Peter Hodges, Author at The Tulsa Auto Show

Tulsa 102nd Anniversary Auto Show to Feature Full-Size Concept Car Model

Tulsa (April 1, 2019) – The Tulsa International Auto Show will be featuring the first full-size concept car model to ever be produced and exhibited by an auto show for this year’s event. The concept car will be on display April 12-14 at River Spirit Expo at Expo Square in Tulsa. The show is open on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Click the graphic below to see the announcement video of the concept car model: The concept car will be a full-size model, made of high-density foam, polyurea coating and auto body paint. Click the graphic below to see the video of the concept car being built: “This is a truly exciting opportunity to have this concept car on display at the Tulsa Auto Show,” Bill Knight, president of Knight Auto Group, said. “This is a one-of-a-kind exhibit and we are proud to have it as part of our show.” The concept car was designed by independent artist Kip Kubisz. An ultralight vehicle design that he imagines to use aerodynamics and an electromagnetic power train and suspension, the design is intended to be powered by electricity through a bank of magnets in the inner wheel well and on the rim. The car is also designed for air to flow through the body and channel to the back end providing downforce while also decreasing drag. “I am extremely honored and excited to be the person who designed the first full-size concept car model produced and exhibited by an auto show,” Kubisz said. “My design incorporates many of today’s technologies along with some conceptual ideas to create my vision of a future racing platform, [...]

Tulsa Auto Show’s Futurliner #10 To Stroll Through Tulsa

Tulsa Auto Show’s Futurliner #10 To Stroll Through Tulsa TULSA (April 10, 2018) – The Futurliner #10 – one of the main features of this year’s Tulsa International Auto Show – will be driving through the streets of Tulsa Thursday starting at 11:30 a.m. Until this year, the Futurliner #10 last appeared in Oklahoma in the 1950’s as part of the General Motors Parade of Progress but will return for public display in Tulsa after being restored. The 101st anniversary of the Tulsa Auto Show is being held April 13-15 at the River Spirit Expo at Expo Square. “It is one thing to see the Futurliner #10 in a photo or video, but seeing it in person is just incredible,” Bill Knight, president of Knight Automotive Group, said. “For anyone who hasn’t yet had an opportunity to see this wonder from decades ago, this is a great opportunity to come out and view it firsthand.” The Futurliner #10 was one of 12 large dual-front wheeled display vehicles that crisscrossed the country in the early 1950’s, part of a General Motors promotion called the Parade of Progress. The GM Parade of Progress and its crew of about 60 young men carried futuristic and inspirational exhibits to millions of people across North America from 1936 through 1956. The parade of Futurliners accompanied by GM’s newest cars for sale would pull into small towns just like the circus once did, set up at the fairgrounds or a park. This 1953 Futurliner, with 16-foot display doors on either side, was a perfect platform for static exhibits and live demonstrations of emerging technology of the future. “We know the Futurliner #10 is a popular attraction but Oklahomans have been particularly [...]

Futurliner #10 To Be Featured at Tulsa Auto Show

TULSA (March 28, 2018) – Visitors to the 101st Tulsa Auto Show will have an opportunity to see what once was considered one of the most innovative automobiles of its time – the Futurliner #10 (Watch Video.) The Futurliner #10 last appeared in Tulsa at the Tulsa Fairgrounds from October 27 – 31, 1955 but will return for public display after having recently been restored. The 101st anniversary of the Tulsa Auto Show is being held April 13-15 at the River Spirit Expo at Expo Square. “We are so pleased to feature this incredible piece of American history as part of this year’s Tulsa Auto Show,” Tom Bloomfield, general manager with Don Thornton Automotive Group, said. “With an opportunity for people to experience the Futurliner #10 inside and out, we anticipate a lot smiling faces.” The Futurliner #10 was one of 12 large dual-front wheeled display vehicles that crisscrossed the country in the early 1950’s, part of a General Motors promotion called the Parade of Progress. The GM Parade of Progress and its crew of about 60 young men carried futuristic and inspirational exhibits to millions of people across North America from 1936 through 1956. The parade of Futurliners accompanied by GM’s newest cars for sale would pull into small towns just like the circus once did, set up at the fairgrounds or a park. This 1953 Futurliner, with 16-foot display doors on either side, was a perfect platform for static exhibits and live demonstrations of emerging technology of the future. “This is such an exciting opportunity to bring the Futurliner #10 to the Tulsa Auto Show this year,” David Yarde said. “The Futurliner was a great example of innovation of its time and we [...]

Tulsa Auto Show Mini-Golf Course Combines Fun with Charitable Giving

TULSA (March 31, 2017) – There should plenty of birdie and eagle sightings among the hundreds of cars on display next week on the 18-Hole Mini-Golf Course at the 100th Anniversary Tulsa International Auto Show. The popular mini-golf course will be open all three days of the 100th Anniversary Tulsa International Auto Show, which will be held April 7-9 at River Spirit Expo at Expo Square in Tulsa. The mini-golf course is $5 per person with the proceeds going toward The Pencil Box, a non-profit free store where teachers can shop for free school supplies specific to the needs of their classrooms and students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12. “Our mini-golf course is something that appeals to people of all ages,” Bill Knight, president of Knight Automotive Group, said. “It brings a smile to the faces of those who get to play, and it brings a smile to our faces knowing the money is going to help local kids with school supplies.” The Tulsa Auto Show is one of the largest consumer shows in Oklahoma and will feature a variety of entertaining activities for adults and kids of all ages. In addition to the mini-golf course, the 100th anniversary event will include a re-creation of the event from a century ago with one hundred-year-old and vintage cars; the opportunity to test drive cars and trucks from Toyota and Chevrolet; the Hall of Fame NASCAR exhibit; a “Caffeine and Gasoline” event; and many new vehicles that are not yet in dealership showrooms. “The 100th Anniversary Tulsa Auto Show offers a great opportunity for visitors to enjoy some time with their families, and the mini-golf course is just another example of that,” Tom Bloomfield, general manager with [...]

Popular NASCAR Racecars on Display at the Tulsa Auto Show

TULSA (March 30, 2017) – Ever wanted to see a car driven by Dale Earnhardt Sr. in wins at Atlanta, Martinsville and Bristol? How about the car driven by Bill Elliott to set the NASCAR speed record? If you said yes, each of those racecars and more will be on display next week at the 100th Anniversary Tulsa International Auto Show. The NASCAR exhibit will be on display at the 100th Anniversary Tulsa International Auto Show, which will be held April 7-9 at River Spirit Expo at Expo Square in Tulsa. “Whether it is Dale Earnhardt Sr. or Bill Elliott or any of our other famous NASCAR cars, there is a special feeling of excitement every time someone sees these cars on display,” Brent Hajek, owner of Hajek Motorsports Museum, said. “We are appreciative to the Tulsa Automobile Dealers Association for inviting us to be a part of this 100th Anniversary Tulsa Auto Show and we know the public is going to enjoy seeing some famous and highly visible racecars.” The Hajek Motorsports Museum will be featuring several cars with NASCAR ties, including the 1988 Chevy Monte Carlo Aero Coupe driven by Earnhardt and the 1987 Ford Thunderbird driven by Elliott when he set the NASCAR qualifying record time of 212.809 miles per hour. Other NASCAR racecars that will be on display include the 1973 Chevy Malibu driven by Bobby Allison, the 1963 Ford Galaxie driven by Glenn “Fireball” Roberts and the 1969 Torino Talladega driven by David Pearson. “We know we have a lot of NASCAR fans out there and this is always a popular exhibit with them,” Tom Bloomfield, general manager with Don Thornton Automotive Group, said. “The [...]

“Caffeine and Gasoline” To Be Featured at 100th Anniversary Tulsa Auto Show

TULSA (March 29, 2017) – A wide variety of automobiles will temporarily move from their garages to the parking lot outside the River Spirit Expo as part of the 100th Anniversary Tulsa Auto Show next week. The “Caffeine and Gasoline” feature of the 100th Anniversary Tulsa International Auto Show will take place Saturday, April 8, from 8 a.m. to noon. The Tulsa Auto Show is being held April 7-9 at River Spirit Expo at Expo Square in Tulsa. “This is an opportunity for car owners of all types to get together and show off cars and trucks that might normally be sitting away in a garage outside the view of the public,” Curt Rainbolt, club manager, said. “By moving our monthly meeting of ‘Caffeine and Gasoline’ to the 100th Anniversary Tulsa Auto Show, we are expanding the number of people who will get a chance to see some rarely seen vehicles. It should be a great time for everyone who comes out.” Hundreds of automobiles from different models, eras and styles will be on display as part of the “Caffeine and Gasoline” event. The group routinely meets once a month at Extreme Racing and Entertainment, with coffee and automobiles being the feature among the car enthusiasts who attend. The group also takes group drives during various times of the year and occasionally schedules private track days. Among the cars that have been a part of the gatherings are Lamborghinis, Aston Martins, Honda Tuners and Ferraris. “This is a rare opportunity for the general public to show up and see a large collection of automobiles that spend most of the year hidden away,” Bill Knight, president of Knight Automotive Group, said. “We know visitors to the [...]

Re-creation to Take Tulsa Auto Show Visitors Back to 1917

TULSA (March 28, 2017) – Have you ever wondered what it would be to live around the time the automobile first gained popularity in the United States? The 100th Anniversary Tulsa International Auto Show will provide an opportunity to do just that with the re-creation of the event from the first show in 1917. With the Tulsa International Auto Show celebrating its 100th anniversary April 7-9 at the River Spirit Expo at Expo Square, those attending the event will be treated to a re-creation of the event from 1917. “Visitors to the 100th Anniversary Tulsa Auto Show are going to be in for a unique treat when they are able to see automobiles from over a century ago,” Joe Smith, certified appraiser for the Auto Appraisal Group, said. “In addition to the new cars that will be found throughout the show, some area collectible and antique car clubs will have displays. Whether or not you have a collectible and want to check out what some local car clubs are displaying, this would be a great opportunity to come out and check out some rare antique vehicles.” A dozen antique automobiles dating back to 1914 will be on display as part of the re-creation exhibit. This feature will focus on showing visitors a glimpse of what the original Tulsa Auto Show looked like in 1917. In addition to the vintage cars, those attending the show will be treated to advertisements and stories from the 1917 Auto Show “Automobile Section” as well as a re-creation of a 1917 dealership building façade. “People always seem to be fascinated when they see some of the vintage cars from a century ago,” Tom Bloomfield, general manager with Don Thornton Automotive [...]

The Pencil Box Benefiting from Tulsa Auto Show, Mini Golf Proceeds

TULSA (March 24, 2017) – Two entities with an interest in bringing smiles to the faces of Tulsa-area kids will be joining together to benefit students as proceeds from the 18-Hole Mini-Golf Course will go to The Pencil Box. The 100th anniversary of the Tulsa International Auto Show will be held April 7-9 at River Spirit Expo at Expo Square in Tulsa. Opening its doors in Tulsa to teachers in October 2015, The Pencil Box is a non-profit free store where teachers can shop for free school supplies specific to the needs of their classrooms and students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12. Schools eligible to shop are public schools where 70 percent or more of the students live at or below the poverty level. “We are deeply honored and most grateful for the generosity of the Tulsa Automobile Dealers Association and for their partnership in providing school supplies to disadvantaged students and their teachers,” Nancy Bolzle, executive director for The Pencil Box, said. “At The Pencil Box, we believe every student deserves the tools necessary for successful learning. With approximately 42,000 students in Tulsa County living at or below the poverty level, the need is huge. Our children’s future, and that of our community, will be determined by the investment we make today.” Schools are invited to shop at The Pencil Box beginning with the neediest. Currently, teachers from invited schools can shop on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and the first Saturday of the month throughout the academic year. The Pencil Box depends solely on the generosity of businesses, foundations and individuals to stock its shelves, and has given over $400,000 worth of supplies toward the needs of Tulsa-area students. “The Pencil Box is a [...]

Tulsa Auto Show Celebrating 100 Years

TULSA (March 20, 2017) – The year was 1917 and the automobile was still early in its infancy as a part of daily American life. There were an estimated 5 million registered automobiles then, as compared to more than 255 million 100 years later. And it was the first year of the Tulsa International Auto Show, which will be celebrating a century of automobiles next month. The 100th anniversary of the Tulsa International Auto Show will be held April 7-9 at River Spirit Expo at Expo Square in Tulsa. “We expect this to be a special year for the Tulsa Auto Show,” Bill Knight, president of Knight Automotive Group, said. “Tulsa’s commitment to the growth of the auto industry has been reflected positively for the past century, and we are excited to have an opportunity to celebrate 100 years of the automobile industry in the Tulsa area.” The Tulsa Auto Show is one of the largest consumer shows in Oklahoma and will feature a variety of entertaining activities for adults and kids of all ages. The 100th anniversary event will include a re-creation of the event from a century ago with one hundred-year-old and vintage cars; the opportunity to test drive cars and trucks from Toyota and Chevrolet; the Hall of Fame NASCAR exhibit; classic cars; an 18-hole mini golf course; a “Caffeine and Gasoline” event and many new vehicles that are not yet in dealership showrooms. “The Tulsa Auto Show is going to be an exciting event for everyone who walks in the doors,” Tom Bloomfield, general manager with Don Thornton Automotive Group, said. “Whether you enjoy classic cars, new cars or fast cars, there will be something here for everyone, and the centennial [...]

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