A clear sign spring is on the way is set to sprout this weekend at the John D. Bradley Convention Centre: the annual Chatham Indoor Auto Show.
The 12th rendition of this event, which will feature upwards of 100 new vehicles on display, takes place March 7-9.
Greg Hetherington, chief organizer of the event, said it’s a great no-pressure way to shop locally for your next vehicle.
“I think if you’re thinking about buying a car, everything is there,” he said. “Every possible car that you might want to buy is indoors. It’s also not a sale; not a pressure situation. Dealers and their staff just work with everybody. I think people like the casual atmosphere.”
He added the dealers like the show because it is a great way to connect with potential car buyers.
Nine Chatham dealers will have vehicles on display – Victory Ford, Chatham Chrysler, Volkswagen Chatham, Heuvelmans Chevrolet-Buick-GMC-Cadillac, Lally Kia, Chatham Nissan, Chatham Toyota, Chatham Honda and Chatham Mazda.
Where else can a prospective car buyer browse 100 vehicles, and get a feel for which ones suit them?
“You can sit in them. Find out if it’s a fit for you,” Hetherington said. “It’s all right there. If you are a tall person looking for legroom, or if you are short, maybe you want to see which vehicles have a telescoping steering wheel, you can.”
In terms of attendance, Hetherington said the event consistently attracts about 3,000 visitors over the auto show weekend.
Those who attend are asked to provide a cash donation or non-perishable food item in support of the six local charity organizations the show is providing aid to this year.
Those include Outreach for Hunger, Salvation Army, Chatham Goodfellows, Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation, and the Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation.
Last year, the auto show raised more than $10,000 for local charities.
New this year is the Power Sport Lounge in the ballroom, where Hetherington said three local businesses will showcase ATVs, motorcycles and golf carts.
Hudson Motorcycle, Oliveira Equipment and Maple City Kustom Karts will have products on display.
The Chatham Auto Show runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday at the Bradley Centre, located on Richmond Street in Chatham.
