Our Journey to Hobart, Indiana for the 2023 July 4th Parade

When we became the new custodians of the Michigan we promised the descendants of the Fleck family that we would try to get the car restored and then participate in the July 4th Parade in Hobart, Indiana. That became a reality in 2023. The drive out from California got off to a bit of a bumpy start the first day with 2 blowouts on our trailer within 35 miles each other near St. George, Utah. Fortunately, the Costco in St. George carried trailer tires. We ended up with 4 new tires. The original tires from 2013 had apparently rotted

Blowout #1 St. George UT

Blowout #2, 35 miles NE of St. George UT

On our way east we stopped in Denver to see Kelly Davis Tyson, her husband, Nick and their two kids, Sawyer and Greyson.

Craig, Janet, Kelly, Greyson, Nick & Sawyer. Arvada, CO June 20, 2023

Our next stop was to visit the Kahle family in Newkirk, Oklahoma. The Kahle family is now in their 3rd generation as farmers on the Correll Homestead just outside of town.

Dawn, Monte, Nancy & Eric Kahle, with Craig & Janet all inspecting the Michigan.

Our next visit was with John Fleck, in Chesterfield, Missouri. We visited John back in 2013, when we were trailering the Michigan from Hobart, Indiana to California. John is the grandson of Michael Fleck, the original owner of our Michigan. You can review our meeting with John on our journey west by viewing our blog post from October 26, 2013. https://wp.me/p45zSY-1N

John Fleck and his daughter, Jody got to ride in the restored Michigan around their neighborhood in Chesterfield, MO June 24, 2023

Both he and Jody had a great time touring their neighborhood in the old car he remembered playing in so many years ago.

On June 24, 2023, we arrived at the home of Sally & Clarence Davis in Hobart, Indiana. Hobart is where the Michael Fleck once lived; where the Michigan was garaged for most of its existence; and where we stored the car from 2011 to 2013.

We had been asked by the Hobart Chamber of Commerce to provide a brief story regarding the Michigan’s history in Hobart. We were very pleased to see that our car was to be the cover story for the 2023 Hobart Fourth of July brochure. And preparations for the big event were commenced.