; suspended above the café is an actual DC-3 aircraft, and the inside coffee bar features a counter that resembles a huge polished engine nacelle. Caffeine nirvana for gearheads.
It’s hard to justify the argument that our ACM cars are too valuable to drive in winter when a guy is willing to show up in a pristine Tickford-bodied 1950 Aston Martin DB2/4. Kansas City is a huge car-loving town, and they are not afraid to use them. After all, cars are about experiences and creating memories. The best part about these gatherings is hearing the terrific stories that car ownership generates. Guys are wide-eyed and enthusiastic in the telling of their greatest barn finds. Cell phone pictures are shared as if they were photos of children or pets.