I work for the General. (General Motors) This story was going around today in our email and was presented as a true story:
By Rod Hilts
Aug. 4, 2006
HEPWORTH, Ontario, Canada -- Almost 50 years ago, my father, Noel hilts, owned the hottest cars in Owen Sound.
His 1957 Chevy convertibles -- three that year -- were the talk of the town. The engines were specially chrome-plated by General Motors in Detroit and the cars were in every major parade in the city. Prime minister John Diefenbaker was in the passenger seat during the city's Centennial parade celebrations.
Dad left this world in May as the owner of one of the coolest cars on the road. It completed a lifetime of owning classic automobiles.
The story of how he got his 2006 Pontiac Solstice is a story scripted right out of a Hollywood movie. In fact, I made it into a movie as part of a funeral tribute to his life.
Dad was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer last fall. He faced his illness with courage and often refused to tell us just how much pain he was in. He took great pleasure in the small things in life.
His love of cars was an important segment.
Shortly after Christmas dad began to tell me how much he loved the look of Pontiac's new roadster. He adored the car's "distinctive lines." We looked over the model countless times on GM's website and I could tell how much he truly loved the Solstice.
Despite the illness that sapped his strength, we travelled to Owen Sound, about 160 kilometres northwest of Toronto, to look over a red one in the dealer's showroom. Unfortunately, I know it was almost impossible le to get one because of the huge public demand for the one-of-a-kind roadster. Because of him, I decided to take a long shot.
I e-mailed Larry Hudson, owner of the Listowel Pontiac dealership where I bought my first sports car 22 years ago. I told Larry about my dad's obsession with the Solstice and his subsequent battle with cancer.
A call came the next day from Hudson at his winter residence in Florida, telling me that GM execs had been told the story of my dad's illness and agreed to fast-track the manufacturing of a car for him. I was shocked. This past winter, the wait time to get a specially-ordered Solstice was averaging nine to 12 months.
Most dealers told me point-blank it would be impossible to get a 2006 model and encouraged me to order a 2007 model. But I knew without the car being fast-tracked, there would be no hope that dad would ever see it. Each day, he was growing more frail.
Larry surprisingly remembered the 1984 Fiero I ordered from him.
That told me a lot about the man behind the dealership. In its day, the Fiero did turn heads (before its recall because of fire hazard issues). It was only fitting that I was ordering another first-year Pontiac model, albeit in a far different league than the Fiero.
The wait for the Solstice was literally a race against time as dad's health was rapidly declining. He was bedridden and getting weaker. Weekly calls back to Dale Jamieson, Hudson's sales manager, tracked the progress of the roadster.
The Last stop of the manufacturing journey, was ironically, Lordstown, Ohio, where the Solstice was waiting for a transport to take it to Lewiston, New York. From there it was to be shipped directly to Listowel. True to their word, GM turned the car around in less than three months. It was a miracle complete with "Lord" as part of the story.
The night before the car arrived, dad was rushed to hospital. He was slipping away from us. It was only his determination to see his Solstice that gave him the kind of strength I have never seen before. He told his doctors early that morning he had to go home, "because his new car was arriving."
There is no doubt in my mind the Solstice dream kept my dad alive for several months.
The car arrived at the Listowel dealership on May 2. I had the opportunity to watch the fine team at Larry Hudson's add each accessory to the car. True to form, Dad ordered lots of extras, just as he had always done with all the convertibles from his past.
This was no ordinary factory Solstice -- it was loaded to the nines under the hood, right down to its underbelly with a special Cat-back stainless steel exhaust system and air deflector between the seats. It took seven hours for all the bells and whistles to be added. I videotaped every minute of it so I could enjoy it in the future.
With genuine, heart-warming salutes from Larry and his staff, I left the dealership and arrived at dad's place in Hepworth in record-breaking time. I knew not a moment could be wasted with dad's life so fragile.
He was waiting in the driveway, outfitted in a sporty red and white shirt complete with a red racing scarf. Unable to talk because of his illness, he pointed to the driver's seat and our journey was about to begin.
Behind the wheel of his car, dad's illness seemed to disappear. He managed a huge smile and toured his village as a very proud man.
Word spread quickly around town about Noel and his brand new car. The Solstice dream had been realized.
In a moment laced with irony, we came upon a rather slow-moving Miata on our way to Sauble Beach. The Miata just happens to be the main competitor to the Solstice.
Dad looked at me, almost like a kid looking for special permission, and darted around the tiny Japanese obstacle like it was going backwards. He paused while beside the car, smiled widely at the driver and shifted the car into fourth with perfect precision.
I can still see Dad's smile as he left the poor Miata driver wallowing in the roar of the Solstice exhaust.
Dad drove his car for three straight days with the top down. It was 20 C with clear, blue skies. It was a gift from above. On Friday, May 5, dad died in his sleep with a smile on his face. His Solstice dream had come true.
There wasn't a dry eye in the funeral home when the special movie I produced on his life and his final days with the Solstice was shown. It was a perfect ending to a good life when the last scene of the movie showed dad driving off into the sunset, with the roar of the Solstice the last sound to be heard.
In a final salute to dad after the service, I exited the cemetery with the top down, leaving him with a loud blast from the Solstice exhaust. Fourth gear never felt so good."
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**This story is true, as was picked up by a French newspaper, and printed in French on the Solstice Forum by se__glide of Linden, MI. It was also printed in a Toronto newspaper.
**We need something to lift our spirits in these harsh times. Some of you may have seen this story on the Solstice Forum or the Solstice GXP Owners Forum, however many of you new to this forum may be reading this for the first time.
"A Solstice Story" is indeed a classic for sure. Any who have not had the opportunity to read it should do so. This true story tells us, if nothing else, that the Solstice has the power to elevate our life situation, even when our health is failing! Yes, Mr Hilts, we salute you. And yes...Gods Speed!
As you guys and gals from Canada are aware, Noel Hilts is from Hepworth, Ontario Canada and this story has been circulated in those parts. As I mentioned it has also been published in other venues. I hope you new guys and gals in the forum enjoy the read. I know I did. However, I must warn you, most are touched by this true story and have tears in their eyes at the conclusion of the read. Please do yourself a favor and take it in. A must read for any Solstice owner, especially at Christmas. The day of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
GXPinKC
Ron
