Woodward Dreams Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Writers have always been known to thrive for the story left unwritten and yet this man, who isn’t even a writer, or at least never intended to be, seems to have left no stone unturned. That is, no word unwritten.

Robert Genat, a true diehard specializing in aviation, military, transportation, automobile and law enforcement subjects, is the author and photographer of 26 books, published by MotorBooks International, including three others he co-authored with his wife. In addition, he has written several books published by different publishing houses, two of which he contributed writing or photographs to. Not to mention, he’s also the owner of Robert Genat Photography. Wow, right? We know!

And just when the world may have thought he was done, he puts out his latest piece of genius work titled Woodward Avenue – a chronicle of the glory days of street racing on Detroit’s most famous unofficial drag strip. 

At first, the idea for the book was offered to another author, which left Genat truly broken hearted. After all, he grew up in this city, knows the history and burns with an eternal love for cars that all Detroiters believe their hearts can truly claim. Oddly enough, the other author gave up before he even started, which left Genat with an opportunity that he snatched up the first chance he got. 

“Everybody has a good story on Woodward,” said Genat. “You can’t run into anybody my age (ranging from 1955-1970) that wasn’t somehow exposed to cars and street racing.” Genat graduated in 63’ and believes that only those born in his own time know Woodward for what it truly was.

Simply put, people back then knew what it was like to ride around the streets of Detroit and love it, work on and talk about cars with friends and just hang out and pride themselves on the beautiful cars they worked on together. Kids nowadays don’t do that kind of stuff as much anymore. Oh, believe me, it still happens, but times have changed.

“Back then, there wasn’t a Facebook,” he said. “Our Facebook was going to the local A&W or Big Boy and hanging out with your friends and talking about cars.”

So in other words, Genat has been around the block and in this book, he’s able to show it and simultaneously relive his past a little. Ahhh, to be young again!

Each chapter is unique in its own way and dedicated to Detroit, cars, street racing, history, etc. and Genat lays it all out there for us. There’s a chapter called ‘The Fine Art of Racing on Woodward’, which talks about how people street raced, what took place during a street race, the actions taken and the sort of things that occurred.

‘Cruising the Woodward Drive-Ins’ was another superb chapter where he recounted driving all along Woodward, starting at one end and traveling north to the other, where he visited a variety of drive-ins along the way. It is here where he speaks of the people that hung out at these establishments, the things people said, did, and, of course, why specific drive-ins were important. It literally covers everything. 

“It really was like a drive-in etiquette,” he said. “It talks about what you did or didn’t do to look cool. Everybody had to look cool.”

And before finishing up, before he “cheated his readers”, which he swore he would never do, he took an extra year before finalizing the book so that he could gather every last material needed to make the final product perfect. As a result, he came across a variety of memorable photographs and aspects alike that make Woodward Avenue a truly timeless piece. 

“I’m really thrilled about this book. This is something I think that, even though it’s based in Detroit, relates to anyone, anywhere across the nation.” 

While Genat lives in Encinitas, California today, he has never forgotten his roots in the Motor City, or the legendary Woodward, which he refers to as “The Taj Mahal” of street racing. Take it from a man who has been there, done that and loved every second of the danger – Robert Genat’s Woodward Avenue is nothing short of an automotive masterpiece. 

You can order copies of Woodward Avenue on the publishers website at cartechbooks.com or Amazon online. Or, you can snag the chance to get a book, an autograph and maybe even a talk when Genat visits the following places in Detroit while in town for the Woodward Dream Cruise:

Wednesday, August 18th – Chrysler Museum for their cruise from 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. 

Friday, August 20th – Autozone in Birmingham from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. and Borders from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. 

Saturday, August 21nd – Harold Sullivan’s booth in Northwood

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