61st Annual Meguiar's Detroit Autorama atCOBO CENTERCelebrates the 50th ANNIVERSARYof the REVERED RIDLER AWARDThe most coveted award in Hot RoddingFriday, March 8 - Noon to 10 p.m.Saturday, March 9 - 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.Sunday, March 10 - 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.Show Begins With Outdoor "Cacklefest"When Supercharged Dragsters Fire Up,Thundering Throughout Downtown DetroitThe 61st Anniversary Meguiar's Detroit Autorama, March 8 - 10, at Cobo Center in Detroit will be one for the ages, when America's greatest hot rod show celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Ridler Award, the most coveted award in hot rodding. For 50 years the auspicious award has been presented to the most outstanding new custom car, shown for the first time anywhere. Named after the first promoter of Detroit Autorama, Don Ridler, the Ridler Award is the calling card of the Detroit event, attracting the finest custom car builders in North America to unveil their amazing vehicles for the first time at the famous show. Detroit Autorama is the largest and oldest show of customized cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles and hot rods in North America.To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Ridler Award, the Detroit Autorama organizers have invited all of the 50 past winners to bring their vehicles back to Autorama to show for this once in a lifetime occasion. This means that the most beautiful and creative custom cars in history will be gathered for one time only at Autorama on "Ridler's Row."Adding excitement to the big anniversary, this year's Autorama will roll into Cobo with real thunder. Organizers plan an outdoor "cacklefest" for the opening. The "cacklefest" will be the live fire up of two super charged dragsters including legendary Al Bergler's famous "More Aggravation", the first Ridler Award winning vehicle and a second Bergler funny car aptly named "Motown Shaker." The "cacklefest" will take place at the corner of Washington Blvd. at Jefferson at noon in front of Cobo Center.All of downtown Detroit will know that Autorama has arrived when the sound of the "cacklefest" rumbles and reverberates through the streets, sidewalks and skyscrapers of the city.Detroit Autorama is the annual winter ritual that brings the most devout gear heads and just plain curious folks, up close and personal, with over 1,000 exhibits of chopped, channeled, dumped and decked hot rods, custom cars, trucks, vans and motorcycles of the past and present. It attracts visitors from across the country and the world.Another exciting feature of this year's show will be the "Tribute to Batmobile" featuring three generations of the iconic Batmobile in person! Families will love to get a close look at these three fabulous vehicles from the famous Batman movies and original TV show and even get their picture taken with their favorite Batmobile!Did you ever wonder how they actually "chop" an automobile to create a new super sleek custom hot rod? At this year's Autorama, Gene Winfield's Chop Shop will be right on site with the legendary custom car builder, himself, Gene Winfield, in person. He'll supervise the demonstration of a live "chopping" of a car. The Chop Shop is sponsored by Genuine Hot Rod Hardware.Another headline collection at this year's show is WRIF's Kid Rock Collection, featuring four legendary vehicles owned by Detroit's own Kid Rock!"For this year's celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Ridler Award, we are going all out," says Peter Toundas, Show Manager and President of Championship Auto Shows, Inc. producer of Detroit Autorama. "We are kicking off the big event with a stellar Friday night that we are calling the 'Ridler's Ball,' at Cobo Hall, presented by Chevrolet Performance. The roster of attendees include a who's who of the hot rod-custom car world across North America, and we will name the fifty most important car builders, owners, and designers who have contributed to the growth of the Rilder over its history. It's like our Oscars."The first Detroit Autorama took place 61 years ago at the University of Detroit Field House as a fundraiser for Michigan Hot Rod Association's efforts to build the legendary Detroit Dragway. Over the years it moved to the Michigan State Fairground and the Detroit Artillery Armory before coming to Cobo Center as its first paid public show in 1961! In the years since, the show has grown and has earned a stellar reputation as the leading hot rod-custom car show in the nation.Additional features of the 61st Annual Detroit Autorama include the Cavalcade of Customs; a 10 car exhibit of specially invited 50's customs, Ford's First Feather; a 10 car handpicked collection of beautiful two seat SS Thunderbirds from 1955 to 1957 and the Autorama Preservation Award Winner - a 1932 Ford 2 window Fordillac from the Genessee Gear Grinders, presented by Steele Rubber Products.The entire lower level of Cobo Center features the popular Detroit Autorama Extreme featuring more than 200 traditional rods, customs and bobber bikes inspired by the 1950s. This successful addition to Autorama, now in its eighth year, is getting rave reviews. A show within a show, Autorama Extreme fills the entire 100,000 square feet of the lower level of Cobo's Michigan Hall.Returning this year is the extremely popular Autorama Student Career Day, introduced seven years ago. This year more than 3,000 high school and trade school automotive students from nearly 50 Michigan schools will converge on Autorama on Friday, March 8 for morning presentations by key hot rod builders and industry leaders to learn about career opportunities in this growing field. After hearing from industry leaders, students will have the opportunity to visit the show and view the millions of dollars worth of show cars.In addition to the Autorama Student Career day, Chrysler Group LLC announces the first Autorama High School Design Competition2013, to benefit the United Way of Southeastern Michigan and in cooperation with The College for Creative Studies. This special new program invites all students currently attending Detroit Public Schools to create their own design for a future luxury Chrylser brand vehicle, envisioned for the year 2030. A panel of judges from Chrysler, CCS and Detroit Autorama will select the winning entries from the Freshman-Junior Class and Senior Class and prizes will include a scholarship to The College for Creative Studies, summer design automotive classes at College for Creative Studies, I Pads, tours of the Chrysler Group's Product Design Office and free passes to Autorama.The Motor City Mavens 2013 Auto Art Panel Jam and Charity Auction benefiting Leader Dogs for the Blind will be presented by WRIF. More than 200 of the most outrageous pinstripers from across the country will be in Detroit during all three days of Autorama to apply their artistry to items of every variety. They will demonstrate for the crowds and auction the items throughout the event with all proceeds going to Leader Dogs for the Blind. Demonstrations are ongoing. The auction times are Friday, March 8 at 5 and 8 p.m.; Saturday, March 9 at noon, 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 10 at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.At the heart of Autorama are hundreds of sizzling striped souped up masterpieces of backyard car jockeys from across the country who flock to the motor city to show off their originals for the first time. These auto gems compete for awards and prizes in the Summit Racing Equipment Show Car Series. The series competition culminates in the awarding of a check for $1,000 each to the Pirelli Great 8. Finally one of the great eight is named winner of the prestigious Ridler Award for the best vehicle first time shown, sponsored by Chevrolet Performance. The winner receives $10,000 in cash plus a custom trophy and jacket.Other features at this year's Autorama include the 19th Annual Toy-A-Rama. Additional features in Autorama Extreme include a video wall featuring vintage feature films, live performances by Rockabilly Bands and Vinsetta Garage's popular retro themed "Miss Autorama" Pinup Girl Calendar Contest on Saturday, March 9 at 5 p.m.Appearances on the Celebrity Stages:These special guest will meet and greet visitors and sign autographs:"Sheamus", WWE Superstar, will appear Friday, March 8 from 6 to 8 p.m."Filthy Phil" (played by Christopher Douglas Reed) from the FX TV hit Sons of Anarchy will appear on Friday, March 8 from 4 to 9 p.m."Edge", (Adam Copeland) former WWE Superstar, will appear Saturday, March 9 from noon to 3 p.m.Davis Cleveland who plays "Flynn Jones" on the Disney Channel's hit Shake It Up will appear on Saturday, March 9 from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.Stefanie Scott who plays "Lexi Reed" on Disney Channel's A.N.T. Farm will appear on Sunday, March 10 from noon to 5 p.m."Mountain Man" (Tim Guraedy) co-star of A&E TV show Duck Dynasty will appear Sunday, March 10 from noon to 5 p.m.Spongebob Squarepants will appear Friday, March 8, from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday, March 9 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 10 from noon to 5 p.m.AUTORAMA AT COBO CENTER HOURSFriday, March 8, Noon to 10 p.m.Saturday, March 9, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.Sunday, March 10, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.ADMISSIONAt Gate: Adults - $18Children 6 to 12 years - $5Children 5 and under freeDISCOUNT TICKETS are available at O'REILLY AUTO PARTSDiscount tickets are: General Admission - $16, Children 6 - 12 - $4Group tickets are also availableFor more information call 248-373-1700Go to www.autorama.com for up to the minute information and last mintue changes.Autorama is produced by Championship Auto Shows, Inc.and by Michigan Hot Rod Association