Hot Rod
Heaven
COBO CENTER
America’s
Greatest Hot Rod Show
Friday, March 7 -
Noon to 10 p.m.
Saturday, March 8 -
9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, March 9 -
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Featuring
Nearly 1,000 of the Most Beautiful and Outrageous Hot Rods, Customs, Trucks and
Motorcycles From Across America and the World
Featuring The
King of NASCAR Richard Petty and His Son,
Racing Legend
Kyle Petty and The Latest Vehicles From the Petty Garage
Show Begins
With The Flame Throwing Jet Truck of Bob Motz
The 62nd Annual Meguiar's Detroit Autorama is revved
up and ready to roar into Cobo Hall on March 7 – 9. Billed as America’s greatest hot rod show, Detroit Autorama will feature not only 1,000 of the most amazing
chopped, channeled and super painted hot rods and custom cars in the world, but
the live appearance of the King of NASCAR, Richard Petty and his son, racing legend Kyle
Petty.
This turbo charged Detroit tradition is the largest and oldest hot rod-custom car show in North America. It attracts visitors from across the U.S. and the globe. The calling card of this renowned show is the presentation of the Ridler Award, the most coveted award in hot rodding. For 51 years the auspicious award has been presented to the most outstanding new custom car, shown for the first time anywhere. Because of this distinction, the show attracts the finest custom car builders in North America to unveil their amazing vehicles for the first time at the famous show.
This turbo charged Detroit tradition is the largest and oldest hot rod-custom car show in North America. It attracts visitors from across the U.S. and the globe. The calling card of this renowned show is the presentation of the Ridler Award, the most coveted award in hot rodding. For 51 years the auspicious award has been presented to the most outstanding new custom car, shown for the first time anywhere. Because of this distinction, the show attracts the finest custom car builders in North America to unveil their amazing vehicles for the first time at the famous show.
Adding excitement to this year’s Autorama is the thunderous opening, with a live outdoor fire up of Bob Motz’s Flame Throwing Semi Truck, on Friday, March 7, at the corner of Washington Blvd at Jefferson at 11:45 a.m. in front of Cobo Hall. All of downtown Detroit will know that Autorama has arrived when the sound of the flame throwing truck 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 the autos that appear in hot rod and custom car magazines. The cars, brought by backyard car jockeys as well as the top customizers in the country, compete for top awards in numerous classes. These auto gems vie 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.
Autorama History
The first Detroit Autorama took place 62 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.
This year Autorama is honored to be the site for the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) Education Day
on Thursday, March 6. HRIA is one of the national Specialty Equipment Market Assocation (SEMA) councils, whose mission is to ensure the future prosperity
of the hot rod industy while advancing and promoting the hobby. “Detroit Autorama is the perfect backdrop to bring together many of the
industry’s
best and most influential aftermarket manufacturers to offer workshops on
installations, new products, marketing and selling techniques,” said Peter A. Toundas, President of Championship Auto Shows Inc, producer of
Autorama. “It is a great
opportunity for us to show off the Motor City to industry leaders and to bring
even more people from across the country to Detroit Autorama.”
The Show is
Full of Special Features
The highlight
of this year’s
Autorama will be the live appearance of the King of NASCAR, Richard Petty and his son, racing legend, Kyle Petty on
Friday, March 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. The Pettys will be at Autorama along with a display of the latest vehicles from the
Petty Garage. They will sign autographs for their thrilled fans in a once in a
life time opportunity.
This year the Featured Hot Rod Builder of the Year will be
Troy Trepanier owner of Rad Rides by Troy. From the Chicago area, Trepanier is one of the most recognized custom car builders of
the last 25 years. His creations include a roster of famous customs that have
won almost every possible award including the Ridler as well as continuous features in the top hot rod
magazines. A display of dozens of Trepanier’s
most famous cars will be on view at Autorama.
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.
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. Autorama Extreme also features continuous entertainment by Rockabilly Bands and the Miss Autorama Retro Pin Up Girl Contest on Saturday, March 8 at 5 p.m. presented by Vinsetta Garage.
Autorama will kick off with a stellar Friday night event called
the “Ridler's
Ball,” at Cobo Hall, presented by Chevrolet Performance. The first ball,
last year, was such a rousing success that organizers responded by making it an
annual event.The roster of more than 1,000 attendees include a who's
who of the hot rod-custom car world across North America
Additional features of the 62nd Annual Detroit Autorama include the Cavalcade of Customs; a 10 car exhibit of specially invited 50's customs, The Fintastic Fins; a 10 car handpicked collection of beautiful super finned custom cars, the Autorama Preservation Award Winner –the Clarence “Slick” Patterson ’39 Ford Convertible Custom presented by Steele Rubber Products
Returning this year is the extremely popular Autorama Student Career Day, introduced eight 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 second annual Autorama High School Design Competition 2014, 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 2014 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 7 at 5 and 8 p.m.; Saturday, March 8 at noon, 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 9 at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Other features at this year's Autorama include the 20th Annual Toy-A-Rama and the Pedal Car Challenge presented by Genuine Hot Rod Hardware.
Appearances on the Celebrity Stages:
These special guest will meet and greet visitors and sign autographs:
King of NASCAR, Richard Petty and racing legend, Kyle Petty, Friday, March 7 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Laura Marano, “Ally Dawson” from Disney Channel’s “ Austin and Ally”, Saturday, March 8, from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Spongebob Squarepants will appear Friday, March 7, from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday, March 8 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 9 from noon to 5 p.m.
Friday, March 7, Noon to 10
p.m.
Saturday, March 8, 9 a.m. to 10
p.m.
Sunday, March 9, 10 a.m. to 8
p.m.
ADMISSION
At Gate: Adults - $19
Children 6 to 12 years -
$5
Children 5 and under free
DISCOUNT TICKETS are available at O'REILLY AUTO PARTS
Discount tickets are: General Admission
- $17, Children 6 - 12 - $4
Group tickets are also
available
For more information call 248-373-1700
Go to www.autorama.com for up to the minute information and last minute
changes.
Autorama is produced by Championship Auto Shows,
Inc.
and by Michigan Hot Rod
Association
