The 2019 Cleveland Auto Show is in full swing at the I-X Center
In this article I will be featuring one of my favorite places to chill out at the 2019 Cleveland Auto Show. It’s the Mazda Ride and Drive booth that is located almost midway down the east wall of the International Exhibition Center between the Subaru and Volkswagen drive and rides. To begin with, there are three Registration Personnel to help you through the sign up process and breathalyzer if your driving.
You then decide which vehicle you wish to either drive or ride in. They offer nine vehicles in six different models including a MX5 RF Miata (weather permitting), a Mazda 3, a CX3 and two each of the Mazda 6, CX5 and CX9. Nine Right Seat Drivers are waiting to take you outside to the vehicle that you chose for a leisurely drive around the I-X Center with a short bit of road driving thrown in. As you are cruising your Right Seat Driver will fill you in on all the latest innovations in the particular model that you chose such as heads up display, information screen (with GPS), heated seats and steering wheel, traction control as well as the many safety features built into the vehicle.
What makes this experience a delight is the booth itself. It is large and well appointed with comfortable chairs and sofas to sit in and catch your breath as well as coffee (decaf and regular) and a variety of really good cookies. Make this a mid show stop to recharge your batteries. At the end of the drive after you have filled out a short electronic questionnaire you will receive a $10 Starbucks card. Did I mention how friendly and nice the staff are? Well they really are!
Tuesday, February 26th: Cavaliers rookie point guard Collin Sexton will be available to sign autographs at the GMC display from 6 to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, February 27th: For race fans, Kaulig Racing will have owner Matt Kaulig along along with Fox 8 News Anchor Stefani Schaefer as well as 4-time heavy weight champ Stipe Miocic and 2018 Daytona 500 winner Austin Dillon from 6 to 8 p.m. in the main concourse.
Thursday, February 28th: Has the Cleveland Auto Show honoring America’s service personnel, veterans and first responders with free admission during Northern Ohio Heroes Day. The free admission offer is limited to individuals with valid identification with no geographic limitations but does not include spouses, children or friends. No matter where or when you served or where you currently reside your entrance fee is free. For more information go to www.clevelandautoshow.com/heroes. From 7 to 8 p.m. Cleveland Browns Pro Bowl alumni linebacker joe Schobert and OL Joel Bitonio will be available to sign autographs in the Honda display.
Friday, March 1st: Cavaliers point guard Matthew Dellavedova will be available to sign autographs from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Kia display.
Saturday, March 2nd: The 2oth Annual Classic Car Show Awards for “Best of Show” and “Peoples Choice” will be awarded at 2 p.m. Vote for your favorite by going to the Cleveland Auto Show’s Facebook page. The RAM display will host the 92.3 “The Fan’s Street Team” with on-air personality Ken Carman from 3 to 5 p.m. with Cleveland Brownsw linebacker Joe Schobert joining the event from 3 to 4 p.m.
Sunday, March 3rd: The Official Vehicle Giveaway will take place at 5 p.m. where two lucky winners will get a free 36-month lease on either a 2019 honda Accord Sport or a 2019 Honda Ridgeline RT., the official vehicles of the Cleveland Auto Show. Show attendees can register for the drawing at the Official Vehicle Giveaway Booth located near the West Entrance of the I-X Center. Each day of the show, one finalist will be chosen and invited back on Sunday, March 3. Out of the ten finalists invited back, two Grand Prize winners will be selected. So, if you are selected as a finalist, your odds of winning are one in five this year!
Some cool stuff to look out for during the show are the Delorean “Time Machine” from the hit movie “Back To The Future”, Scooby Doo’s “Mystery Machine”, Mutt Cutts “Shaggin Wagon” from the film “Dumb and Dumber”, the 1970 off-road Charger from the movie “Fast and Furious 7”, Optimus Prime from the Transformer Movie “The Last Knight”, the Lego Chevy Silverado inspired by “The Lego Movie 2”.
You can also take a test ride with Camp Jeep and Ram Test Track and eight manufacturers are back with their Ride and Drive vehicle testings. The Cleveland Auto Show will host Ride-N-Drive events from Chevrolet (weekends only), Chrysler/Dodge/Fiat/Jeep/Ram, Kia, Mazda, Nissan (weekend only), Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen.
Millionaire’s Row, presented by Bernie Moreno Companies is back with a huge array of dream cars including Mercedes-AMG GT R, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Aston Martin Vulcan, Aston Martin DB11, Aston Martin Vanquish, Bentley Bentayga, Rolls-Royce Ghost, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Maserati Levante GTS, Maserati GTC, and Lotus Evora. (Subject to change).
The South Hall of the I-X Center will once again be home to the Classic Car Show throughout the run of the show with local car enthusiasts showing off their pride and joys that came out of the factories 25 years ago or more.
The Cleveland Auto Show Show hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets cost $14 for adults and $12 for preteens and seniors. Children six and under get in free. Parking at the Cleveland Auto Show is always free courtesy of your franchised new motor vehicle dealers. Tickets are available online right now with no convenience fee at www.clevelandautoshow.com.
