Chicago Auto Show Has A Motorsports Presence
- Updated: February 10, 2011
Chicago, IL (February 10, 2011) – Had the opportunity to attend my first Chicago Auto Show on Thursday’s media day. First staged in 1901, the “CAS11” as the tweeters on Twitter call it, is the largest auto show in North America and has been held more times than any other auto exposition on the continent. Produced by the Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), this year marks the 103rd edition of the Chicago Auto Show.
I looked around to see what type of motorsports presence was visible at the show. This year there was plenty. Ford, Chevrolet, BMW, Hyundai, Toyota and even KIA all had motorsport displays on the main floor as did several others. Honda’s exhibit had a Milwaukee touch as the Milwaukee Mile 225 show car was a nice promotion tool for the event. However if would have been nice to see a 2011 IZOD IndyCar on display such as Dario Franchitti’s “500” winner, Graham Rahal’s new ride or of course Team Penske.
Chicagoland and Route 66 Speedway had Kyle Busch’s M&M’s Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota show car as well as the Justin Schriefer Racing nitro fuel funny car on display. The informative display had helpful and first-class fan packs for race attendees.
Chevrolet had their beautiful 2011 Chevy Camaro Indy 500 Pace car on display along with the classic 1969 Indy 500 Camaro pace car. One head turner was the Red Bull-clad Hyundai Veloster which Rhys Millen will pilot in the 2011 U.S. Rallycross Championship along with Robby Maddison and Marcus Dodd. Millen and Maddison will also compete in the Summer X Games. Also, Hyundai will debut their new rally car at the CAS on February 9th.
One of the neatest interactive displays was Camp Jeep. It is a 25,000-square foot exhibit that tests the strengths of Jeep under many user shaking obstacles without leaving the show floor.
“We have created this unique auto show opportunity to provide our customers with a memorable experience that no other manufacturer can offer,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “The iconic Jeep brand offers an adventurous lifestyle and vehicles that deliver legendary 4×4 capabilities. Attendees will enjoy the Jeep experience first-hand on the show floor beginning this weekend.”
The course will be comprised of several obstacles that simulate some of the rigorous testing that Jeep vehicles endure before customers get behind the wheel. This provides consumers a first-hand look at the capability standards of Jeep vehicles for Ground Clearance, Traction, Stability, Articulation and Suspension.
Product specialists chauffeur participants in Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Grand Cherokee and Liberty models over a variety of surfaces, as well as an 18-foot mobile mountain and a 12 x 15-foot section of terrain simulating fallen logs measuring 18 inches in diameter. Attendees will also experience the adrenaline rush of looking nearly straight up or straight down as they navigate a 45-degree wedge to demonstrate the vehicle’s body articulation. Each ride is about five minutes long.
I had the opportunity to ride Camp Jeep which gives a rare unblocked view of the show floor and shows off the automatic traction and braking control while descending the 45 degree downgrade.
The Chicago Auto Show is big and is a can’t miss event which brightens the Midwestern winter.
Dates
Public Show: Friday, February 11 through Sunday, February 20
Location – McCormick Place, 2301 South Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago, Illinois, 60616.
The Chicago Auto Show utilizes 1.2 million square feet of the McCormick Place complex. McCormick Place offers a total of 2.7 million square feet of exhibit halls with an additional 700,000 square feet of meeting room availability.
Public Show Hours (Box office closes one hour prior to the end of the show each day.)
February 11-19: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
February 20: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission (Advance tickets may be purchased at www.DriveChicago.com. There is no service fee and online ticket purchases are good for any public day.)
$11 for adults
$7 for seniors aged 62 and older
$7 for children 7-12
Free admission for children 6 and younger when they accompany a paying adult.
Exhibits – All Chicago Auto Show exhibits are held in the McCormick Place complex. Exhibitions include: multiple world and North American introductions; a complete range of domestic and imported passenger cars and trucks; sport utility vehicles; and experimental or concept cars. In total, nearly 1,000 different vehicles will be on display. Additionally, attendees will also have the opportunity to see numerous accessories and auto-related exhibits, competition vehicles and project, antique and collector cars.
Chicago Auto Show media & communications contributed to this column
Steve Zautke, a Milwaukee, WI native, was raised in the sport of auto racing. His father, Bill, was a movie photographer that shot racing footage at tracks such as the Milwaukee Mile and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 1960’s and 1970’s Steve’s first professional job in racing was as an Emergency Medical Technician at tracks such as Angell Park and Hales Corners Speedway (1988-1991). Steve has also worked for the Milwaukee Mile as videographer, in media relations and historian (1993-2011). Steve also has worked as a reporter for Racing Information Systems (RIS) and has written features for ‘Vintage Oval Racing’ and ‘Victory Lane’ magazines. Most recently, Steve has written a book on Road America for Arcadia Publishing. ( http://www.amazon.com/Road-America-Nascar-Library-Collection/dp/1467111457 ) Steve co-hosts “Sparky’s Final Inspection” a motorsports-based radio show with hosts, Steve “Sparky” Fifer and “NASCAR Girl” Summer Santana on Sports Radio 1250AM in Milwaukee and is also available on the internet at www.Sportradio1250.com. A member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Induction Committee, Steve follows all types of racing from the dirt tracks to Formula One.
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