The Auto Writer

I’ve attended quite a few consumer shows over the years, beginning at a young age with the New York Flower Show as my parents, who met while they were working at a seed company in Manhattan, were both interested in all things flowery. Not me, as I couldn’t wait to leave Madison Square Garden to head back to our New Jersey home — we had plenty of flowers in our garden…why on earth would I be interested in seeing more?

Besides flower shows, I’ve attended real estate expos, consumer financing seminars, you name it. But, my favorite has always been car shows as these events allow me to check out new models and concept vehicles up close.

I’ve attended car shows as a spectator as well as a journalist. Nothing compares to attending a show as a journalist as the automakers wait on you hand and foot. Plus, they’re great places where you can interview people, learn about new products before everyone else, and rub shoulders with some of the industry’s top leaders and reporters.

Today, two auto shows are now open to the public, one big: Chicago and one small: Raleigh. The Chicago Auto Show was first held in 1901 while the Raleigh show, dubbed the North Carolina International Auto Expo is marking its 22nd year. The Raleigh show will end this Sunday, while the Chicago event will end the following Sunday.

Yes, these are two very different shows, but they offer something for consumers that everyone will like: the chance to check out the latest iron and let your imagination take you to a place you want to be. In the case of the auto guys, that “place” would find you behind the wheel of some new ride ready to buy.

Last month, on the Ask Patty blog, a question was asked readers regarding auto shows and whether they should be abandoned. I responded by saying that auto shows are still relevant, especially to the consumer, but only if the automakers and show designers were to keep up with the latest trends.

No, I don’t mean by showcasing all of the latest new models or outrageous looking concepts, rather having shows where they are informative, interactive and fun.

A case in point is where at some shows visitors get to actually test drive some of the cars featured. In Chicago, Chrysler has a track set up where people can ride as passengers in their favorite Jeep, Dodge or Chrysler vehicles. In years past Raleigh offered a similar experience, where visitors could drive a Toyota truck on an outside dirt track.

In addition, I noticed that Ford had an interactive display set up in Los Angeles and I’m sure other manufacturers have come up with ways for people to see how an engine runs, a transmission looks when it is pulled apart, how hybrid technology works, etc. The more hands on the display is, the better. After all, people are accustomed to touching and feeling stuff these days — why not with cars?

I plan on making the ten minute drive from my home office in Cary to the Dorton Arena in Raleigh later this morning.  I should be at the NC auto expo for about ninety minutes or so with plans to take in the 2010 Buick LaCrosse as well as to check out whatever other models I haven’t seen yet.

I think it’ll be kind of fun to go without an agenda, the sort of thing I have to do when attending shows in Los Angeles, New York, Detroit and elsewhere. Though being a journalist is enjoyable, this time I get to see everything on my own terms…I can’t wait!