"The Automobile is the Art"
| |
News & Views for the Car Enthusiast! | |
|
From the Desk of Darrel Burnett
Executive Director
| |
|
For being the shortest month on the calendar, February certainly has some of the longest traditions. Take Valentine’s Day as an illustration, whose origins can be traced back to somewhere between 400 and 500 AD. How many boxcars full of Godiva chocolates and bouquets of flowers do you think that adds up to? Digging deeper, an ancient February tradition started by Julius Caesar in the 14th century is one that fascinates me and puzzles others….leap year. You would have to be the second coming of Galileo to truly understand how a leap year actually works, but my unscientific stab at it is that a leap year occurs about every four laps around the sun with a few extra spins involved. 2024 has the distinction of being a leap year giving us the luxury of squeezing another 24 hours out of this year’s month of February.
| |
Taking a peek at it from an automotive perspective, February makes an ironclad case that every year is leap year. A long list of life altering “leaps” in automotive history have occurred in the month of February. Let’s begin with an abbreviated list of prolific luminaries who were born this month.
February 18th- Enzo Ferrari
February 20th – Roger Penske
February 22nd – Niki Lauda
February 24th – Alain Prost
February 25th – Davey Allison
Richard Petty wasn’t born in the month of February, but his racing career was….when he won his first Grand National race February 28th, 1960, at the old Charlotte fairgrounds. King Richard became quite acquainted with the checkered flag, winning 199 more races to finish his Hall of Fame career with an even 200.
|  |
|
A record 7 of King Richard’s 200 wins came at the Daytona 500, a race Bill France Sr. staged for the first time February 14th, 1948, on a little 3.2 mile stretch along Daytona Beach. That first race was only 150 miles long but,76 years later, this year’s Daytona 500 February 18th will be the most watched race in the U.S. again by a wide margin.
| |
A day later, 70 years before on February 19th, 1954, the prototype of the legendary Ford Thunderbird was completed giving birth to an enduring symbol of the 1950s not to mention a long list of songs including the Beach Boys smash Fun, Fun, Fun!
| |
For a month that is often considered nothing more than the bridge between the Super Bowl and summer, milestones and memories abound. The first patents for the electric car and diesel engine were issued in February. The first self-starter for a car was introduced on 1911 Cadillacs. Henry Ford hired the Dodge Brothers to build chassis and running gears for his Fords and they were so successful that 11 years later they started their own car company, Dodge, which survives to this day. Hudson and Studebaker didn’t survive but they, too, were founded in February.
I always contend if we’re lucky we age. There is one beautiful exception. February 11th, 1911, Rolls Royce introduced the “Spirit of Ecstasy” hood ornament, a grande dame who has aged ever so gracefully for 113 years and still looks as beautiful as the day she greeted the world. I invite you to pay a visit to her at The Automobile Gallery & Event Center while you’re savoring this wonderful month of February!
|  |
|
Don’t miss Darrel Burnett’s Steering Column coming to
your inbox on the 15th…
Studebaker's 1958 Golden Hawk....a Golden Oldie!
If you aren't signed up for it, click HERE (then scroll to the bottom of the page)
|  | |
Happy Birthday Enzo Ferrari!
One of the most influential forces in automotive history was born 126 years ago this month on February 20th, 1898, in Modena, Italy. His birth name was Enzo Anselmo Giuseppe Maria Ferrari Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI but he was known the world over as simply Enzo.
An unapologetic perfectionist, Enzo Ferrari was known to be impossibly tough on his drivers and employees but even tougher on his competition. From 1948 until his death at the age of 90 in 1988, Enzo Ferrari's cars won more than 5,000 races and 25 world titles, but what was often forgotten was that Enzo himself was a very accomplished racer. As a young man, he won major races in Europe…. ironically none of those wins came in a Ferrari. However, his success as a driver led him to start a company bearing his name in 1947!
| |
|
Corvettes of the Bay Member of the Year Dan Terrien!
Regular visitors to The Automobile Gallery & Event Center know that we are home to the Corvettes of the Bay Car Club which is celebrating its 50th year in 2024. You see their beautiful cars in a rotating display at the Gallery, but rarely do we have an opportunity to show you the members themselves. We congratulate Dan Terrien for being voted Corvettes of the Bay Member of the Year!
| |
|
In addition to being a member of COTB for more than 20 years, Dan just completed a 2-year term as President of the club during which he grew Corvettes of the Bay’s membership to an all-time record. Dan is a true “car guy” in every sense of the word. He has owned three Corvettes including his current ride, a '96 Collector Edition with a 6-Speed and LT4 engine! | |
|
When Rubber Didn’t Meet the Road!
Tires fall into the same category with electricity, water, oxygen….and Patrick Mahomes being in every commercial on television. We just take all those things for granted. That wasn’t always the case with tires….or at least rubber tires. Following World War I, German engineers responded to a severe rubber shortage by introducing a steel spring tire.
It was wonderful in theory, but the steel spring tires
weren’t durable and soon got “bounced”!
| |
As proof that ingenuity has no end, when all the rubber was directed to the war effort in America during World War II, quick-thinking James Pruett decided to shoe his Star Laundry and Cleaners trucks with wooden tires built by Kruse Lumber Company in 1942. The wooden tires proved to be loud and lacked traction. Worse, deliveries were limited to around town because the wooden tires could only handle speeds up to 20 mph, which put an end to wooden tires.
| |
Finally, there is a new concept in tires that holds air…. or in this case, doesn’t hold air. Michelin has been working on airless tire technology for two decades and is expecting to roll out its Uptis (Unique Puncture-Proof Tire System) airless tires in 2024. Talk about a blowout sale (get it?), if the Uptis technology works, Michelin claims it will save more than 200 million tires a year!
|
|
|
Meet at the Maltshop!
February 8th
Nothing chases away the winter woes better than milkshakes and classic cars and you can have both February 8th when you join us for our annual member appreciation night at The Automobile Gallery & Event Center! Become a member now and be the first to hear what’s in store for 2024!
| |
|
Shamrock Craft Beer Invitational!
Saturday, March 2nd
Classic cars and beer go together like Shamrocks and St. Patrick's Day! Join us on Saturday, March 2nd, and enjoy unlimited 2oz beer samplings from 20+ of the finest craft breweries in Wisconsin and beyond! Over 80 incredible classic cars will also be on display, and be a part of our first major event of the year!
Purchase Tickets here
| |
|
2024 Save-The-Dates!
February 8, Thursday: Meet at the Malt Shop, Member Appreciation Party
(if you are interested a membership, click here)
March 2, Saturday: Shamrock Craft Beer Invitational
April 4, Thursday: Rock n' Roll Juke Box, Daddy D's Production
May 14, 15, 16, and 18: Brown County History Days, complimentary private Gallery tours and presentations
May 18, Saturday: Festa Italiana (Italian-only car show)
June 15, Saturday: Cars & Guitars
September 12, Thursday: Cruisin' the Classics, Daddy D's Production
September 28, Saturday: AUTOberfest (German-only car show)
December 7, Saturday: Old Fashion Christmas, Daddy D's Production
*More details coming soon!*
If you have specific questions on an event, please reach out to Inquire@theautomobilegallery.org
| |
The Automobile Gallery & Event Center is always excited to welcome new friends from around the world. This month our arms stretch 5,316 miles. That’s the distance between Guatemala and England! | | |
|  |
|
Guatemala
Jimena, Eduardo, and Santiago Reyes visited from Guatemala City, Guatemala, and were quick to share with us that they are Green Packer fans for life. After their visit, we’re happy to report that the Reyes family thinks The Automobile Gallery & Event Center is pretty cool too in more ways than one! The average temperature in Guatemala City at this time of year is about 80 degrees.
In addition to coming from Guatemala’s largest city with nearly 5 million people in the metropolitan area, the Reyes family also comes from car country, or perhaps we should say truck country. Guatemala City’s favorite vehicles are mini trucks manufactured by Toyota and Nissan.
| |
|
England
Karl and Lucy Hayes and their sons Austin (older) and Doug traveled from England to visit relatives and stopped by The Automobile Gallery & Event Center. It was nice to see them as they enjoyed strolling among our collection spanning 113 years!
| | |
|
|
Follow us!
Want to see more? follow us on Facebook and Instagram to get updates, insights on the collection, and much more!
| |
|
Unlimited Gallery Access!
Read below to find out how
| |
Be a part of the Gallery community and support your favorite Downtown Green Bay entertainment site with a personal membership!
All memberships include:
- Unlimited Gallery visits for an entire year
- Discounts on all gift shop purchases
- Discounts on special events
- Early ticket sales for special openings and special events
We have memberships to suit every interest too!
Personal, dual, family, grandparent, or friend of the Gallery.
| |
|
GET INVOLVED!
Opportunities at the Gallery
If you or anyone you know would like to be involved with the Gallery, we have opportunities available:
Volunteers to staff events, maintain the vehicles and Gallery and educate guests
If interested in any mentioned roles, please email us at inquire@theautomobilegallery.org
| |
|
Google Reviews - We'd love yours!
The Automobile Gallery & Event Center is already on most Top 10 Lists for great things to do in Northeastern Wisconsin, now you can help even more visitors find us by giving us a great Google review.
CLICK HERE to leave yours!
It's that easy! Thank you for your time and review - it means a lot to us!
| |
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.
If you're interested in participating, contact us at inquire@theautomobilegallery.org!
| |
|
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 sharing 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.
| |
|
Jeff Tyndall
Joel and Bridget Hensley
Keith Obermiller
Dr. Ashok Rai and family
David Loppnow
Henry Isaksen
Scott Hemauer
Bob and Jolyce Rupp
White Lace Inn, Sturgeon Bay
| |
Gallery open 9:00am - 3:00pm daily, hours subject to change.
*Prepurchase Tickets and Gift Certificates Available*
| |
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 ail address. | | | | |
