MotoringFile at the Chicago Auto Show

ive been watching the show stands being built by watching the web cam sat in the uk!! not many people at the media preview

At the New York Auto show they wont even let the public get within five feet of the Ferraris.

ANTS… When the show is open to the public, it’s the same here in Chicago. You can’t get near the “high-end” cars. But I think Gabe is going to (or at) a “press only” event, etc where they will perhaps be a bit more forgiving, etc. They also have a black-tie, $200 per person charity event the night before the event opens to the public. I’m told you can get a bit more access then too.

Gabe – PodCast would be SUPER-DARN-COOL!

Yes, you do get more access at the black tie charity preview party, but I don’t think it’s as much access the people get during press and supplier days, I believe they get more free reign. I’ve gone four different years to the charity preview in Detroit. Let me tell you, once you attend the black-tie affair you’ll never want to attend a regular public day ever again — You’ll be spoiled forever.

First off, it’s not as crowded so you can move about much easier and best of all… no children running around and no strollers ramming into your legs. You also get to actually sit in the Bentley’s, Ferrari’s and sometimes a concept car or two — Rather than just peeking in the windows or standing behind the velvet ropes. There is complimentary champagne and some manufacturers have an open bar serving complimentary beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres. Also some of the manufacturers put on entertaining shows. For instance, Chrysler had an act that was like Cirque du Soleil (www.cirquedusoleil.com), they dropped out of the ceiling, performing every half hour. Another manufacturer had professional dirt bikers doing balancing tricks on a display. The best is if you can score an invitation to one of the manufacturers private parties. One year I attended a private party sponsored by General Motors. That consisted of a fully stocked open bar, dinner buffet and live entertainment that were singing & dancing. One of my favorite things is seeing all the famous people and the news and television crews.

It’s a very special, very glamorous evening and attending has a way of making you feel very special and priveleged. If you ever have an opportunity to go I 100% recommend it. And the charity preview is for charity and the proceeds go to good causes. (Last year the charity preview raised more than $7 million in just that evening alone.) Personally, I think that for all you get to see, do, drink and eat, $400 a ticket is worth it — At least once in a lifetime, anyway.

I do have an interesting story. During one evening at a charity preview there was a beautiful woman looking stunning in her glamorous evening gown. She decided to sit inside a concept vehicle. Upon trying to exit the car she found herself locked in with the windows up. It would not open no matter what anyone tried! After about 45 minutes under the hot, bright lights she began to become very panicked and claustrophobic (not to mention perspire.) They had to bust a side window of the car to get her out. It was quite the sight, seeing a beautiful woman crawling out of the window of a concept car in her evening gown.

I read a magazine article once about the pillaging the display cars go through at these public shows. People steal just about everything. Shift knobs, buttons from the dashboard, pieces of trim… As I recall, they once even busted a couple of guys trying to remove the seats from a car! So I understand why they might have reason to keep people away. Sad that our society has come to that.

Per the story, New York City was the most brutal to these events, while at the other extreme one of the company reps commented that at the shows in Salt Lake (my home state of Utah), people would actually ask if they can get in the cars, which the rep called “heaven.”

Also mentioned was the outrageously high costs to the manufacturers to display at the shows due to union labor nonsense. It was an interesting read. Wish I remember where I read it…

Hey Gabe!

Weve sent someone to the ChiAutoShow this year also.

If you run into a gal named Jenn, that’d be her… Covering all the press available fun also.

Press days are almost the only way to enjoy an auto show such as this or any motorsport event anymore!

Enjoy!