A Car Show Like No Other

The straits off Macinac Island connect Lake Huron with Lake Michigan and separate Michigan’s somewhat more remote and less-populated upper peninsula from the lower part of the state. This northern waterway was a major avenue for fur traders and explorers in the U.S. and Canada for 200 years. In recent times, St. Ignace, Michigan (located on the Interstate 75 business loop), has become the site of one of the most unique car shows in this country. There’s a little bit of everything, automotively speaking, and a whole lot of hospitality that brings famous faces and personalities together for a joyous vintage car and truck celebration.

This year’s guest of honor was Keith Crain, chairman of Crain Communications. Mr. Crain was just one of the many famous names that made up a list of who’s who in our industry. There were many well-known custom-car builders, aftermarket industry personalities, and plenty of auto industry design and marketing executives. Plenty of awards were also presented to those well-known names and faces who attended a special brunch hosted by Nostalgia Productions. More about that in a minute.

Hot Rod magazine Senior Editor Gray Baskerville and I took a red-eye flight from L.A. to Detroit, where we picked up a candy-apple red (to match our eyes) PT Cruiser at the airport. We drove north to the auto-holics anonymous meeting via the ever-expanding Great Lakes Motor Works (a shop owned by Mike Stowe) in Boyne City, Michigan. Mike’s a great car guy who has made himself a solid reputation for quality construction and neat rides. His shop now trains new blood in the art of custom fabrication and restoration. Mike’s buttery-pearl ’49 Pontiac convertible was featured in the February 2000 issue of Rod & Custom, and was the Kress Reavie Memorial award recipient in 1999.

Arriving in St. Ignace on Thursday evening put us an invitation or two behind the rest of the crowd, as organizer Ed Reavie had already rolled out the red carpet by inviting guests to his home—which is often mistaken for an automotive memorabilia museum. There was also an evening ferryboat ride for those who’ve always wondered what the underside of the Mackinac Bridge looks like. One nearby attraction visitors to St. Ignace should not overlook is a trip to Mackinac Island, where motorized cars are—gasp!—not allowed. The architecture alone is entertaining enough to make the laid-back island one of the most popular vacation attractions in the Midwest. The charm of strolling through the dockside shops and the accessible walkways is a most enjoyable slow-motion contrast to our typically hectic lifestyles.

Back at the car show on Friday, a steady stream of special-interest cars and trucks started rolling into town. As soon as hotel accommodations were secured, lawn chairs were parked alongside State Street (the one major artery through town), to allow front-row seating for viewing the constant parade of neat vintage iron.

When you’re Ed Reavie’s guest, you have to work to buy a meal. Nostalgia Productions’ hospitality is legendary—as are the names of the recipients of the prestigious awards. Among others, here are some of the awards presented: the North Hall of Fame, the Media Hall of Fame, the Race Car Hall of Fame, the Concours d’ Elegance, the Governor’s Award, the Kress Reavie Memorial Award, the Sam Barris Memorial Award, and the Media Hall of Fame (Corporate). There’s also a six-pack of specially crafted awards created by the talented Ridler Award-winning builder Dan Webb.

What is so special about this gathering is the opportunity to put faces to the names you’ve read about for years. Names like Mike and Larry Alexander, Joe Bailon, Gene Winfield, Wally Parks, Norm Grabowski, Bill Cushenbery, Linda Vaughn, Ken “Posies” Fenical, Roger Lindamood, Chuck Miller, Frank Livingston, Jack Walker, Troy Trepanier, Don “Big Daddy” Garlits, and more. Among these living legends are also the talented and dedicated men and women who have carved their names onto the auto industry’s list of movers and shakers. Among those in attendance were Executive Vice President Tom Gale of Daimler/Chrysler, Executive Director of Design Jerry Palmer of General Motors Design Center, and Angelo Giampetroni of Ford Motorsports.

Gray Baskerville was honored with a multitude of awards, including the outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award. Yours truly was honored with a Hall of Fame North award and a Dan Webb Artist of the Year award—which may partially explain the popularity of this event! While many warm and fuzzy feelings were being shared by guests and hosts alike at the Guest of Honor brunch, outside the parade of rolling iron was starting to clog State Street and spill over onto the side streets. The little town of about 4,000 people swells to about 100,000 guests and spectators, all intent on seeing as much of the action as possible. This event is, after all, in the backyard of auto-oriented cities such as Detroit, Pontiac, Flint, and Warren. The auto-holics are gathering, hungry for their high-octane taste, and for a fill of vintage tin.