True to form the group of travelers filtered to the bottom level of the bar now named ‘The Junction’ on the food court mezzanine level of Union Station at Jackson and Canal in Chicago before noon on the third Friday of January. Jim Renkar was there first and we arrived next. Then came Deb & Bill Mennell with Steve Skeggs shortly behind. We had time for favorites such as Chicago-style hot dogs and draft beverages. Then we had to hustle to get to the Wolverine 352 which was already boarding and left very promptly.

In the new Dearborn Amtrak station

The next part of the trip, riding, watching snow and cars driving in it, we passed around party supplies as always, a favorite part of the trip. The train stuck to its schedule with nearly a vengeance and we were deposited at the almost new Dearborn station less than an hour late. The hotel shuttle retrieved us and check-in was accompanied by the fresh chocolate chip cookies that are almost always there. The lobby was without either the baby grand piano or the wooden troll, Mr. Mugly to his friends, both of which have been reinstalled in the restaurant, now named Mugly’s.

The reason for the trip, other than traveling, was to visit the North American International Auto Show, an event that can betraced back more than a hundred years. We got there with no trouble due to the knowledgeable cabbie who avoided several miles of waiting traffic to drop us off soon after the doors opened. The immediate impact of the noise, lights, colors and crowds was confusing, especially as the programs with the maps are sold only a few places near selected entrances.

Cut-away of ZF 10 speed gearbox

There were fewer technical displays throughout the whole show with perhaps a quarter the number of cut-away gearboxes and engines as previous years. Instead, there were virtual reality demonstrations and assorted heads-up displays almost everywhere. There were still a few cars that were unlocked and that spectators could touch and sit in. A general impression was that this was the Detroit Truck Show as every manufacturer had big pickups with huge tires and really huge price tags.

Several marques were absent, so anyone who went to see a Mazda, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, Jaguar, Porsche or Rover had to look at the program’s photo section or be completely disappointed. So there was no panoply of Porsches, no ancient Lincoln held by a dealer’s family for 80 years and no new production two-place convertibles in the lower price ranges that might compete with our venerable MGBs. The sole Fiat offering was called a Fiat 124, possibly a contender except that it was a very slightly rebodied Mazda MX-5 on the Miata NC chassis that was last used in the 2016 model year. The basement portion of the show, small technical exhibits set up for the first two public days, was interesting to some and not to others. It also had a large amount of wifi stations for those who felt the need.

New Fiat 214 Spyder

The cabbie returned promptly when called and we had the time to go to the pool (the hot tub was closed). Except that it is unlikely anyone actually went to the pool and instead showed up when it was time for cocktails and supper.

The next day, we had ample time for breakfast, packing and glimpsing some of the 900 hotel artworks before being taken to the Dearborn Amtrak Station. The Wolverine 353 actually left a few minutes early and we had a pleasant journey on the return, being reminded that Amtrak road trips are about traveling without a care for car or weather and with friends during unfriendly weather.

~~ Jake & Ann Snyder