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Area brakes for Auto Show
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Erik Westlund |
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| West Michigan residents braved the snow throughout the weekend to see
the latest models, concept cars and a selection of classics and
antiques showcased at the ninth annual Michigan International Auto Show. More than 300 vehicles from 35 manufacturers were on display inside the DeVos Place amidst celebrity race car driver appearances. NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth, retired Indy 500 winner Tom Sneva and jet-powered dragster driver Jessie Harris met fans and signed autographs. Gareth White, of Betten Imports, said there was a wide array of interest in all of the vehicles at the show, but college students tended to be drawn to the more expensive, exotic and unique cars. These included the Million Dollar Motorway gallery, the Gilmore Car Museum display and the concept and pre-production models from the Big Three automakers. The Million Dollar Motorway featured a $2.1 million Maserati MC-12 and a selection of other import cars with a retail value of more than $100,000. The MC-12 and many more of these feature cars were built in Modena, Italy, an area Daniel J. Cable of Cauley Maserati Ferrari called “the Detroit of Europe.” “This is where all of the passion of the auto industry (in Europe) comes from,” he said. “All that engineering and automotive prowess kind of centers from that area.” The Gilmore Car Museum brought in 10 historic and classic cars including a 1967 Yenko Super Camaro once owned by baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson and a 1982 DeLorean of “Back to the Future” fame. Reg De Boer, a member of the museum who volunteered to work the auto show, said there was a lot of interest in the Gilmore display. “We like antique cars and we have them ourselves, so we like to pass that interest along to others,” he said. Show Producer Henri Boucher said the concept vehicles and limited edition models bring a special kind of excitement to the show because spectators never know what to expect. “I don’t even know ahead of time what models we are going to get,” he said. “When they hit the floor, I find out with everybody else.” Grand Valley State University freshman Jimmy Donahue said he especially liked the convertible Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500, an edition he has not seen on dealer lots. Donahue, who came to GVSU from the Ann Arbor area, said he was drawn to the Grand Rapids auto show to see how it compared to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. “The show in Detroit has a lot more glitz and glamour,” he said. “Here it is much more laid back and you can just look without having to deal with the massive crowds you get (at the Detroit show). There it is much more of a show, here it is a relaxing way to enjoy a bad weather afternoon.” Showspan Inc. and the Grand Rapids New Car Dealers Association presented the show. Boucher estimated the attendance would be between 50,000 and 70,000 after tickets were counted. |
