Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Fashback Automania 2011, Simply Cartastic

Automania /n/- (See Also: Cartastic)

By ~Patrick Krook


Automania2011_WM13 by ShowYourAuto!com
Automania2011_WM13, a photo by ShowYourAuto!com on Flickr.
Show Your Auto VIP display at Automania 2011!

If you've been to large car shows, you'd agree that most of the time it isn't about the venue. Even the biggest car shows are relegated to the county fairgrounds or in the inside of some large warehouse complex. Likewise, most small town cruise-ins are tiny affairs, a hundred or so cars- mostly Sunday drivers, lining a block or two of an historic main street. Sioux Falls, South Dakota is a city, majestic buildings hewn from Sioux Quartzite, the architecture is iconic, and so is Automania.

Automania is a phenomenon that occurs every June when a big city hosts a small town cruise-in where even Ridler Award winners sit parked curbside next to hometown vintage muscle still owned by the original purchaser. It is a confluence of the main street show and the largest concours gatherings. In 2011, nearly 1,500 cars lined the streets of Sioux Falls including one of most every Hurst performance model ever made all the way from Chicago. Four ultra-rare muscle cars arrived from Colorado, including one of only three 1970 fours speed Hemi Challengers factory equipped with a Shaker hood. A 1971 440 SIX PACK GTX also also made the journey from the Wellborn Muscle Car Museum located in Alexander City, AL. This is much more than a local street show.

Automania2011_WM20 by ShowYourAuto!com
Automania2011_WM20, a photo by ShowYourAuto!com on Flickr.
Drawing more than 1,000 collector quality automobiles of every stripe and era is a a feat withing itself, but Automania is much more than that. Perhaps what makes this show stand out amongst all others is the people. At national events held at fairgrounds, you are usually catering to a crowd of fellow owners, all of whom adhere to an unwritten code of respect for each others' rides. Street shows attract general public and to the dread of most owners- the risk of damage to their prized possessions. Over 70,000 people flooded the streets of down town Sioux Falls, representing over half the local population, without incident. Sioux Falls, known as the Best Little City in America, is also a true car guy town as well. Local classic and collector cars lined not just the main drag, but most every side street from mid-day, well into the night. The flood of people was restrained, polite, respectful, but most of all- appreciative of all the cars and their owners for bringing them out to display. Crowd wrangling is less of an issue when dealing with courteous folks who understand the virtue of self-control.


Automania2011_WM10 by ShowYourAuto!com
Automania2011_WM10, a photo by ShowYourAuto!com on Flickr.

As the sun set a live band played in front State Theater, rocking out to the backdrop of letters blinking S-T-A-T-E on the marquee. As twilight set in, the neon signs began to glow outside the local restaurants, playing off the jewel tone of a sapphire sky. The Paramount's sign glimmered green while enthusiasts relaxed “al frisco” style, enjoying the company of a 1969 Camaro. Further down the block, folks basked the warm glow of neon red Manerva's storefront banner, savoring gourmet food served street side. The 50's were reborn outside the Phillips Diner, the sky shifting to a turquoise blue as if to acknowledge the time travel of the city's business district. A '56 Pickup, a '49 Mercury, and a custom '38 four door sedan hung out as a '57 Ford Fairlane Skyliner retractable hardtop went top down, inviting in the evening breeze. Inside the period shift is complete with stainless, chrome, and overstuffed booths. The food at the Phillips is classic Americana with a sophisticated twist of careful presentation.

Every side street revealed another scene cut from yet different age of American automobilia. Down one block 1930's hot rods flanked by pin-up girls, each emulating their favorite Vargus print or doing their best Betty Page impression. Round the next corner and you are greeted by rows of '60 and 70's muscle gathered under puddle lights, an automotive version of Edward Hopper's Nighthawks. The 1969 Daytona played the roll of Bogart, the Baldwin-Motion Camaro, James Dean. Down the next alley 427 Shelby Cobra roadsters hold court along with a 429 powered 1970 Torino Cobra, almost never seen, especially equipped with Ram Air shaker and 4speed top loader transmission. The crowds persisted well into the night, cars not rolling for home until 11pm.

Automania2011_WM7 by ShowYourAuto!com
Automania2011_WM7, a photo by ShowYourAuto!com on Flickr.
If that were the show, it would be a noteworthy gathering. The fun, however continued the next day with private garage tours. It is a testament to the quality of a community when private collectors are willing show their cars a public of tens of thousands. Opening your private collection for public tour is a testament to the level of trust people share in Sioux Falls. Day two of Automania entailed a private garage tour of about a dozen of the most established local collectors and car related businesses. The hospitality and warm welcome was tremendous at each location. Strolling through the personal garages lent insight into how each person relates to the car hobby. On tour we were treated to the entire collection of American powered European exotics, 1950's and '60's lead sleds, a collection of resto-modded Impalas. We saw walls and walls of automotive art- even a hot-rodded coffee table, not mention the two headed cow. The most impressive business tour was Dakota Digital gauge works. It was a first hand look at the entire process from design to production and order fulfillment. Begun in the founder's garage, Dakota Digital is a modern facility that demonstrates that small scale manufacturing is still viable in the United States. They are able to produce and distribute internationally a full catalog of parts as well as fulfill custom orders to fit an individual builder's need. Sturdevant's Auto Parts hosted a barbecue pork tenderloin lunch in their 105,000 square foot S.A.E. Warehouse. We enjoyed really good food, sharing company with genuine car guys. Perhaps there is a reason that Sioux Falls only has a 5% unemployment rate.

The final day of Automania 2011 paid homage to the gods of commerce with an indoor auction by Silver. Offerings ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. No matter your taste or budget, it was a buyer's market. If you were inspired by the street scene of Friday night and wanted to join it next year, the auction was the perfect place to grab some sweet wheels at an even sweeter price. Whether you were where there for the street show, the live music, the excellent food from downtown restaurants, the hospitality local collectors, or stayed to take advantage of an auction steal, one and all can agree Automania is the epitome of cartastic.

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