"The Automobile is the Art"
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News & Views for the Car Enthusiast! |
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From the Desk of Darrel Burnett
Executive Director
Happy April Fool’s Day!
April 1st is the one day of the year that stands out as proof that we can indeed take a joke. If you can’t then you are almost assured of becoming the butt of said joke. I was quite surprised to learn that April Fool’s Day wasn’t concocted by a grade school miscreant as I had always suspected. No, far from it. The roots of April Fool’s Day date clear back to the late 1500s in France, a period in world history that isn’t remembered for its knee slapping comedy. Right there, smack dab in the middle of the bloody “War of the Three Henrys” waged for control of France’s kingdom someone decided what everyone needed was a good laugh. No joke. Well, you know what I mean.
You would think at some point over the course of the next 440 years April’s Fool’s Day would have run out of steam though in all fairness I should point out that steam wasn’t even invented until 1698. But you get my point.
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April Fool’s Day is remarkably resilient, surviving world dominance by Spain, Great Britain, Civil Wars, a pair of World Wars, the Great Depression, famines, plagues, and everything else life has thrown at us. This proves that smiles never go out of style which is our motto here at The Automobile Gallery & Event Center. In that spirit, I hope you are having a good laugh on April Fool’s Day 2022. |
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63 years ago, the entire automotive world was having a good belly laugh when the Daimler Dart SP250 debuted the first week in April at the 1959 New York Auto Show. The Dart SP250 showed up looking like it was in dire need of a trip to the orthodontist. A buck-toothed wonder it wasn’t, and it was branded the “April Fool” and unofficially voted the ugliest car at the show that year. Numb to the name calling, Daimler’s advertising trumpeted a car that was ready to go places fast. Instead, it went nowhere fast. |
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Daimler had to drop the name Dart when Dodge threatened to sue. Troubles continued to mount when plans to sell 3,000 units a year reversed into reality. Only 2,654 total SP250s were built over 5 years. The SP250 would be the last car Daimler ever built and the company folded into Jaguar in 1960. Full confession, the SP250 hasn’t gotten any prettier over the years but it does bring a pretty penny. Fewer than 600 are known to exist and a good example will set you back $70,000 or more. If the SP250 could talk it would surely be posing the question, “Who is the April Fool now?” |
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Don’t miss Darrel's next Steering Column (hint: it has something to do with "Lambo" Field) coming April 15th!
If you aren't signed up for it, let us know HERE (scroll to the bottome of the page)
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A “Little” April Fool’s Joke
VW had the public doing a double take when it ran this ad on April Fool’s Day. Touted as the Caddy Maxi Mini, a 2.4m (7 feet 8 inches) long micro van with one seat and just enough room for a toolbox or the driver's lunch seemed the perfect solution for the economy-minded driver. VW also offered the option of being able to fit a Golden Retriever in the Maxi Mini if you left the toolbox behind. In “short order” VW came clean and admitted it was just an April Fool’s Day joke!
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Pit Crew Member of the Month
Mark Nemetz
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It’s fitting that these photos of our Pit Crew Member of the Month Mark Nemetz are of him on a racetrack because keeping up with Mark is nearly impossible. Following a 30-year career as an Energy Broker for Wisconsin Public Service, Mark is the least retired “retiree” you will ever meet! As a central figure in our fabulous Pit Crew, which keeps our great collection of 150 vehicles running and driving, Mark somehow finds time to drive a school bus, be a volunteer firefighter, own a web design company, serve as an instructor at Road Racing School and a track worker at Road America…..Whew!
If all that takes your breath away, we haven’t even covered Mark’s hobbies which include collecting and racing motorcycles (up to 10 at one time) and cars, his latest being a 2006 Corvette as a member of Corvettes of the Bay. From the time he was old enough to drive Mark “had a feel” for all things fast and sleek, so inheriting a hand-me-down 4-door sedan wasn’t part of his plan. In fact, Mark’s first three cars were a ‘66 Malibu SS, ‘68 Chevelle SS and ’70 Nova SS
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Those great collectibles are long gone, so Mark now immerses himself in the Gallery’s great collection including his favorite, our 2001 Indy Car. “Being able to be around the cars that were so instrumental when I was younger is a true joy” Mark explains. “It is so special to be around the 2001 Indy Car race because my wife Kelly and I were at the 85th running of the Indianapolis 500 to see it run that day." |
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Our Indy Car and Mark Nemetz have many things in common. While both are now retired, both are to be admired for their tremendous accomplishments!
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CARes for the Community comes to The Automobile Gallery & Event Center!
Our area leaders have generously allowed us to display their extraordinary vehicles all in the name of raising money for our area's youth services. Join us on May 20th at The Gallery to participate and join the cause!
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Would you like to win this beautiful Beatles collector's box set? |
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Includes:
- The complete Beatles 16-album collection!
- 252-page Beatles history book in color
- Digital download of entire collection to ensure the value of the collection (never have to open the original collection)
This collectors' edition is valued at $1750 and it can all be yours! All you need to do is purchase a ticket to the Gallery's American English concert to be automatically entered into the drawing(must be present to win)!
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American English
Celebrating Paul McCartney’s 80th Birthday!
June 15th The Automobile Gallery & Event Center is celebrating Sir Paul McCartney’s 80th birthday at the Meyer Theatre and you’re invited! It promises to be a night you’ll never forget as nationally renowned Beatles tribute band American English takes the stage for the first time ever at the Meyer playing the Beatles legendary hits including a special birthday tribute featuring hits from Paul McCartney’s solo career.
Get your tickets now before April 15th before they go on sale to the public! Save and get the best seats at www.theautomobilegallery.org or by calling (920) 437-9024.
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After celebrating Paul McCartney’s birthday at the Meyer Theatre, the celebration continues Saturday, June 18th at our 5th annual Cars & Guitars Car Show. Experience Food, Fun, Live Music and more at The Automobile Gallery & Event Center. Sign up your car today!
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We have a unique event coming to the Green Bay area, Get Your Motors Running. This event mixes NYT and USAT Best Selling authors, readers who love books, and beautiful classic cars in one great experience. Readers will dine with authors, be involved in basket raffles (to benefit our charity, (Friends Fight Together) and giveaways, a book signing, mingle among classic cars, enjoy dinner and end the evening with a rousing SINGO party. To be part of this fantastic event, you must have a ticket which are on sale now on our website!
Our Charity: Friends Fight Together
Location: The Automobile Gallery, Green Bay WI
Date: April 23, 2022
- Reader Tickets - $85 - Includes 2 meals (lunch with an author and dinner), book signing, entrance into The Automobile Gallery and SINGO afterparty
- Guest Tickets - $75 - Includes 2 meals (doesn't include author table), trip to Doc's Harley Davidson, entrance into The Automobile Gallery and SINGO afterparty
- General Admission (signing only) - $15
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Memberships at
The Automobile Gallery
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Start the year off right with a membership to The Automobile Gallery!
We have memberships for individuals, couples, families, and corporations!
All memberships include:
- Unlimited visits to the Gallery for one year
- Discounts on all gift shop purchases
- Discounts on Special Event Tickets
- Early ticket sales for special openings and special events
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The Automobile Gallery is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the enjoyment and enrichment of our visitors and community. Becoming a member of The Automobile Gallery helps support its mission, which in part is to educate, inspire and share the passion of the automobile with others. Through the generosity of memberships, donations, admissions and event income, The Automobile Gallery will continue for generations to come as one of the finest galleries of its kind in the country.
You may support The Automobile Gallery by making a gift to our endowment fund. This endowment will provide funding in perpetuity for the Gallery to serve the community through various educational programs, exhibits, and interactive learning environments to teach the history of the American Automobile.
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Joyce-Lyn & Steve Altieri
Brent Baker
James Bednarowski
Christopher Boland
Ann & Steve Bradford
Kaleb Cieslewicz
Grant De Broux
Joe Griffiths & Family
Michael Sullivan &M2Logistics
Keith Obermiller & Family
Tom & Dawn Olejniczak
Jeff & Cheryl Tyndall
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Contemporary Automobile Gallery and Event Venue Where
"The Automobile is the Art"
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Gallery open 9:00am - 3:00pm daily, hours subject to change.
*Prepurchase Tickets and Gift Certificates Available*
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You are receiving this email because you interacted with The Automobile Gallery by becoming a member, making an online purchase, entering a giveaway, purchasing admission tickets or filling out our online subscription form. We do not like SPAM, therefore we will not sell or share your email address. |
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