Saturday, April 4, 2020

Detroit auto show screeches to a halt; other car shows still revving up


   One-Tank Trip for April 4/20
  
   By Jim Fox

   Detroit has been hard hit by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, resulting in the cancellation of the North American International Auto Show.
   Organizers of two other headline auto events still hope to have them go ahead this summer.
   It’s a huge blow as the auto show attracts 800,000 people over its 10-day run and this was to have been the first show in June after its history of January dates.
It was a glamorous evening at the Detroit auto show Charity Preview. (Jim Fox)
   It’s also devastating to Greater Detroit as the party of the year – the $400 U.S. black tie Charity Preview – that raised millions of dollars over the years for children’s charities.
   But it’s all for the greater good as the TCF Center (previously known as Cobo Center) will become a temporary field hospital as directed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
   “The level of excitement for the 2020 show was extraordinary and we deeply appreciate all of the support from our OEM partners and our more than 200 valued sponsors, as well as the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan,” chairman Doug North said.

   There are also plans to hold some sort of event later this year to benefit the charities, he added. To virtually see what would have been, go to: naias.com

   Classy wheels
This couple shows their classy chassis at the Concours d’Elegance. (Barbara Fox)
   Should the world return to some sort of normalcy by mid-summer, organizers are hoping to pull off the 42nd annual Concours d’Elegance of America.
   Taking place on July 26 at the Inn at St. John’s in suburban Plymouth, Mich., this is one of America’s most prestigious car events.
   This year’s field has some 300 “significant classic and historically relevant vehicles.”
   A lineup of Woodie wagons at the Concours. (Jim Fox photo)
    These range from the Gas Light times to modern collectables and super cars from every era over more than 100 years. concoursusa.org

   Zoom, zoom
   Bringing back the era of cruising, drive-ins, hamburger stands and classy wheels is the Woodward Dream Cruise.
   Cruising along Woodward Avenue from Ferndale to Pontiac, Mich. outside Detroit, it’s called the “world’s largest one-day automotive event” attracting up to 1.5-million people.
Auto aficionado Geoff Burton and writer Jim Fox check out the hot wheels at the Dream Cruise. (Barbara Fox)
    They come in jazzy classic and custom cars, street rods, collector and specialty vehicles numbering about 40,000 vehicles for what is called an annual rite of summer. woodwarddreamcruise.com

   Virtual travel
   If travels now are “in your dreams,” tourism agencies are longing to promote day trips through virtual experiences.
   Visit Detroit features the area’s attractions at: visitdetroit.com/virtual-experiences-detroit-attractions
   There is also coronavirus information and resources for travellers: visitdetroit.com/coronavirus-info
   As well, Pure Michigan, the official travel and tourism website for the state, says:  “Now is not the time to travel but the perfect time to plan your summer vacation.”
   It offers “plenty of virtual travel opportunities for the whole family to enjoy in the meantime” at: michigan.org/article/trip-idea/travel-michigan-virtually-while-planning-your-vacation

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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca 


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