Name: Michael Auchter
Place of Birth: Reading, PA
Age: 44
Occupation: Manufacturing Engineering Director
Employer: Inalfa Roof Systems, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Year, Make and Model of your first car/truck:
1976 Buick Regal Landau – sweet

What did you want to be when you grew up?

An engineer or a singer

How long have you worked in the auto industry?

18 YEARS

What do you drive now?

Audi A4, 1969 VW Karmann Ghia Convertible (my new baby!)

Are you out at work?

Yes

Was being gay ever an issue at any of your jobs?

Only once.

If so, how did you deal with it?

It was during the plant blood drive a few months after coming out to myself. The blood technician rattled through the questionairre as she prepared my arm. This was not a private venue. When I answered yes to the “Are you gay?” question, the room went silent, she froze – too shocked to tie the rubber hose. In that split second I did something that gave me regret: I started chuckling and said “just kidding”. It was necessary at the moment but I felt like crap for weeks after.

If you had one piece of advice to give to a gay person wanting to work in the auto industry, what would it be?

Pick your moments. Being in manufacturing all of my career, I’ve worked in some rough situations. You should not frivolously put your personal safety (physical or emotional) at risk over a job. It is better to be out on your terms, whatever your motivation. I came out late in life. I was able to keep my coming out under my control thanks to a supportive family and close friends. That was in 1990. When interviewing for my current job, I had the confidence to be up front. If you are qualified, confident and driven, your career will develop – gay or not.

Ok, here is the fun part; if you had $25,000 and had to buy a new car, what would it be and why?

New eh? Okay, Mini Cooper Convertible. They still turn heads and are tons of fun to drive.

Same question but bigger budget – $50,000:

Mercedes SLK350 Convertible in some garish color. A perfect car for those times when I want to be the pretentious center of attention.

If money was no object and you had to drive it every day:

Bentley Continental GT RHD. Comfort, power, bling with distinctive styling that just manages a smidgen of British reserve… Why RHD? Sets me apart from the MTV Cribs crowd and gives me a pretext to use my “Madonna English” accent.

What is your favorite car of all time and why?

1959 Ford Skyliner Retractable Hardtop – Subtle as Ethel Merman and an off-the-scale gee wiz factor.

If your car/truck could talk, what would it say about you?

“He takes great care of me but, I wish he would open it up more often! (Of course, an Audi would be saying this in German and/or Hungarian.?”