"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
“The Future is Now” for Michael J. Fox
The thermometer was smiling back at me with an 82-degree grin as I casually glanced at Monday’s forecast. A 66-degree meteorological bungee jump loomed less than 24 hours away with 10-15 inches of snow forecast for Wausau, Wisconsin……but I had made a commitment. I promised Tim Parker, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin that we would transport The Automobile Gallery & Event Center’s DeLorean to Wausau to be part of a special evening with Michael J. Fox at the beautifully restored Grand Theater. Our Master Mechanic Bruce Van Straten and I loaded up our DeLorean and headed west. It quickly became apparent that we weren’t headed Back to Future at all, we were headed back to…..January!
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Whipping winds and a dicey drive were quickly replaced by thoughts of Huey Lewis and the News’ #1 hit from the Back to the Future soundtrack. We were about to witness….the Power of Love. Michael J. Fox has starred in 38 movies, two long-running television sitcoms Family Ties and Spin City, authored four books, and even won an Academy Award……but for generations stacked upon generations, Michael J. Fox is and always will be Marty McFly and share the spotlight with most famous movie car in history.
As a sold-out crowd of 1,028 filed into the Grand Theater that night, nearly everyone stopped to smile and reminisce with their eyes riveted on our DeLorean parked in front of the entrance to the Grand Theater next to our friend Matt Hissem’s authentic Back to the Future DeLorean. In an instant the deep chill of winter was melted away by warm memories.
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I had every intention of sharing photos of our intimate evening with Michael J. Fox that night. His publicists, handlers, and management team wouldn’t allow photos of him on stage. That’s Hollywood. Instead, what I and the other 1,027 members of the sold-out crowd witnessed at the Grand Theater that night wasn’t Hollywood at all. It was as human as it gets. We saw a man whose frailty couldn’t be covered up by any amount of make-up or Hollywood lighting tricks. Parkinson’s Disease does that to a person. It robs you of everything….your physical ability, control over your body, and your dignity if you allow it. Like the house in Vegas, Parkinson’s always wins in the end. I know that because I lost my father to Parkinson’s on Labor Day weekend 2005. | |
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I thought about my father a lot that night as a reverent audience hung on every word Michael J. Fox said. We had no choice. 32 years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 29, every word he speaks is hard labor these days. Instead of retreating like most would have done, Michael J. Fox is courageously playing out his life in the public eye in search of a cure.
Parkinson’s will win again but be assured that this 5’ 4” mite of a man is fighting it with every ounce of strength he has left. Actors routinely use their celebrity to raise awareness, Michael J. Fox has raised something far important…$1.5 billion to find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease! In my job as Executive Director, I am surrounded by incredible horsepower every day. Yet all it took was one night with Michael J. Fox for me to realize that the greatest power we possess is the power of the human spirit. When the day comes when a cure is found for Parkinson’s Disease, that is the day that Michael J. Fox will truly have taken us all Back to the Future!
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Don’t miss Darrel Burnett’s Steering Column coming to an inbox near you on the 15th…
The Mona Lisa of Modena – The 1964 Ferrari Lusso Arrives at The Automobile Gallery & Event Center!
If you aren't signed up for it, click HERE (then scroll to the bottom of the page)
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With the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 coming up later this month on Sunday, May 28th, even passive race fans know that 4-time winner Helio Castroneves holds the all-time-record for the fastest 500 finish when he averaged 190.690 mph in 2021 and traveled 500 miles in a blistering 2 hours, 37 minutes and 19 seconds. However, we at the Automobile Gallery & Event Center are far more intrigued by the slowest finisher in Indy history!
That distinction belongs to Ralph Mulford in 1912. Driving a 6-cylinder Knox race car, describing Mulford’s day as challenging is an understatement of mammoth proportions. Due to 1912 rules, drivers were required to finish all 500 miles to collect their prize money. With $1200 and a 10th place finish at stake (the other 14 starters dropped out), Mulford and his mechanic scaled a mountain of mechanical problems to eventually cross the finish line in just under……9 hours! With dark descending on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the crowd, race teams, officials, and all other species had long since gone home leaving only a greatly agitated timekeeper to verify Mulford’s finish.
If you are keeping score at home, Helio Castroneves won the entire race in 2 hours, 37 minutes, and 19 seconds while Ralph Mulford took almost as long, 2 hours and 31 minutes, to finish after 1912 winner Joe Dawson!
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New Displays on the Way!
We are dedicated to making sure every time you visit The Automobile Gallery & Event Center that it will be a special experience. In our never-ending quest to keep raising the bar on our displays, we’re pleased to give you a sneak peek at what you’ll see on your next visit!
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2010 Morgan Aero SuperSport
Chances are you have never seen a Morgan Aero SuperSport. That doesn’t come as a shock as only 200 were ever produced. This is your golden opportunity to see the only Aero SuperSport in the world painted this gorgeous Sierra Red. Read the whole story of this 170 mph beauty at The Automobile Gallery & Event Center!
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1939 Buick
If a true American original is more your taste then you won’t have to venture far. This all-original 1939 Buick is 1 of just 14,582 Business Coupes built and it’s safe to say that this is the lowest mileage 1939 Buick in existence with just 13,000 original miles. You won’t want to miss this true American time capsule courtesy of our friends at Rawhide Youth Services!
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1940 GMC Truck
We would like to welcome the newest member of The Automobile Gallery & Event Center collection with the arrival of this historic 1940 GMC truck donated by President Chad Warpinski and his team at Amerhart. The story is as good as the truck. We can’t wait for you to read all about its wonderful history!
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International Visitors
Proving that automobiles truly are an international language, we’re thrilled to introduce you to our new friends Aivaras, David and Andrea who traveled more than 4,500 miles from Lithuania to the U.S. This terrific trio was in Chicago on a business trip this past week when a Google search led them to The Automobile Gallery & Event Center. They made a quick change of plans and traveled to Green Bay to spend the afternoon enjoying our Gallery collection before returning to their meetings in Chicago. We salute our new friends in their native language by saying puikiai praleidome laika (We had a great time!)
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Pictured Left to Right
Aivaras, David and Andrea
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The Automobile Gallery & Event Center
in the Movies!
The Automobile Gallery & Event Center welcomed cast and crew from movie production Room 108 The Clearing which is currently shooting final principal photography ahead of its release in August 2023. Star and producer Freddy Moyano, actress Renel Bartlett, cinematographer Craig Fraunfelder and sound technician Melissa Lopez recently filmed a scene in our period correct 1941 Cadillac. The scene is set in Green Bay on April 5th, 1942. The Automobile Gallery & Event Center is excited to be part of this wonderful production. To follow its release, we encourage you to visit Room108themovie.com.
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Magazine Magic!
The Automobile Gallery & Event Center is humbled and honored to be the subject of a wonderful 6-page article in the prestigious international publication Collectible Automobile on newsstands now. Gifted writer John Gunnell shares the wonderful history of our Gallery past, present and future. Make sure to pick up your copy of the June edition of Collectible Automobile now.
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Festa Italiana
The Gallery is hosting its first Italian-only car show fundraiser!
Spend the afternoon of May 20th amongst a never-before-collected display of over 50 Italian vehicles while enjoying artisan pizza from Oley's and tasty wine flights from Captain's Walk Winery.
Tickets are only $15 which gives you full access to the Gallery collection and this once-in-a-lifetime Italian display.
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Over Father’s Day weekend on June 17th, 8a-2p we're turning downtown Green Bay into a car enthusiast’s dream with our annual Cars & Guitars fundraising car show! All cars are welcomed, from hot rods to the American Classics and everyting in between! Live music by WOGB’s All-Star band starts at 10a while the food tent serving brats, burgers, and beef franks and cold drinks available all day!
Register your car for only $15 which includes your car spot, 2 lunch tickets, and the first 250 registered receive a commemorative magnetic metal dash plaque.
To spice things up even more this year we’ve partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association in a Drive to End Alzheimer’s to help raise funds for the fight against Alzheimer’s. Show your support…and your car…in a car parade through senior care facitilies lead by Automobile Gallery vehichles. If you would like to participate in The Drive, $5 of every registration goes to the Alzheimer’s Association. All Drive to End Alzheimer’s participants get grouped parking, 2 complimentary lunch tickets, and as part of the car show, if you’re amongst the first 250 registered you also receive a commemorative dash plaque.
Annual t-shirts are on sale too so get yours with your car registration!
Admission into the Gallery is only $5 all day too!
Reserve your spot in the car show today by following THIS link!
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In the News!
NBC26 was onsite this last month covering the history of the Gallery, special features of key vehicles, our upcoming events and how to get involved!
This 6-minute video is worth the watch.
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GET INVOLVED!
Opportunities at the Gallery
If you or anyone you know would like to be involved with the Gallery, we have opportunities available:
**NEW** zSpace Operational Support: set up, monitor, and tear down zSpace laptop system during student sessions
**NEW** Front Desk Administration the front line Gallery representative, greet guests, and field general questions.
Volunteers to staff events, maintain the vehicles and Gallery, and educate guests
If interested in any mentioned role, please email Megan Lehmann at MeganL@theautomobilegallery.org
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Unlimited Gallery Access!
Read below to find out how
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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 event tickets
- 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.
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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 your review.
It's that easy! Thank you for your time and review - it means a lot to us!
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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.
If you're interested in participating, contact us at inquire@theautomobilegallery.org!
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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 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.
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Grant De Broux
Joe Griffiths & Family
Michael Sullivan &M2Logistics
Keith Obermiller & Family
Tom & Dawn Olejniczak
Jeff & Cheryl Tyndall
Ashok Rai & Family
Bob & Joylce Rupp
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Joyce-Lyn & Steve Altieri
Brent Baker
James Bednarowski
Christopher Boland
Ann & Steve Bradford
Kaleb Cieslewicz
Joel Hensley & Bridget Kelley-Hensley
David Loppnow
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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. | | | | |
