World of Wheels -Chicago "Disaster !!"

i was there i was drunk and i sat in a confy lawn chair

 

Okay, what car was this guys with???

For those of you who didn't attend...people paid their $15 to get into the CAR show and waited in line starting at 10am, then this guy shows up late around 4pm?!
I couldn't believe it the line wrapped all around the show floor, blocking access to just about everything and most of these fans didn't even care about the cars they where standing by or blocking the veiw of...what a circus!

It was clear the promoters of the W.O.W saw the $$$ when scheduling this guy!!!

 

Just came back from the GNRS. No people in the displays. That's the rules. Quite frankly it was nice not to see people hanging out in the displays walking in and out of them etc. I vote to keep'em out in Detroit too.

 

I will disagree with Lost and Denise. It has always been 'no chairs, no hanging around the car' rules for indoor shows (sorta like golf etiquette but for indoor shows). Indoor shows are supposed to be more formal.. (look back in the old days and you would see folks wearing ties and jackets at the indoor shows).

I think that is the way it should be for the show car section.. Now for the more laid back suede palace or ba*****t show at Detriot that is a different style show. for there it is acceptable and that is part of the new way to do shows like that.. its a party atmospere.. not about points....

 

Well it seems to be down the middle I guess, I see both sides of the fence on this after all the comments. I have participated in this show before with friends, and I guess i was spoiled because these rules were never enforced.....I suppose I have to make a decision of wether I want to participate in these kinds of shows, I do get bored in the winter and was hoping to break it up by participating in a few indoor events, but not sure if I want to deal with rules and regulations to the point were I cant sit by my car without wondering if a staff member is going to ask me to move or fine $$ me because I didnt follow the rules. Well there were a few (and I mean a few) good exhibitors (Chrome Carz ) and VooDoo Kings, I definitley appreciate the older cars more so then the 06-07 beamers,hummers, and audi's with there $10,000 dollars in audio and rims, but I guess that is what the young generation is following.....Anyway thanks again for the replys , it is appreciated , and cool to see where everyone stands

 

I think Boones nailed it perfectly!!

In the ba*****t section at Detroit Autorama, part of what makes that so cool is the 'party atmosphere' and all the people hanging out in a far less formal setting around their cars and club displays. It's more fun that way, and a nice break from the "main show" upstairs.

Now...in the upstairs portion of the show, I wouldn't want to see lawn chairs, coolers and people crowded around the cars in the Great 8 displays...or around other high-end cars that I paid to come and look at. I'd expect them to hold that crowd to a higher, more formal standard.

It's like two shows in one! The show cars upstairs in cl***y displays, and the less polished heaps downstairs in a festive, laid-back atmosphere where p***ers-by can interact with the car owners and club members...and even join in the party!

I like the contrast it provides if it stays the same as last year!

 

that is the way the GNRS is. i had'nt realy been expossed to those types of rules before that but it makes sense. the show is for the spectators more than anything. thats kind of the downside to the indoor shows and thats why alot of folks prefer the outdoor shows. they both have their place as far as i'm concerned.

i was told that if they caught you inside of your display during the show at the GNRS they kicked you out! you probably would'nt get your car out of the show till it was over but you would pesonaly be ejected... or so i was told.

 

Wow, Kenny "S***ts" Slowinski stripes a female chesty and I'm not there!! Kenny is one of the greatest racecar lettering guys here in Chicagoland. He did all the great Raceway Park stockcars and U.S. 30 dragcars in the 60's & 70's. He just finished lettering the original and restored "Shake, Rattle, and Run" '57 Chevy a week ago. Should be just as good a when he did it 25 odd years ago!

Joel

 

That show ain't a damn "Cruise In". I've never been to an upscale indoors car show where folks took up residence next to their car.

Why don't ya' shoot yourself anyway?

Proof positive that there are RedNecks north of the Mason-Dixie Line .

 

We hung out next to the display and answered questions. It really wasn't a problem.

 

....and Kenny was a gentleman about it too!?!

 

Good point...But the promoters did over book, moved several displays around at the last minute and where understaffed. Which did make it stressful at times for those of us who where schedule to be there all weekend.

Over all it was a nice break from the long cold winter...and the promoters are already working on making changes to improve the show for next year.

 

Nice S***ts!

 

It's a car show, not a people show. Move so I can see the car!

Did owners back in the 50's and 60's hang out around their cars at the indoor shows?

 

OK...autoramabob checking in! I guess I will throw in my 2 cents for anyone willing to read my replies.

First off, let me say as a member of Championship Auto Shows, Inc. management team, I don't necessarily fully agree with the way things went down in Chicago this past weekend.

First off, there is indeed an ISCA rule pertaining to sitting in the car displays. The Chicago show in the past few years had a real problem with some exhibitors dragging in coolers, lawn chairs and more and really trashing up the show. I don't think our spectators come to see that, but I also realize that the exhibitors should be able to talk to and about their cars. Kind of a Catch 22, eh?

Anyway, one of the changes to help improve the Chicago show was to implement a committee made up of local "car guys" and led by former ISCA National Champion and long time show participant, Harry Willett. I am sure some of you may remember Harry and some of the awesome cars he used to show back in the 70's and 80's.

Anyway, the new committee felt it was time to "clean up" the show and kick it up a notch. In the interest of creating a higher quality show and thus, offering a better value to our spectators, Championship Auto Shows, Inc. agreed to allow the committee to work on this.

It seems that there was some "imbalance" and perhaps some of the workers were not well versed in interacting with the participants. I know that many people with legitimate reasons to be near there vehicles (as in handicapped, bad hearts etc) were asked to not sit in the displays. Perhaps some staff members felt it was an "all or nothing" rule.

Anyway, this is indeed a rule which is basically left to the local club or chairman to use at their discretion. Is this a "good" rule? You be the judge.

I tend to lean toward a "middle of the road" opinion. I think the "lounging" with lawn chairs, coolers and empty beer cans everywhere should be left to the lawn shows. On the other hand, I know I enjoy interacting with the car owners (both at our shows and all the rest) and would truly miss not being able to do this.

I feel some staff members were a bit over zealous in attempting to enforce these rules and it would be best to concentrate on cleaning up the show, eliminating the coolers and cans, but allowing some good old fashioned interaction between the car owners and the spectators.

I remember how cool I thought it was back when I was a kid and got to talk to the owners of those cool cars....I was in heaven and those owners may have just been a guy that lived down the street, but he was a "Star" to me when he was standing next to that car.

I will respond to some of the other posts...

Thanks BA aka autoramabob

 

I am sure this must have been a while ago before Championship Auto Shows, Inc. took over. Let me extend an invitation to you to join us at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont when we go back there in November for the Fall '07 Chevy Vettefest show.

The Rosemont facility is exceptionally "user-friendly".

We do not at any time allow anyone other then the car owner or his or her designated driver get inside any show vehicle at the World of Wheels, Autorama OR Chevy Vettefest shows.

 

The cost of doing business along with the cash and prizes given to entrants is why our participants are asked to pay a very reasonable fee to enter.

Our income is derived from our spectators, not from our exhibitors as the $50 fee does not come close to covering the expenses incurred per vehicle shown.

 

And I might add, these union carpenters, riggers, electricians and decorators are on the Championship Auto Shows, Inc. payroll when we come to town to produce our shows.

 

Thank You. It does indeed vary from show to show, as it will in Detroit. BTW; missed you guys in Houston but hope to see you in Dallas in a few weeks!

 

Feel free to e-mail me directly, as I am more than happy to answer any and all questions and share them with my co-workers. bashton@autorama.com

 

This kind of sums it up for the Detroit Autorama Extreme portion (downstairs). Last year was a bit out of hand, so as long as we all use our heads and remember this is indeed a family friendly event, I am sure we will all help secure the future of this part of the show.

The future is up to us!

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again; indoor car shows aren't for everyone, and that's fine.

It's not just the cars anyway...it's the people!

 

Rey Mysterio is one of the most popular wrestlers currently on the WWE tour, especially with the kids. Although we indeed knew he is popular, we had no idea over 1,000 people would show up to see him.

The idea of having other types of entertainment at our shows is first, to sell more tickets and second, to introduce what we do to a broader audience thus insuring a future for our shows.

For anyone inconvenienced by the appearance of Mr. Mysterio at the Chicago World of Wheels show, please accept our apology.

Thanks/BA

 

OK, OK, totally O/T and may sound stupid, but were do you get a HAMB shirt???

 

And (switching to my promotors hat) the Shake, Rattle and Run 57 will be "premiered" freshly brought back to life at the Chevy Vettefest show March 3-4, 2007 at the McCormick Place - North. www.chevyvettefest.net

 

you read my mind

 

You guys are doing a GREAT job of turning things around at the Chicago World of Wheels show...by including more of what is actually going on in the real world....

Unfortunately alot of guys entering the show this year are not familar with in-door show rules!
The concern I heard from car owners, spectators and your show staff was not allowing cars in that where pre-registered and making room for non-car related displays....
I realize some things are out your control and you're working to improve this event...Just remember to listen to the complaints and being flexable.
See you next year if not sooner....