$31.3M plan to prep Fisher Body site approved, aftermarket open-house for GR Corolla, F1 royalty bound for Goodwood Revival

$31.3M plan to raze, prep Fisher Body site approved by Detroit City Council

Intake: Plans to rehabilitate former Fisher Body Plant 21 for mixed-use development is moving forward. Earlier this week, the Detroit City Council unanimously approved a brownfield plan for the proposed project, which will include 433 residential units at the former plant, which has been vacant since the 1990s. According to the Detroit News, developer Fisher 21 Lofts LLC requested $24.8 million in tax increment financing for the demolition and environmental remediation of the site, which is located north of downtown near the intersection of I-75 and I-94. The overall value of the plan is $31.3 million, which includes local brownfield costs. The EPA defines a “brownfield site” as “real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.” The Fisher 21 development team, led by Richard Hosey and Greg Jackson, plans to invest $134 million in the project. Construction is expected to begin April 2023.

Exhaust: After checking out the site for ourselves—it’s a mess—we applaud Hosey and Jackson’s optimism and their vision of what could be. With that said, the brownfield plan is just one step in a long journey, and we imagine that rehabbing a historic building is a lot like restoring a classic car—the deeper you dig, the more surprises you uncover. Here’s hoping all goes as planned, for the sake of the neighborhood and Detroit.

Win a spot on the 2023 Mille Miglia with a “mini miglia” in D.C.

Intake: If you want to take part in the legendary Mille Miglia road rally next year, then a special Warm Up event this fall could help get you to Italy. Taking place over six days in October, the 1000 Miglia Warm Up has been designed to help American crews train and test for the 1000-mile run from Rome to Brescia and back. Starting out at Summit Point entrants will then take part in a 500-mile CoppaUSA road rally around Middleburg, Virginia, before finishing at the Italian embassy in Washington D.C. three days later. Just like the Mille Miglia, this regularity event is divided into different categories for cars of the original Mille Miglia Era between 1927 and 1957, and those that followed right up until the present day. Crews will be split into experienced veterans and novices, and the victors and runners-up in each class will win the right to enter the 2023 Mille Miglia itself or the parallel Mille Miglia Experience for more modern cars.

Exhaust: It may not be a full flat-out race like it used to be but the Mille Miglia is still one of the most amazing classic events on the calendar, with competitors telling stories of speedy police escorts and spectacular Italian scenery on “the most beautiful race in the world.” —Nik Berg

Toyota encourages aftermarket to hot-rod its hot-rodded Corolla

Intake: SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, is hosting an open house of sorts. Not for a facility, but for the upcoming Toyota GR Corolla. The manually shifted, turbocharged, all-wheel-drive monster with a familiar name is participating in one of SEMA’s automotive measuring sessions, in which a vehicle is offered up to aftermarket vendors so they may measure, scan or test-fit products to see if their entrepreneurial endeavors have a chance at (after)market success. The event will be held September 13–14 and is by appointment only. Attendees are advised to put their game faces on, as there’s a time limit for how long a company can noodle about with the GR Corolla.

Exhaust: Seeing Toyota open-source one of the most anticipated new vehicles on the market is beyond heartwarming. After years of in-house customizations available for would-be Scion buyers that left the market flat, we can only hope this is a mutually beneficial partnership for both sides of the production coin. Other Toyotas would benefit from such open sourcing, especially considering the recent egg-on-face customer testimonial from a GR86 owner. One can only hope that the automotive aftermarket can only improve the ownership experience for high-performance Toyota owners. If it worked for the Fox-body Mustang some 35 odd years ago… — Sajeev Mehta

Stewart, Hill, Button: Racing royalty bound for 2022 Goodwood Revival

Intake: The 2022 Goodwood Revival will see an unprecedented field of champions on two and four wheels compete against each other. Representing Formula 1 are 12 drivers, including Sir Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill and Jenson Button who have five drivers’ titles between them. No less than 15 Le Mans winners are entered, six World Endurance champions, five British Touring Car champions, three Isle of Man TT winners and five IndyCar drivers with ten championships won. Racing families are also represented by father and son Martin and Alex Brundle, and brothers Marino and Dario Franchitti. To find out who’s the champion of champions head to Goodwood on September 16-18. The entire event will also be streamed on Goodwood’s YouTube channel.

Exhaust: It’s the jewel in the crown of classic motorsports in great Britain and this year the Goodwood Revival will be packed with racing royalty. The parking lot alone is worth the visit and we’ll be there to report on the highlights if you can’t make it across the pond. —NB