2011 Auto Event Schedule

2011 Major International Auto Shows

January 2011

European Motor Show Brussels
Brussels Expo,
Brussels, BELGIUM
www.salonauto.be

 

January 15-23, 2011North American International
Auto Show (NAIAS)
Cobo Center,
Detroit, USA
www.naias.com 

February 2011Canadian International Auto Show
Metro Toronto Convention Centre and Rogers Centre,
Toronto, CANADA
www.autoshow.ca

February 11-20, 2011

Chicago Auto Show
McCormick Place,
Chicago, USA
www.chicagoautoshow.com

 

February-March, 2011Melbourne International Motor Show
Melbourne Exhibition Centre,
Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
www.motorshow.com.au

 

March 3-13, 2011

International Geneva Motor Show
Palexpo,
Geneva, SWITZERLAND
www.salon-auto.ch/en/

 

April 2011Beijing International Automotive Exhibition
New China International Exhibition Center
Beijing, CHINA
www.china-autoshow.com

 

April 2011New York International Auto Show
Jacob Javits Convention Center,
New York, USA
www.autoshowny.com

 

April 19-27, 2011Auto Shanghai
Shanghai New International Expo Center,
Shanghai, CHINA
www.autoshanghai.auto-fairs.com

 

July-August 2011British International Motor Show
ExCel London
London, UK

www.britishmotorshow.co.uk

September 2011

Frankfurt Motor Show
Frankfurt/Main, GERMANY
www.iaa.de

 

October 2011

Paris Motor Show
Paris Expo-Porte de Versailles,
Paris, FRANCE
www.mondialautomobile.com

  

October 2011

Prague Auto Show
Prague Exhibition Grounds,
Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC
www.incheba.cz

November 2011

SEMA Show

Las Vegas Convention Center

Las Vegas, USA

www.semashow.com

 

November 2011
L.A. Auto Show
Los Angeles Convention Center,
Los Angeles, USA
www.laautoshow.com

 

December 2-11, 2011
2011 Tokyo Motor Show
Makuhari Messe,
Chiba City, JAPAN
www.tokyo-motorshow.com

2011 Regional Auto Shows

December 30, 2010-January 2, 2011

San Diego International Auto Show

San Diego Convention Center

San Diego, California

http://sdautoshow.com/

 

January 6–9, 2011
Silicon Valley International Auto Show
San Jose McEnery Convention Center
San Jose, California

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/sanjose/

January 14–16, 2011
South Carolina International Auto Show
Carolina First Center
Greenville, South Carolina

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/greenville/

January 14–17, 2011
Utah International Auto Expo
South Towne Exposition Center
Sandy, Utah

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/saltlake/

January 27–30, 2011
Northeast International Auto Show
Rhode Island Convention Center
Providence, Rhode Island

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/providence/

January 27–30, 2011
Pennsylvania Auto Show
PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/harrisburg/

January 28–30, 2011
West Virginia International Auto Show
Charleston Civic Center
Charleston, West Virginia

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/charwv/

January 29-February 6, 2011

Philadelphia International Auto Show

The Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

http://www.phillyautoshow.com/

February 10–13, 2011
Motor Trend International Auto Show – Baltimore
Baltimore Convention Center
Baltimore, Maryland

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/baltimore/

February 11–13, 2011
Iowa-Illinois Regional Auto Show
RiverCenter Convention Center
Davenport, Iowa

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/quadcities/

February 18–20, 2011
Memphis International Auto Show
Memphis Cook Convention Center
Memphis, Tennessee

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/memphis/

February 26–March 6, 2011
Greater Milwaukee Auto Show
Frontier Airlines Center (formerly Midwest Airlines Center)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/milwaukee/

March 11–13, 2011
Virginia Motor Trend International Auto Show
Greater Richmond Convention Center
Richmond, Virginia

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/richmond/

March 18–20, 2011
First Hawaiian International Auto Show
Hawaii Convention Center
Honolulu, Hawaii

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/honolulu/

April 15–17, 2011
New Mexico International Auto Show
Albuquerque Convention Center
Albuquerque, New Mexico

http://www.newmexicoautoshow.com/

October, 2011
Orange County Auto Show
Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, California

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/Orange_County/

October, 2011
Puerto Rico Auto Show
Puerto Rico Convention Center
San Juan, Puerto Rico

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/sanjuan/

October, 2011
Long Island Auto Show
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Uniondale, New York

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/LongIsland/

November, 2011
Central California Auto Show
Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center
Fresno, California

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/fresno/

November, 2011
Arizona International Auto Show
Phoenix Convention Center
Phoenix, Arizona

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/phoenix/

November, 2011
Central Florida International Auto Show
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, Florida

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/orlando/

November, 2011
Motor Trend International Auto Show – Las Vegas
Las Vegas Convention Center, Hall S-3
Las Vegas, Nevada

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/lasvegas/

November, 2011
Nashville International Auto Show
Nashville Convention Center
Nashville, Tennessee

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/nashville/

December, 2011
Tampa Bay International Auto Show
Tampa Convention Center
Tampa, Florida

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/tampa/

2011 Classic Car Automotive Events

January 18-23, 2011
Palm Beach Cavallino Classic
Palm Beach, FL

January 19-23, 2011
Arizona Collector Automobile Auctions
Scottsdale, AZ

April 9-11, 2011
Festivals of Speed St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, FL

June 17-19, 2011
Concours d'Elegance of the Eastern United States
Bethlehem, PA

July 2011
Kohler International Challenge
with Brian Redman
Elkhart Lake, WI

July 25, 2011
Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance
Auburn Hills, MI

August 2011
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Monterey, CA

August 2011
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Pebble Beach, CA

August 2011
Woodward Dream Cruise
Ferndale, MI

September 2011
Route 66 Rendezvous
San Bernardino, CA

October 2011
Louisville Concours d'Elegance
Louisville, KY
 

November 2011
Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival
Hilton Head Island, SC

November 2011
Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals
Rosemont, IL

Link to photos

VETTEL'S F1 CAR!!!

1966 Dodge Dart 270 Convertible Part 14

Late August:

Fitted carpet for the boot/trunk...

Installed the exhaust system...

Early September:

Finished the rear seat and installed in the car...

Installed new number plates front and rear

A Daytona in a Farm

I got a tip from a nice gentleman in Wisconsin, he mentioned that there was a fairly rare and desirable Muscle Car not far from a town I know. So after running a Dodge SRT (www.drivesrt.com) event in Rockford, I headed north for the night. The next morning I followed the directions down winding roads to a farm in the middle of nowhere.  Where the mythical car was rumored to be.  From the road you would never have known what was hiding there.

One of the Sons heard me pull up to the gate and came and asked if he could help me with something. I told him who I was and why I was there. He said he would ask his father if it was alright to let me in and allow me to see the car. A few tense moments passed and thankfully the father said yes, and the gates to a Mopar legend opened. 

And there, sitting in the corner of the yard was what I was there for... one of those magical barn finds...  the ones dreams are made of... a real 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona.

I talked to the owner of the car for about an hour.  A very nice older gentleman. He is the original owner. Funny story, his wife was in Madison and saw this car for sale at the Dodge dealer up there. Called her husband at work and asked him to come see it. They ended trading in their 1968 GMC Pickup Truck on it because, as he said, “It wasn't one of their... finest vehicles...” So for the next 4 years they drove the Daytona everywhere.

Unfortunately one day after getting a full tank of gas in town, the family came home, then swapped cars and went out to dinner. This was roughly late 1974. They got back, and the next day try to go drive the Daytona and the thing shudders, there was a terrible noise and the car quit running. After tearing apart half the engine and taking the gas tank out, they discovered someone had drained all the gas out of the car and replaced it with water. Hydrolocking the engine.

The only major damage they found after dis-assembly was that some of the push rods were bent. But instead of fixing it during the gas crunch and with whnter around the corner, they filled the engine with heavy duty oil, drained the entire cooling system and topped off the transmission. That's it.

And ever since, they move the Daytona where ever the family goes.  It was in a garage for a few years, but they needed room in the garage.... for stuff, so they moved it back outside. And so it sits outside, uncovered until the day they are able to restore it, they say.

So I parted company with my new friends, told them to stay in touch and keep me up to date on the car. If they ever needed anything, just to let me know. I would help to the best of my ability.

There were some other finds of the day, but I will share those in another blog.

Ryan Brutt

HemiPwr70@aol.com

2011 McCall's Motorworks Revival at The Monterey Jet Center

20th McCalls Motorworks Revival at The Monterey Jet Center Photos

Another year, another Jet Center Party, another mind-blowing good time. For people who have never attended this Wednesday night party that unofficially kicks off Classic Car Week in Monterey - run, don't walk, to get tickets for next year's event. Although all of the events held around the peninsula during this week are worth attending, the McCall's shindig is truly unique.

The combination of cars, military aircraft, the latest corporate and personal jets, the food, the wine...and the people, is like no other. The cars alone are like a highlight reel of what's to come during the rest of the week. Plucked from Quail, the auctions and the private debut parties to be held over the ensuing few days, the cars are the heart of the party, but removing them would still land you a memorable night. But this is a car blog after all, so let's take a look at what this, the 20th installment of the McCall's event here in Monterey, wowed us with this year.

Entering the outer courtyard of the venue we were greeted by a matte black Lamborghini LP700-4 Aventador - the Murcielago replacement that picks up where the Reventon left off, and manages to drop a few hundred pounds and gain a few HP in its transformation into a more modern, sharp-edged supercar. While the overall dimensions are similar to the outgoing Murci, the cuts and creases remind you more of the LP560-4 Gallardo - which isn't a bad thing at all. It is stunning in person and promises to elevate Lamborghini's presence in this upper echelon of the hypercar segment with performance that will rival anything it is pitted against.

If matte black isn't your thing, there was also a reddish orange one inside the main event area, as well as a bare tub that proudly displayed the car's innards for closer examination. The materials used look just as exotic as the bodywork missing from this display vehicle and the components look like they were made by watchmakers. The Aventador duo were staring down a very yellow Hennessey Venom GT - the first one sold in the U.S. Standing beside the car was the man whose name appears on the rump of this stretched and stuffed Lotus Exige - John Hennessey. This LS9-ish powered monster offers nearly double the horse-count of the donor ZR1 and would probably feel right home on the grid at Le Mans.

A few feet away from the Venom was a carbon fiber track-only sculpture that is based on one of the most extraordinary new supercars of the last 10 years - the Pagani Zonda R. Where the new Aventador looks like carbon fiber origami with its prickly angles, the Zonda has a bioengineered organic feel to its form that makes it look like it was birthed from a living thing. And just like the Hennessey Venom GT, the man whose name is on the car was there to see people's reactions to his progeny - both the Zonda R and his new, U.S.-intended Huayra.

The Huayra was in the back of the main hangar, drawing us into a space that housed a few dozen more gems - but we lingered near the new Pagani for more than an hour before moving on. Part of the reason for that was the fact that Horacio Pagani himself was standing next to it, answering any question thrown his way, and happily opening any of the car's various panels with a flurry of unbuckling of straps and released latches. The simple truth is that Horacio has once again managed to create one of the most strikingly designed supercars in the world.

The components rival those of the Aventador that we marveled at, but elevate them into works of art. Truly, each of these mechanical ingredients looks fit to display in a museum. Pagani is one step ahead of us in this thinking, as several pieces were actually displayed in glass cases atop carbon fiber stands near the car. Gorgeous stuff that actually works as good as it looks - what a concept.

Our favorite bit had to be the key though. When Sig. Pagani placed a small silver model of the Huayra before us, we at first thought it a nifty keepsake for someone's desktop. Then the car was pulled apart revealing a USB jack. Ah, this must be a very clever - and expensive - press kit. When the other half of the miniature vehicle was inserted into a slot in the center stack of the Huayra, we were dumbfounded. This was no novelty item, it is the ignition key.

Near the Pagani stand sat a pair of Lotus Evora sportscars. One was a rather electric blue and the other was one of the company's race cars, done up in white with bare carbon accents. First shown and rcaed last year, the car appeared to have been refined somewhat for its sophomore season. Closer inspection revealed this to actually be the new GTE concept - a streetgoing version of the racecar. Think Scuderia or Porsche RS and you'll get the idea. Extremely handsome car and we hope that the large Lotus staff on hand for the debut took our drooling pleas to build it seriously.

Another car that we may have left a puddle of saliva in front of was a red Aston Martin with some less-restrained than usual lumps and bulges in its form. This was the new Zagato racecar and it looked brutal - handsome but brutal. Not that there's anything wrong with that. The car evokes memories of the mid-sixties dual-purpose racers from Aston's illustrious past - and conveniently, we only had to glance over our shoulder to see a few examples of that heritage. What a party!

The Ferrari display next to Aston Martin had a California, a matte white Italia that looked suspiciously like a possible Scuderia concept, and a shooting brake that s called the FF. Readers of this blog may note that these initials match my own. Coincidence? I think not, but the guard wouldn't buy it and didn't release the car to my care as I requested. It is often said that automotive journalists all have the same favorite car - a high performance station wagon with a stick shift. While that is certainly true of many of us, it is especially true of yours truly. A certain Hennessey-tuned Badillac CTS-V wagon comes awfully close to depleting my willpower reserves when it comes to grand theft auto. This Ferrari takes things a step further, however, by being a 2-door. Che bella.

There was so much more to see and do at the party this year, but I'll have to catch you up later. It is late and I have an early date with a polo field. The Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance is tomorrow. For now, check out the gallery to see what we saw last night at The Jet Center in Monterey.

1966 Dodge Dart 270 Convertible Restoration Part 13

Early August

Finished re-doing the front seat base

Mid August

Front seat is done... and installed...

Cars & Coffee – 8/6/11: Kenny from the Block

Cars & Coffee - 8/6/11 Photos

Yes, Ken Block was back at C&C today, with a whole film crew in tow, apparently shooting a series of video clips that will take them from the show to a meetup with a certain BMX racer also sponsored by Monster, to lunch, for a cruise down PCH and on to the DC store. A glance at the script had Ken using the SYNC system in his Ford, so it's quite possible we may be seeing some of this footage in a Ford ad too.

The car that Block brought this time wasn't his personal Focus RS street car, but rather his X Games-fresh Ford Fiesta RS WRC Rally, Gymkhana And RallyCross Car. The thing looks like a remote control car that's been scaled up. There is hardly anything inside it that won't contribute to gathering, managing or scrubbing speed. Block calls it his "hybrid function hoon vehicle."

According to a recent write-up on ZerCustoms, it is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo Ecoboost engine built by Pipo Moteur, which develops 600 hp and 665 lb-ft of torque. The engine sends its power to all four wheels via a Sadev 6-speed sequential transmission and an all-wheel-drive system developed by the same manufacturer. Ken's H.F.H.V. Fiesta weighs 2755 lbs and comes equipped with 355 mm Brembo WRC brake discs and 4-piston calipers, a Reiger WRC suspension system, a Cosworth engine management, a custom-built Garrett turbocharger with a 45 mm restrictor, and a dual-core intercooler.

This very special Fiesta rally car sits on 17-inch Speedline wheels with Pirelli P-Zero rallycross tires, when set for this type of racing, while Ken sits on a Recaro Ultima seat. When Ken uses his new Ford Fiesta WRC for Gymkhana, he has to adjust the dampers, spring rates and height, and put a set of 18-inch Fifteen52 tarmac wheels with Pirelli Trofeo tires. The Fiesta also gets shorter gear ratios
and an adjusted engine management map.

For stage rally, the new Fiesta WRC needs a new suspension and engine management setup, 15-inch O.Z. gravel wheels with P-Zero rally tires, 300 mm brake discs and real, functional headlights. They also have to move its radiators from the trunk to the front and to cover the side air vents.

It's really a clever design, and looks like it would be a hoot to drive. Honestly, letting Block take us for a ride would probably be even better.

While the Fiesta got the most attention, those who wandered beyond it got to see three different Lancias, a Fiat Multipla, a lightweight E-Type racer, a black Carrera GT, a Datsun 510 Wagon, Porsche 550 Spyder, some great looking BMW 3.0 CS coupes and a super widebody Camaro. Well, maybe that last ne was worth missing. Follow the link above to see the whole gallery.