It may have only been a couple of weeks ago, but the Detroit Autorama certainly seems like a world away now. Nonetheless, The D Lot presented by AMSOIL was a success for Make-A-Wish of Michigan.
The 20’ by 20’ product showcase stage and newly added display featured various products, all serving as prizes for a raffle. Just a $5 donation, going directly to Make-A-Wish, gave attendees a chance at winning the various products. In the end the team raised $11,083 and awarded over 45 automotive prizes ranging from neon clocks and welders to an automatic transmission and $2500 certificate towards a supercharger.
Chief Development Officer, Sara Thompson, Make-A-Wish Michigan, reported, “We are extremely grateful for the support of Pfaff Designs and The D Lot for choosing Make-A-Wish Michigan as their charity partner and raising thousands of dollars for our Michigan wish kids. It is events like this that inspire our volunteers and communities as we embrace Make-A-Wish’s mission of granting wishes. We look forward to a continued partnership with The D Lot. Together, we will impact wishes for years to come.”
The D Lot also featured a slate of vehicles on display. Out of the 9 cars and 1 motorcycle in the 7,000 sq. ft. display, every vehicle placed and 6 were awarded first place trophies. Three earned “Outstanding” awards. The first place awards went to the Creative Rod & Kustom built ’66 GMC Pickup, Dave Jolly’s ’39 Lincoln Zephyr, the Fast Company built ’59 Corvette, Jacob Griffin’s AMC Gremlin Rod, Geoff Kubick’s Scrapyard JK Jeep and Pfaff Designs’ 2020 Jeep Gladiator “Outkast.”
“In the end, the event and its purpose became quite clear very quickly when the parents of a Make-A-Wish child stopped by to thank us for our efforts,” said Murray Pfaff, developer and organizer of The D Lot. “Their son is doing much better and was coincidentally displaying a Jr. Dragster at Autorama. His mother began telling us their situation and the power of their granted wish, which was essentially to let their son be a normal kid for one weekend and experience many of the things kids take for granted in the course of everyday life. Long story short, it shook me to my core and had both the parents and me in a sob-fest as the tears rained down and they described the good it did. I had never felt so moved and re-assured of a purpose in my life.”
“An event like The D Lot could not happen without great friends, volunteers, clients, colleagues and incredible sponsors. I thank each and every one of you for what you do. I am so thankful for a fulfilling career, healthy family and involvement in a great industry,” Pfaff added. “As we face tomorrow’s unknowns, I approach it with cautious optimism and am already looking forward to next year’s Detroit Autorama. I imagine many of us will never take it for granted in quite the same way again. Let’s hope.”
Murray Pfaff is a custom vehicle designer based in Royal Oak, Michigan.
