Auto show is ready to open thanks to hardworking 'pit crew'
By Mark Maynard
SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE WHEELS EDITOR
December 26, 2007
The Christmas rush has a different jingle for anyone with a role in the San Diego International Auto Show, which opens at 10 a.m. today and runs through Sunday at the San Diego Convention Center.
The show involves dealership personnel to staff the exhibits, representatives who travel the show circuit, local companies that display vehicles and products, food service, and the crews that transform the more than 740,000 square feet of bare concrete into a showroom palace.
The move-in began Dec. 17 and continued in 12-to 13-hour days until Monday. The convention center was closed yesterday.
Forty semitrucks have lined up to unload materials and vehicles. More than 40 forklifts and a variety of industrial-strength scissor lifts were at the docks Monday.
Each exhibit requires carpeting, padding, lighting and wiring for vehicles and displays. When it's all in place, clear Visqueen plastic is rolled out to protect the carpet from scuffs and scrunching as cars and trucks arrive. Then the plastic is cut away.
“There's almost a mile of walking from one end of the main floor to the other – through both sections of the center,” said Amy Foley, New Car Dealers Association San Diego spokeswoman.
But that doesn't include the upstairs exhibits of show cars, vendors and entertainment. Or the Toyota Trucks Off Road On Site Adventure on the back side of the center.
For the off-road adventure, 10 tons of river rock and 750 tons of dirt were delivered last weekend to create a variety of driving obstacles. Crews were working Monday to heap dirt into place. Auto show attendees can test-drive pickups and more.
But despite the plans of the dealer association, not all goes as promised.
The Dodge Fantasticar from the movie “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” was heavily promoted for Sunday, which is Family Day, but the car is a no-show.
“And they signed a contract,” Foley said. “Apparently, it was damaged in the breakdown of an exhibit in Las Vegas.”
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This story posted by LeaseTrader.com, the automotive service company that lets people transfer out of their Car Leases early. If you're looking to swap a lease or transfer out of your car lease, please visit www.leasetrader.com