Hank Graff Chevrolet - Bay City: History

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Friday, March 22, 2019

Play Like a Girl: 9 Legendary Women in Sports History

BAY CITY, Mich. -- "My coach said I run like a girl. And I said, if he ran a little faster, he could too." - Mia Hamm, Professional Soccer Player

When it comes to the struggle for gender equality, breaking the glass ceiling in sports has been historically tough for women, and in many ways continues to be to this day. However, thanks to the nine incredibly talented, persistent, and downright fierce female athletes we're about to discuss in this post, that ceiling has a TON of huge cracks.

Let the games begin!

1. BILLIE JEAN KING

On September 20th, 1973, over 50 million people around the world tuned in to watch Billie Jean King take on Bobby Riggs - both ranked No. 1 in the world in their respective gender brackets at the time - in the sports showdown of the decade famously known as "The Battle of the Sexes". However, this wasn't just a simple tennis match with a corny title, but a major conflict in the fight for gender equality. Up until King straight-up schooled Riggs (not just winning the whole match, but every set decisively), it was widely believed that women had no place in sports due to sexist stereotypes. King effectively annihilated those notions, with the London Sunday Times calling her victory "the drop shot and volley heard around the world", and paved the way for later female athletes in every sport in addition to tennis.

2. ELISSA STEAMER

Despite being a sport that has historically celebrated diversity, skateboarding has long excluded women from that sentiment, often times mercilessly. That was until Elissa Steamer seemingly came out of nowhere in 1996, and upped the ante for female skaters in the modern Street-era with a truly legendary part in one of the most groundbreaking skate videos of all time: Toy Machine's Welcome to Hell. Even more impressive is that she did so while refusing that any focus be placed on her gender at all, and instead preferring to let her skill and ability as a skateboarder speak for itself. She soon made history by becoming the first woman to achieve "professional" status.

3. JANET GUTHRIE

While she wasn't the first woman to get behind the wheel of a stock car, Janet Guthrie was the first to compete in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series (known as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series today), a milestone for female racers. She didn't stop there, however, also becoming the first woman to run in the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500 - in the same year - and is only one of just two women to accomplish such a feat, the other being Danica Patrick. Before her racing career, Guthrie was an accomplished aerospace engineer, receiving her education at the University of Michigan!

4. TONI STONE

As the first female professional baseball player in a top-tier men's league, Toni Stone was a trailblazer for women of color in sports. Cutting her teeth in local children's leagues in her native St. Paul, Minnesota, Stone would go on to play semi-pro ball just 15-years-old with the Twin City Colored Giants, a men's traveling team. Upon moving to California in 1949, she joined the San Francisco Sea Lions and, despite having to endure sexist taunts from both fans and teammates alike, gained some much-needed exposure which kickstarted her career.

She capitalized on her newfound fame and joined the Indianapolis Clowns in 1953, during which she played with the likes of future Hall of Famers such as Willie Mays and Ernie Banks, and even got a hit off of the legendary pitcher, Satchel Paige.

5. MANON RHEAUME

In 1997, goalie Manon Rheaume signed to the Tampa Bay Lightning, becoming the first woman to ever sign an NHL contract. Prior to going pro, she was also the first woman to sign with a top junior division team, the Trios-Rivieres in her native Quebec. During her inaugural exhibition game with the Lightning, she saved seven of the nine shots attempted on her. Shortly after her second game, Rheaume signed with the Tampa Bay's IHL affiliate, the Atlanta Knights, and played on various other teams until her retirement in 1997. Aside from her professional career, she also scored two gold medals in the women's IIHF championships, and silver in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano.

6. CHYNA

Billed as the "Ninth Wonder of the World" (her colleague Big Show was the eighth), Chyna's impact on the fiercely masculine sport of professional wrestling in undeniable. She lifted the Intercontinental Championship belt twice during her career, was the first woman to compete in the chaotic Royal Rumble, and the first woman to be named a No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship. After taking on the likes of legends Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero, she destroyed all the other Divas who dared challenge her at WrestleMania XVII, clinching the Women's Championship and maintaining her title until her retirement in 2001.

7. SERENA WILLIAMS

The Saginaw-born Serena Williams is considered throughout the sports world to be the best tennis player of all time, achieving the rank of No. 1 by the Women's Tennis Association a total of six times throughout her career to date. She comes by it honestly, holding a whopping 94 WTA career titles and 22 Grand Slam titles; as well as the distinction of being the only tennis player - of either gender - to have won singles titles at least six times in 3/4 Grand Slam tournaments. To top it all off, Williams holds more Grand Slam victories than anyone else in the Open era, having surpassed Roger Federer with her 308th win in 2016.

8. FLORENCE GRIFFITH-JOYNER

Regarded by many as the First Lady of American Athletics, Florence Griffith-Joyner (aka "Flo-Jo") dominated the realm of track and field, specifically during the Olympics between 1984 and 1996. She is considered to be the fastest woman of all-time, having set the world record for the 100m and 200m dashes, and still holding it to this day now over two decades after her tragically sudden passing. In addition to her incredible racing ability, Flo-Jo had a one-of-a-kind charisma and style (most notably her 5-inch long, decorated nails and eye-catching racing suits) that made her a media darling.

9. MIA HAMM

Leading Team USA to a historic win in 1999. Two-time Olympic gold medalist. Two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion. The face of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) - the first of its kind in the United States. The mighty Mia Hamm enjoys a long list of accolades that have made her a certified icon and trailblazer for women in the sports world. Most notably young girls and aspiring athletes in the 1990s, who saw Hamm's unapologetically strong physique and hard-playing style, that sent the message that they too could achieve the same level of dominant greatness.

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

National Women's History Month: 5 Women Who Changed the World

BAY CITY, Mich. -- March is National Women's History Month, and we at Graff Bay City are celebrating by giving you a weekly dose of girl power all month long! To kick it all off, here are 5 extraordinary women who changed the world!

1. MARGARET HAMILTON

While Neil Armstrong called the successful Apollo 11 mission "one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind" as he took the first human steps on the moon; it was actually a woman who made it possible for he and co-pilot Buzz Aldrin to land safely on its surface. In this famous photo, Margaret Hamilton stands next to the tower of ultra-meticulous code she wrote for the historic lunar lander's onboard flight computer; which included ingenious contingency protocols that both brought system errors to attention and enabled the software to compensate for them to avoid catastrophe. Her groundbreaking work earned her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Not only did Margaret Hamilton send humanity to the stars, but she also established the entire field of software engineering (even coming up with the name). All the apps you use on your phone, the intricate systems within your vehicle, and any smart devices you might have at home exist today thanks to her!

2. FEBB BURN

A mother of four and manager of a farm in Mouse Creek, Tennessee, Febb Burn would go down in history as clinching a historic win for feminism. On August 18th, 1920, her son Harry, also a representative of the Tennessee General Assembly, was about to vote on the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. If passed, women would be given the right to participate in all local and national elections. If vetoed, it would be years before the subject was ever brought up again. At the time, the country was in a stalemate on the issue, and the vote from Tennessee would be the tie-breaker.

While she knew that the state Senate would vote in favor, Febb knew that the House would be close and that Harry's vote would be the one to tip the scales. Before seeing him off to his duty, she sat her 24-year-old son down on her porch and passed him a sweet, motherly note urging him to "be a good boy" and vote in favor of women's suffrage. When the time came to vote, holding his mama's letter in his pocket, Harry voted "aye" so quickly and unexpectedly that it shook everyone in the room. When confronted about his decision by those in opposition, he simply replied: "a mother's advice is always safest for a boy to follow, and my mother wanted me to vote for ratification."

3. CLARA BARTON

As the Civil War ravaged the United States, Clara Barton, like many other women at the time, did her part to help by collecting bandages and other much-needed supplies to send to Union troops out in the field. However, she felt that there was still more she could do, so she quit her job as a typist and made way for the frontlines. Throughout the conflict, Barton was present at every major battle in Maryland, South Carolina, and Virginia; tending to the wounded and earning the nickname "Angel of the Battlefield". After the war, she helped to locate missing soldiers, mark graves and testified before Congress about her wartime experiences.

She would then travel to Europe, where she discovered the Switzerland-based Red Cross, which called for international agreements to protect those sick and wounded during wartime, as well as for the formation of societies at the national level to provide voluntarily aid on a neutral basis. When she returned stateside, she established the American Red Cross in 1881, and since then the organization continues to serve people both in the United States and internationally with disaster relief, lifesaving blood drives, aid for military families, and first aid training and certification.

4. HARRIET TUBMAN

Known as "the Moses of her people", Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland, escaped, and then helped others gain their freedom as a "conductor" of the Underground Railroad; never being caught and never losing one of the hundreds of "passengers" placed in her charge. Her time with the Underground Railroad also gave her intimate knowledge of the highways and byways of South, which made her indispensable to the Union army as a spy; infiltrating the Confederacy and gathering intelligence about troop placements and supply lines from the local enslaved population - all while having a $40,000 bounty on her head.

After the war, Tubman continued her legacy of activism, raising funds to help newly freed people find homes and jobs as well as joining Elizbeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony in their fight for women's suffrage.

5. ROSA PARKS

While the city ordinance on public transportation in 1950s Montgomery, Alabama stipulated on paper that no one would be required to give up their seat and stand if no others were available, it was not so in real practice, particularly for black passengers. The section reserved for them towards the back was also subject to change without warning in order to make room for white passengers, which is exactly what the driver on Rosa Parks' bus did when he moved the "Colored" sign directly behind the row in which she sat and demanded that she give up her seat for a white man. She refused, indirectly setting in motion the chain of events that would lead to some of the most significant civil rights legislation in American history.

While the humble Parks tried to play down her role in the fight for civil rights, the grace, and dignity with which she campaigned made her one of the most respected figures in the movement; as well as an international icon of resistance against racial segregation.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

5 African-Americans Who Changed the Automotive Industry

BAY CITY, Mich. -- Could you imagine how chaotic driving would be without turn signals or traffic lights? Neither can we! The automotive industry and the way we drive today would be incredibly different had it not been for the innovative work of the many African-American inventors and engineers throughout history.

This Black History Month, we at Graff Bay City would like to share with you their stories, and their contributions to American automotive innovation!

1. C.R. PATTERSON

Born into slavery in West Virginia in 1833 and later escaping to Ohio in 1862, C.R. Patterson is credited with both founding the first and only African-American owned automobile company, as well as building cars in the United States even before Henry Ford!

Upon his arrival in Greenfield, Ohio, Patterson found work as a blacksmith and partnered with a local-carriage builder by the name of J.P. Lowe. When Lowe died in 1883, C.R. took over their business and renamed it the "C.R. Patterson & Sons Company", which offered 28 kinds of horse-drawn vehicles and employed over a dozen workers. He also experimented with manufacturing gas-powered "horseless carriages" during this time - putting him 10 years ahead of the development of the Ford Quadricycle (Henry's first successful self-propelled vehicle).

When Patterson died in 1910, his son Frederick carried on his father's work, shifting the focus of the company completely to automobiles. The first official offering named the "Patterson-Greenfield" rolled off the line in 1915, which sold for $850 and by many accounts was considered superior to the Ford Model T released seven years prior. Unfortunately, the Patterson Company was unable to compete with Ford's assembly line and was soon overtaken. C.R. Patterson's contributions to automotive innovation, however, are certainly not forgotten.

2. ED WELBURN

Spending a great deal of his childhood in his father's body shop, Ed Welburn knew from the very beginning that he wanted to pursue a career in the auto industry. Inspired by a visit to the 1960 Philadelphia Auto Show at the tender age of ten, he found his calling in the area of design and was hired in at General Motors eleven years later becoming the first African-American car designer.

During his nearly 50-year tenure, Welburn has overseen the design of numerous vehicles including the 2010 Buick Lacrosse, 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Malibu, Cadillac CTS, and Buick Enclave.

3. GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER

Most people know George Washington Carver as being the man behind peanut butter, but his contributions to science and technology extend far beyond the salty-sweet spread - particularly in the automotive industry. A world-famous botanist in his day, Carver's research into sustainable, plant-based alternatives for industrial products caught the eye of none other than Henry Ford. Through their close collaboration, the two developed a substitute rubber compound for tires using goldenrod (a plant weed) and also helped to further research into alternative bio-fuels like ethanol.

4. RICHARD SPIKES

Born in San Francisco in 1884, not much is known about Richard Spikes as a person. Although, his impact on the automotive industry is legendary, as we have him to thank for many innovations that are now the standard in our everyday lives. These include the turn signal, automatic car wash, automatic gear shifter, and a safety brake system used on buses and trucks nationwide.

5. GARRETT MORGAN

Back in the early 1920s, traffic lights only had two colors: green and red. On top of that, they were notoriously unpredictable, suddenly changing and only giving drivers virtually no time to react, resulting in a ton of accidents. That was until Garrett Morgan, sitting in traffic behind a particularly nasty collision, had an idea: an interim "warning" signal that let drivers know that they should be prepared to clear the intersection before crossing traffic enters it. In 1924, he patented the three-position traffic light that we use today, equipped with that yellow "warning" signal, effectively making roads across the United States that much safer.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

10 Fall Traditions and the Histories Behind Them

BAY CITY, Mich. -- With Fall just around the corner, many of us here in the Mitten will no doubt be partaking in some seasonal activities! Things like bobbing for apples, pumpkin carving, and more have been around for ages - but have you ever wondered where they came from?

Graff Bay City is here to share with you the interesting histories behind some long-standing Fall traditions!

1. BOBBING FOR APPLES

You know the drill. Dunk your head into a bucket full of water and apples, hands behind your back, and try to grab one of them in your teeth. We're sure you've been to a Halloween party or two where this fun Fall game went on, but its origins are more related to romance than spookiness.

Bobbing for apples began in Britain as a courting ritual, during which a group of young girls would each the carve the name of their crush into an apple and were given three tries to catch it as it floated in a bucket of water. Snagging their apple on the first try meant "happily ever after", the second try meant a short fling would ensue, and the third try meant they would never marry (a little harsh, we think). Though it lost popularity with the British in the 1800s, it was revived in the American colonies as a party game during the harvest season rather than an archaic version of Love Connection.

2. CARVING PUMPKINS

As a kid, we bet one of the things you looked forward to the most when Fall rolled around was carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns. This tradition most popular around Halloween has its roots in the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, which dates back as far as the 1500s. Having been locked out of Heaven for being so mean to others in life as well as Hell due to a deal with the Devil, Stingy Jack was doomed to roam alone forever in the darkness of purgatory. To light his way, he hollowed out a turnip he kept in his pocket into a lantern and filled it with an ember the Devil had given him out of pity. Thus he became "Jack of the Lantern".

For years, kids in Ireland would carve turnips with their parents around Halloween, and those who emigrated to America took the tradition with them. It was here that they started using pumpkins, as they discovered that they were bigger and easier to carve.

3. CORNUCOPIA

Usually found on Thanksgiving tables as a centerpiece, the cornucopia originates from Greek mythology and Amalthea, the foster mother of Zeus who is closely associated with goats, and sometimes depicted as a goat. The story goes that Amalthea accidentally broke off one of her horns, and Zeus felt so bad that he worked his god-magic on the horn making it forever provide for her everything she wanted and needed. This is why the cornucopia is shaped like a horn and has long symbolized abundance and a plentiful harvest.

4. HAUNTED ATTRACTIONS

For many people, Halloween isn't just a day, it's a month-long celebration. In the days counting down to the spooky Fall holiday, part of that celebration involves getting the bejeezus scared out of them at a haunted house or several. The idea of an attraction designed specifically for scares has its roots in 19th century London when Madame Tussaud exhibited incredibly lifelike wax figures getting beheaded by a guillotine. However, it wasn't until Disneyland unveiled their famous Haunted Mansion ride in 1969 that haunted attractions became the mainstream phenomenon and seasonal essential that they are today.

5. BLACK FRIDAY

Officially the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday is a holiday in and of itself. But why do we brave the department stores every year to participate in this retail version of the Hunger Games? In the 1950s, the Philadelphia police force used the term to describe the day after Thanksgiving, when hordes of rowdy fans would show up in town for the annual Army-Navy football game held the following Saturday. Local retailers then decided to capitalize on this surge of potential customers by offering huge discounts on their merchandise, originally calling it "Big Friday", but the police term ended up being the one that stuck. By the 1980s, the day of sales became a nationwide occurrence.

6. MOVEMBER

Throughout the month of November, men all over the world grow out their facial hair in support of men's health. But where did "Movember" come from? In 1999, a group of guys in Australia came up with the idea to raise money for charity by growing out their mustaches for a whole month, and many other organizations had adopted the practice by 2003. Since then, the Movember Foundation has raised over $710 million to combat and raise awareness about health issues affecting men like testicular cancer, prostate cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention.

7. ELECTION DAY

Ever wonder why Election Day is held in the Fall? Back when Congress designated an official Election Day in 1845, much of America was still largely agricultural and many people had to travel up to a day to reach their nearest voting precinct. In order to make sure farmers had enough time to cast their ballot, a two-day window had to be kept open, but they had to keep a couple things in mind. Sundays were for church, Wednesdays were when many farmers would go to market - so they settled on Tuesday. As for why it's in November, the month fell after the harvest and came before the snow.

8. DAY OF THE DEAD

Beginning on Halloween and running through November 2nd, the Day of the Dead (or "Dia de Los Muertos") is an annual Mexican tradition, originating from the country's indigenous tribes, that honors those who've passed on. Aspects of the tradition include leaving things that the deceased enjoyed in life, such as their favorite possessions and even food, on their grave. Another practice is leaving a trail of marigolds, a flower associated with death in Mexico, from the cemetery to the front door of the family home, as it is believed that the bright color and strong scent helps to guide the spirits of the dead back to their loved ones. The celebration is not exclusive to family members, however, as leftover food, as well as blankets and pillows, are left outside for spirits who may not have anyone to mourn them.

9. TRICK-OR-TREATING

When you think of Fall, you think of Halloween. When you think of Halloween, you think of trick-or-treating! This tradition originates from the Celtic practice of celebrating the end of the year by dressing up as evil spirits. The Celts believed that the realms of the living and the dead overlapped as the transition to the new year began, and thus also left the door to our world open to demons. Disguising oneself as one of these baddies from the underworld meant that you would be protected, which is why we dress up as all things spooky on this day.

As for why we go door to door asking for candy, that has its roots in the time when the Catholic Church converted the Celtic celebration from "Halloween" to "All Hallows Eve", and ordered that participants dress up as saints and angels rather than demons. Children would then go door to door asking for food or money in exchange for songs or prayers in the name of the dead, a practice called "souling". Over the years since then, both traditions have melded into what we now call "trick-or-treating".

10. MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE

Possibly one of the biggest events of the season, the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade actually started out as the Christmas Parade and was initially devised to build hype for the retailer's flagship store in Manhattan, which took up an entire block and was the self-proclaimed "World's Largest Store". The parade was such a hit, however, that they decided to host it every year, switching it to Thanksgiving Day in 1927.

What's your favorite Fall tradition? Feel free to share it with us! From all of us at Graff Bay City, we hope you have a spectacular season!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

New Performance Vehicles – Same Chevy Small-Block Engine

There have been many drastic changes to the automobile in the more than 100 years they have been around. One element in the automotive world that has stood the test of time is the Chevrolet small-block engine. The Chevy small-block was first introduced in 1955 and continues to be produced over 55 years later. We wanted to share an article from Corvette Online called, “Mighty Chevy Small-Block, A Survivor of More Than 50 Years,” with our readers, which shares the history of Chevrolet’s small-block.

The Chevy small-block engine is one of the most widely known and used engines across the board when it comes to performance cars, racers and even family sedans. But did you know that the small-block has truly stood the test of time? First introduced to the Chevy lineup in 1955, the small V8 engine continues to be produced today, and as we found out from The Globe and Mail, the history behind the iconic engine is quite an extensive one.

The Chevrolet Small-Block Engine

Although Chevrolet created their first V8, a 55-horsepower 288ci. engine, of which only 3,000 were made, in 1917, the Chevy small-block didn’t really get its start until four decades later. In wasn’t until 1952 with the arrival of Ed Cole as Chevy’s chief engineer that the iconic engine came to be.

Fresh from supervising the creation of Cadillac’s new V8 engine, Cole pulled the plug on Chevrolet’s new V8 design after seeing the plans. Instead of working with what Chevy already had in the works, Cole assembled a team of GM engineers to create his vision of a lightweight, compact and powerful V8 engine. The result was the overhead valve V8 introduced in the 1955 Chevys and still produced today for marine and industrial use, as well as in “crate engine” varieties .

Cole and the GM engineering dream team were able to create an engine block at the heart of the V8 that was more compact than any other engine. Thanks to new casting techniques, the new engine was strong but small, measuring only 21.75 inches long and nine inches tall. The engine was also more cost-effective to make and weighed less than other engines at just 531 pounds (the Chevy “Stovebolt” six engine weighed 41 pounds more than the fully dressed newly-created V8 at the time).

The newly-designed V8 featured a new oil metering system that used hollow pushrods and lubricated new lightweight stamped steel rocker arms. These rocker arms not only allowed the engine to achieve high RPMs, they were also cheap to make. To help the engine to reach high RPM without damaging the engine, the V8 had wedge combustion chambers, as well as a forged steel crank and connecting rods. The engine also came equipped with a one-piece intake casting complete with a cooling water outlet, distributor mount, oil filter, exhaust heat riser, and lifter valley covers.

The compact engine block eventually became known as the small-block after the “big-block” engine was introduced in 1958, giving any engine built on the compact platform the Chevy small-block nickname.

The Chevy small-block was featured in classic muscle cars...

The first small-block V8 offered in the ‘55 Chevys had a displacement of 265ci. This engine was capable of producing 162hp. Compare this to the first Corvette Stovebolt engines that produced only 150hp, and there is a noticeable difference.

In 1957, the small-block grew to 283ci. and was one of the first engines to produce over one horsepower per cubic inch with the help of Rochester fuel injection. The 283ci. engine also won the NASCAR championship in 1957, but was banned the following year.

Many small-block varieties followed, including the 327ci. V8 in 1962, the 302ci. and 350ci. V8s used in Trans Am racing, the 307ci. and 400ci. V8s in 1970, a 305ci. in 1976, and a 110-horsepower 265ci. V8 produced shortly in the mid 1970s. The small 265ci. engine had the lowest horsepower rating of all the small-blocks.

... And in today's performance vehicles

The small-block is still being produced today in Mexico, Canada and the United States. With its fourth-generation engines, Chevy recently celebrated their one-millionth small-block build with the most powerful variety to date, the 638-horsepower LS9 V8.

Plans for a fifth-generation small-block engine are currently in the works for Chevrolet and we look forward to seeing just how powerful the beloved small-block platform can get.

If you have any questions about the latest Chevy small-block engine or which of our vehicles have them, feel free to Contact Us here and we’ll be happy to field all of your questions.

Graff Chevrolet is proud to serve the auto dealership needs of cities such as Bay City, Midland, Saginaw, Mount Pleasant, Essexville, Pinconning, Coleman, Sanford, Carrollton, Frankenmuth, St. Charles, Birch Run, and Zilwaukee. We provide exceptional customer service, a warm and friendly environment, auto financing options to fit your budget, and an inventory of great new and used cars, trucks, SUV’s, and crossovers. Our ASE certified technicians at the Graff Chevrolet Service Center service and repair all makes and models both foreign and domestic. Call us at (989) 684-4411 or stop in at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI, 48706 and check out our great GM inventory selection.

Visit our website at www.graffbaycity.com

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