Numerous people flocked Cobo Center Saturday for the Autorama which is a large car show held annually in Detroit, Michigan. This is the reason why the officials of the Autorama decided to open the doors at nine in the morning - an hour early.
By 11 a.m., there were already thousands of people at the 55th annual Murray's Discount Auto Stores Autorama. The Autorama, an annual large car show dedicated to pay ode to hot rods, is held at the Cobo Center in Detroit every March.
Near Cobo Center were lines of cars backed up for several blocks along Fort Street in the path of parking lots. According to the Autorama officials, they will not release attendance numbers until the show ends on Sunday. "This is really the best of the best of hot rod shows," said spokeswoman Linda Ashley. "People are drawn to it."
The three-day show attracts more than 130,000 enthusiasts. It opened Friday with a special morning session intended for students who are mulling over employment in the aftermarket car industry. The industry is responsible for upgrading and modifying cars for customization after cars and trucks are manufactured. Aftermarket expertise necessitates auto parts that could either be flashy or simple according to the car owner’s preference. Other mechanics use Bilstein shocks to enhance suspension components and performance of the car.
Greg Wolfe, 30, is a resident of Midland and Wolfe said, "We come every year, who came Saturday with his son, daughter and father. It is a family tradition." Ruth DiLaura, an enthusiast, brought her 17-year-old granddaughter Rachael Swanson to check out the rides. DiLaura - a 57-year-old Roseville resident - loves cars and is passing that passion on to Rachael. "I love the Autorama more than the North American International Auto Show," DiLaura said. "I love muscle cars."
“That 12-week program gets kids involved in designing automobiles,” said GM creative designer Reginald Gay.
Jackson Robar of Detroit created a sketch of a car displayed at a General Motors Corp. booth to promote the automaker's Explorer program. Robar said he would like to design cars one day. "I love cars, especially old muscle cars," Robar said. "The program is great."
By: Jenny McLane