Page 9 - On The Move - Volume 17, Issue 3

Atlanta’s Spring Thing, the Atlanta full-motion driving simulator to the show, which As an added treat, a bit of Hollywood came to this
International Auto Show, rolled into the C provided participants with a thrill-ride behind the year’s show in the form of a run-down, dirty, dingy
Building of the Georgia World Congress Center wheel of a simulated Shelby GT500 Mustang. motorhome, affectionately known as “Cousin
at the end of February this year, arriving a bit Eddie.” The RV, which was used in the comedy
earlier than usual on the calendar, and thankfully And visitors were not limited to the virtual driving classic ‘Christmas Vacation,’ was on display
so. The world changed dramatically just a couple space. As is the case each year at the show, folks for visitors to see. They even had the ability to
of weeks after the show concluded, with social were provided with Ride & Drive opportunities pose with the infamous hose on the driver’s side,
gatherings and events brought to a screeching by several manufacturers, giving them a chance reliving that classic moment from the film in which
halt by the Coronavirus outbreak. Other to test drive a wide range of vehicles on the Cousin Eddie dumps raw sewage into the storm
significant events, such as the New streets of downtown Atlanta. “Ride & Drives are drain in front of the Griswold’s home.
York Auto Show and the North an invaluable tool for the manufacturers at the
American International Auto show,” remarked Shayne Wilson, President of the There was also a focus on safety at this year’s
Show in Detroit, found Metro Atlanta Automobile Dealers Association. show, with the Georgia Governor’s Office of
themselves caught up He continued, “it really helps consumers along Highway Safety participating. They brought out a
in the crisis, resulting the road to a purchase, giving them a chance to display which featured a Camden County Sheriff’s
in postponements and evaluate the real-world aspects of the vehicles vehicle that had been involved in a high-speed
cancellations. they are considering for purchase.” chase, which subsequently ended in a violent roll-
over crash. Fortunately, the deputy survived, in
Year over year, the Atlanta The Atlanta International Auto Show is consumer- large part due to the fact that he was wearing his
International Auto Show focused, unlike larger shows, where the attention seat belt. Following along with that theme, they
welcomes thousands of tends to be aimed at the media. And while it’s also had a “seat belt convincer” on display, which
attendees to the event, certainly important to engage the automotive gave visitors the chance to experience a low-speed
showcasing the latest new press on the latest and greatest offerings, it’s impact, further highlighting the importance of
cars, SUVs, trucks from more important to connect the OEMs to the safety belts.
dozens of manufacturers, consumers who are the ones doing the purchasing.
while also providing a fun, In fact, manufacturers have indicated that regional With the 38th Annual Atlanta International Auto
family-friendly environment shows, such as Atlanta, provide 80% of all their Show in the rear-view, we’re looking ahead to
that features special attractions, auto show leads. Those leads translate into sales, 2021 and the 39th installment of the event. The
celebrity appearances, and more. and sales are what drives the industry. tentative dates for the show are March 17th
Exhibitors filled show spaces with thru the 21st. Be sure to follow us on Facebook,
their latest offerings, as well as As visitors wound their way around the show Instagram, and Twitter for updates, as well as
interactive displays that elevated the floor, they were treated to exhibits of specialty checking on our website, goautoshow.com.
experience for attendees. vehicles that brought back memories for some,
while igniting dreams for others. Caffeine and
A few manufacturers brought Octane was back with a display of exotics and
out driving simulators, which classics that kept the cameras working overtime.
gave visitors a chance to get But they weren’t the only ones. The Atlanta
behind the wheel in a virtual International Auto Show team put together a
environment. One standout was collection of vehicles that spanned several
the Alfa Romeo racing simulator. genres and generations, including classic
Participants climbed into an Alfa Mustangs, Volkswagens, Corvettes, and
Romeo Giulia, which was converted more. And the students of the Georgia Tech
into the simulator, adding a level of Competition Center brought out a few of
realism that’s tough to beat. Another their race cars for visitors to enjoy.
came from Ford, who brought their
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