ST. IGNACE, Mich. – The man who was the 25 millionth vehicle to cross the Mackinac Bridge returned 50 years later to celebrate.
On May 21, 1974, Bob Kuchar, a 24-year-old General Motors employee on vacation, crossed the Mackinac Bridge on his 1972 Suzuki 250 motorcycle. He became the 25 millionth vehicle to cross the bridge since it opened in 1957.
Kuchar was living in the Saginaw area at the time and had planned a trip all the way around Lake Michigan. He hadn’t expected to be surprised at the Mackinac Bridge with a photo op with MBA Executive Secretary Lawrence Rubin and a prize package worth $500 donated by Straits-area businesses.
After his trip around the lake, Kuchar stopped in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. An approaching storm made him cancel the rest of his trip and he crossed the lake on the ferry to Ludington. When he got him, his parents had newspapers on the kitchen table with articles about his historic crossing.
On May 23, 2024, Kuchar crossed the Mackinac Bridge again. This time he crossed in his 2017 Ford F-150 to mark the 50th anniversary of that momentous crossing.
“It was an experience for a 24-year-old, and it was just a cool feeling to be the 25 millionth across,” he said. “I couldn’t have been more welcomed by the Bridge Authority representatives from St. Ignace and Mackinaw City.”
Kuchar is now 74 years old. He planned to cross the bridge on his 2019 Husqvarna 350 FE dual-sport motorcycle, but decided to carry it across in his truck due to gusty winds.
“To have my name associated with the iconic Mighty Mac, I’m no less humbled as I again was welcomed to visit with you all,” Kuchar said. “Some family and friends offered regrets that I didn’t get another picture of me on my cycle paying the toll, but most said, ‘maybe next time.’”
Kuchar retired from DELPHI Automotive Systems in 2005 and now lives in Fruitport with his wife of 45 years, Jackie. They have three children and two grandchildren.