In terms of new product, this year’s Chicago Show hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. Let’s see… facelifted crossover, hatchback version of existing car, convertible version of existing car… It’s the proverbial “slow news day” in million-square-foot format.
Lacking even a new bodystyle or three-year-old Japanese-market van to debut, Chrysler did the smart thing to make sure the journalists were satisfied: they broke out the cupcakes. Now for the trivia question: Can you spot the former Monte Carlo Rally winner in this picture?
That’s right: the lady seated in the electric scooter is the world-famous rallyist, Sebring winner, and grande dame girljourno Denise McCluggage, who is currently celebrating her eighty-fifth spin around the sun. She admitted to me that getting into the cookie scrum was considerably more challenging than winning a major rally, but noted that some major part of that was due to the difficulty of backing up an electric scooter. I later saw her perform an impromptu slalom of a few potted plants at well above walking place. Some people can still get it done regardless of age, you know!
I love you…r writing.
You haven’t done anythnig yet about this new product:
http://www.wbez.org/story/locally-made-police-cars-debut-chicago-auto-show-96183
Or is it not really anything new?
A pity the CPD has been replacing their Crown Vics with top heavy Tahoes that look like giant ice cubes lumbering around the city.
Top-heavy Tahoes are just the thing in jurisdictions where hand-held cell phone use has been banned. They can see what’s going on inside other vehicles much more easily.
The previous police superintendent needed to up his macho-factor because the rank-and-file thought he was a suit-wearing former FBI wimp and not a real salt-of-the earth police chief. The Tahoe replacement was one of his attempts.
He’s no longer the police superintendent.
She has got patience. Whenever someone gets in the way of my Grandmother and her mobility scooter, she just rams them out of the way. When they turn around ready to leap into action my Gran always puts on her ‘little old dear’ face and says “I’m ever so sorry luvvy, I didn’t see you there,” which usually leads to them apologizing, hopping out the way and letting her through. Once out of earshot she usually mutters something along the lines of “…stupid blind buggers.”
Memories from Chicago Auto Shows past: A shiny red Ferrari 250 California priced at a reasonable $12K. Well, it was 1960, after all. Four years later, I ran across a high school classmate who spent several sessions on a turntable with the new Olds 442, chirping “Mod Rod, 442”. I asked how that went, and her replay was “My feet hurt. You try standing in 4-inch heels for a whole afternoon!”
Denise could teach you, but she’d have to charge.
I read the headline “Dodge’s cupcakes bring all the boys to the yard” and the picture too awhile to load. I said ‘ oh Jack wrote an article and cupcakes must be code for skirts, chicks, babes” Wrong. When the picture loaded cupcakes were cupcakes.
You definitely need a faster internet connection.
After witnessing the cupcake scrum firsthand, I lost what little faith in humanity I had left.
I did manage to beat my way up there to get a red velvet cupcake though, so I’m pretty sure I can manage when auto shows delve fully into Mad Max style scenarios
Good to see Denise is still on wheels. I remember Car and Driver talking about her in the 60s.