PLEASE NOTE:

The following information is from the 2008 Michigan International Auto Show.

Helio Castroneves Special Appearance!

Special Appearance on Friday, February 1 ONLY!

He is as smooth off the track as he is on - showing that race car drivers can be classy and graceful, yet still competitive.  Two-time Indy 500 winner and Dancing with the Stars champion Helio "Spiderman" Castroneves will be at the show on Friday, February 1 from 4pm-6pm!

Since joining Team Penske in 2000, Helio has secured 15 poles, finishing in the top three 28 times, led 2,282 laps, recorded the fastest lap in 8 races, and brought home 12 wins.  As one of the top drivers in North American open-wheel racing, Helio exudes great charisma and humbleness and is known for his signature victory celebration of climbing the fence.   

A total of 800 "line-up wristbands" will be issued on Thursday and Friday (while supplies last) at the Star 105.7 WOOD FM and B-93 WBCT FM radio booths at the show.  People who get a wristband will be re-admitted to the show for Castroneves' appearance on Friday afternoon and will be the ONLY people guaranteed a spot in the lineup for autographs.  Listen to Star 105.7 FM and B-93 FM for more details.

See the Grand Prix Show Car previously driven by Helio Castroneves!

The Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix brought world-class auto racing back to the Motor City on Labor Day weekend in 2007.  Featuring the exotic sports cars of the American Le Mans Series and the sleek open-wheel machines of the IndyCar Series, the Grand Prix saw over 100,000 fans flock to Belle Isle to enjoy a weekend of great racing and family fun.  The Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix returns this Labor Day weekend, August 29-31, 2008, as the American Le Mans Series and the IndyCar Series once again will compete on the challenging two-mile island street circuit.  The Grand Prix Show Car, previously driven by Helio Castroneves, will be on display at the show!  Visit www.detroitgp.com for more information. 

Million Dollar Motorway

You asked for it West Michigan...you got it!  The most admired feature of the 2007 Show is back by popular demand.  Only vehicles with retail prices over $100,000 qualify to be displayed in our "Million Dollar Motorway" ...our total? ...well over $1 Million!  Several cars with price tags over $100,000 are scheduled to be on display this year, making this the GRANDEST Million Dollor Motorway ever seen! 

Vehicles on display in the '08 Million Dollar Motorway include:

• Maserati Granturismo
• Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera
• Spyker C8
• Bentley Continental GT
• Aston Martin DB9
• Aston Martin Vantage Roadster
• Range Rover Westminster
• Mercedes-Benz CL550C
• Mercedes-Benz SL550R

The New Look of Radio

Technology has changed Radio in exciting ways!  Breakthroughs in wireless communications and streaming content have altered the way we live our lives.  Everyday we take a technological journey from home... to the car... to the office.  All day long we see The New LOOK of Radio.  Check out Clear Channels' newest innovations... Interactive web portals featuring live performances by the moment's hottest stars, entertaining pictures and video.  And the most accurate, immediately updated news, weather and traffic information.  Experience HD Radio, theater quality sound and unlimited format choices from radio in your home or car.  Want us to text message you a personalized traffic update...check out the immerging technologies for your cell phone.  See how Clear Channel Radio has changed The Look of Radio!

Gilmore Car Museum Display

Each year the Gilmore Car Museum of near by Hickory Corners presents an outstanding exhibit of historic automobiles during the show.  This year is no exception and the museum, considered one of the top five car museums in the nation, has selected a little something for everyone to enjoy.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Model T Ford, the museum will exhibit one of the first and last models produced!  2008 also marks the 100th anniversary of General Motors and in celebration the museum will showcase its 1951 Cadillac convertible.  Also, with current interest in alternative fuels, a 1908 Stanley Steamer and the incredibly rare experimental 1963 Chrysler Turbine will be at the show.  And for those interested in horsepower, "the fastest running Pure Stock Car in the history of man" - the famed 1968 1/2 Ford "Gas Ronda" Cobra Jet Mustang will be on display!

1908 Stanley Steamer Runabout

Featured in the Gilmore Car Museum Display

Alternative fuel cars...100 years ago!  The Stanley twins, brother Francies and Freelan, made their fortune by inventing and manufacturing dry photographic plates and later selling their firm to Eastman Kodak.  In 1897, they found their second great success by producing Stanley steam powered "motor carriages."  Two years later the brothers sold the car company to the publisher of Cosmopolitan magazine, who named the car the Locomobile.  The Stanley's soon re-entered the auto industry, naming their new car the Stanely Steamer. 

In 1906, a modified Stanley Steamer broke the land speed record at Daytona Beach by reaching 127 mph.  While very fast, steam cars required a complex and lengthy start-up procedure, taking 30 minutes to heat up, and were eventually outsold by simpler, less expensive gasoline-powered cars.

1910 Ford, 1921 and 1927 Model T Touring

Featured in the Gilmore Car Museum Display

Honoring the 100th anniversary of the "Everyman Car" - the renowned Ford Model T.  Henry Ford introduced the Model T as a sturdy, low-priced car for the masses in December 1908 and produced it with very few changes until 1927.  It became affectionately known as the "Tin Lizzie" and was soon chugging off the assembly line and into history.

Ford invented neither the automobile nor the assembly line, but did refine both, and was able to build far more cars than any other company faster.  By 1913, in an effort to further speed up production, the Model T was no longer offered in red, blue, green or gray.  The standard color was now black and a completed Ford rolled off the assembly line every 24 seconds!  More than 15 million were sold during its production, making the Model T the longest run of any single model automobile apart from the Volkswagen Beetle.

1923 Checker Taxicab

Featured in the Gilmore Car Museum Display

Taxi!  Taxi!  Checker: an American Icon!  Checker Motors of Kalamazoo became the largest manufacturer of Taxicabs in the nation and produced cars from 1923 to 1982.  When you called a cab in any large US city it was likely a Checker.  The image fo the Checker Cab lives on today in countless TV shows, movies and commercials. 

Exhibitied this year, is the very first Checker Taxicabs produced in Kalamazoo after the company purchased the former Handley-Knight automobile plant and moved its operations there from Chicago and Joliet, IL in 1923.

Company founder Morris Markin was originally a tailor in Chicago and became a car manufacturer purely by accident.  During WWI, Markin and his brother were contracted to produce uniform pants for the U.S. Military.  When two firms defaulted on loans made to them by Markin, he gained control of Chicago's Commonwealth Motors, builders of taxis, and Checker Taxi Co., a large taxi service.

1933 Packard Rumble Seat Roadster

Featured in the Gilmore Car Museum Display

Classic Luxury!  Packard launched its new V-12 engine two years after Cadillac stunned the luxury car market by offering V-16 models for 1930.  Packard's first V-12 engine, known as the "Twin Six," was introduced in 1916, but this newest creation simply became known as the "Packard Twelve."

Although many body styles were offered, the rarest and most desirable is the striking rumble seat roadster, of which less than 20 are known to have survived of the 50 originally produced.

1951 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible

Featured in the Gilmore Car Museum Display

Honoring the 100th Anniversary of General Motors!  The Cadillac Division introduced General Motors' first post-war all-new design in 1948 and the now famous aircraft-inspired tailfin look.  The Cadillac tailfin continued to grow, reaching its zenith in 1959 and not disappearing until the 1970 model year.

For 1951, full-length chrome accents were added to the rocker panels, rear fender skirts, and lower rear quarters of the Series 62 models.  The Hydra-Matic automatic transmission and power windows were standard equipment on the Series 62, while the rear continental spare tire was an option.

1958 Ford Thunderbird Convertible

Featured in the Gilmore Car Museum Display

Motor Trend Magazine's Car of the Year - 50 years later!  In 1955, Ford Motor Company introduced the Thunderbird as a stylish, two-seat sports car in response to the launch of the Chevrolet Corvette.  When the all-new 1958 Thunderbird was unveiled, the "T-Bird" had been transformed into a four-seat luxury car.  The boxy appearance of the restyled Thunderbird earned the ncikname "Squarebirds," and for the first time, was offered as either a hardtop or convertible.

Sales of the new 1958 Thunderbird skyrocketed and nearly outsold the two previous model years combined!

1964 Chrysler Turbine Car

Featured in the Gilmore Car Museum Display

From the JETSON'S to a real jet propelled car... 40 years ago!  In 1963 Chrysler Corporation built fifty experimental turbine cars and loaned them out to over 200 "average" consumers for three-month evaluation periods.  The objective was to test consumer and market reaction and to obtain service data.  Only nine remain today, the rest were scrapped by the company, when it was decided the program wouldn't succeed.

Although the recommended fuel was diesel, the Turbine Car would run on ANY flammable liquid.  At one point or another, Turbine Cars were run, without adjustments, on unleaded gas, kerosene, jet fuel, home heating oil, peanut oil, tequila and even Chanel No. 5 prefume!

From the operator's manual - Starting:  Turn key, DO NOT PRESS ACCELERATOR PEDAL, wait for engine to make a "woosh" sound.  Once the tack reads 18,000 rpm and temperature is 1,200 degrees the engine is started and you may proceed to drive.

1968 - 1/2 Ford "Gas Ronda" Cobra Jet Mustang

Featured in the Gilmore Car Museum Display

"The fastest running Pure Stock Car in the history of man!"  This is the original factory-built Super Stock Cobra Jet Mustang that legendary drag racer Gas Ronda drove at the 1968 NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, CA. 

In 1968, Ford Motor Company unveiled its 428 Cobra Jet big block engine by providing cars to professional drag racers for the Winternationals.  Four of those cars, driven by "Dyno" Don Nicholson, Hubert Platt, Al Joniec, and Gas Ronda, obliterated everything in the Super Stock class.  Lloyd Bray and D.G. Gilliam continued to race this national record holding car in Super Stock until 1988.  In 2003, after being restored to its 1968 glory, this car was unveiled as part of Ford Motor Company's 100th Anniversary celebration in Dearborn, MI.

Micro-Reality Race Cars

All attendees are invited to step right up and try their skill at these remote control race cars.

Cogs the Robot!

Be on the look-out for Cogs the Robot while you are at the show!  He'll be wandering the aisles entertaining attendees.