The Chicago Auto Show

We didn't make it last year so Thing1 wanted to make sure we went this year. Even if it interuppted other plans. Since Thing2 was off with Church for the weekend the wife and I went and picked up Thing1 at school and headed off for the show.

After a short ride on I-55 (never went into Chicago this way before) we pulled into the indoor parking garage 15 minutes before the doors opened. Parked real close to the entrance to McCormick Place. Very strange so far. I was expecting worse as the lines for outdoor parking were huge.

Since I had bought ticked online the night before we got in the long entrance line. The ticket line was much longer. In the doors and right to the Ford display. Thing1 had a list of cars he wanted to see. I just wanted to drool look at cars that'll never be in my garage. We did look at some cars that were in our price range but since we're not really in the market right now this was more for fun. We hit most of the displays. Skipped most of the Japanese makers as, except for the Mazda RX8 and the Mitsubishi Lancer, none of us care much for them.

There were some cool concept cars. Hopefully some (at least parts of them) will actually become production. Horsepower is back. Detroit style. Big motors. No sewing machines. We all had favorites. I'd still like a Z06 Corvette, the wife a 4 door F150, and Thing1 gravitates from a Chevy Colorado to a Ford Mustang and back. Realistically the Ford 500 and Freestyle fit our needs perfectly. Thing1 likes the Chevy Cobalt and Ford ZX3.

Personal highlight of the day - The US Army is present over by the Jeep display. They have one of the Stryker vehicles as well as a tricked out Humvee. Lots of soldiers around answering questions. Kids of all ages were taking pictures and talking to the soldiers. We spent a few minutes talking to one of the soldiers about the Stryker. I asked him if he drove one and he said he will be when he "heads back". I asked if he ment Iraq and he said yes. No hint of fear, no shaking, nothing. Pretty impressive young man. I shook his hand, thanking him and wished him well as others were waiting for a chance to talk with him.

While we were there - 2 to 3 people a minute just walked up to a soldier, shook his hand, and said thanks. It was good thing to see.