LEGACY SOCIETY MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
Roger and Virginia Susick

Photo Roger and Virginia Susick and their cars
Roger and Virginia Susick

My love affair with the automobile can be traced back to my childhood. It started at an early age as a kid growing up in Detroit. I can still remember being a teenager with my new 1966 Corvette cruising down Woodward Avenue, the road that would later become the main drag for the annual Detroit Dream Cruise. I thought life couldn’t get any better, but I was wrong. In 1969, I met my wife Virginia, who also had an interest in cars.

While many things have changed in our lives through the years, one thing that has stayed the same is our passion for our cars. They seem to be at the center of so many of our conversations—from the events we attend through Club Auto to our own get togethers with friends. Our cars have played a big part in our lives.

So when it came to planning our estate, we chose to support America’s Automotive Trust because we feel strongly about the importance of promoting the history of the automobile. The RPM Foundation offers this great educational opportunity to provide for the restoration and preservation of the automobile and we want it to thrive for generations to come.

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Planned Giving

Ensuring America's Automotive History is Preserved

1965 Lotus F2There are many factors that show America's automotive history is at risk:

  • Our education system emphasizes college-prep and focuses less on the applied arts, crafts and trades. Meaning less young adults are entering the workforce in the areas of restoration and preservation of vintage vehicles, including motorcycles, boats and planes.
  • Car services are becoming more popular and are competing with traditional car ownership.
  • Technological advances have made modern cars more reliable and longer lasting – reducing the need for local repair shops. Hyper-sophisticated safety and environmental requirements make it difficult for a local mechanic to maintain or repair vehicles.
  • Government sponsored museums are dedicated to art, technology, history, air and space, but there is no Smithsonian for the automobile. Many traditional car museums have a limited purpose beyond showcasing the collections of its founders. They're often static in nature, have limited cultural reference and unfortunately, often collapse with the death of their founders with collections sold and dispersed.
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