2019 General Motors Employee Show
Jacob and I have been friends for quite a few years, so when he invited me to join him at this show, I made the decision to drive from Boston all the way to Detroit to attend! Following this trip, I also headed to the Concours of America, which will be covered in a separate article.
The General Motors employee car show was truly impressive, with hundreds of cars in attendance. We arrived early, around 6 in the morning, as Jacob had to retrieve the concept cars from where they were stored and bring them out onto the show field. While he was busy with that, I noticed another photographer and introduced myself. It was a pleasant surprise to find only one other photographer covering the show - it made it easy for us to not get in each other's shots. One of my objectives for attending this car show was to impress GM enough to invite me back. The photography business can be competitive, so while it's essential to be friendly with other photographers, we're all striving to earn for our efforts and stand out.
It was a stunning sight to see the cars rolling in as the morning sun rose over the buildings and reflected off the pool. Special clearance was required to enter this facility, which made me feel like a million bucks. The adventure and exclusive access to thrilling events are what ignites my passion for photography. I absolutely love it!
Some of the most spectacular vehicles that caught my eye, besides the concept cars, were the 1971 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R “Hakosuka" and a car that resembled a Hot Wheels toy come to life. Additionally, there were several custom rat rods that piqued my interest. However, the real highlight was seeing the cars parked on the lawn in front of the company that designed them.
The iconic Futureliner arrived in style, and I had the unique opportunity to take some fantastic photos from the driver's seat. I particularly enjoyed setting up the shot with the tall aluminum tower and the reflection pool in the background. At one point, I wandered into one of the design centers where a new C8 Corvette was on display. Unfortunately, I was informed that absolutely no photos were allowed. I had to respect their rules if I ever wanted to be invited back and avoid any run-ins with security or law enforcement.
This was my second time visiting General Motors, and it was just as thrilling as the first. Michael Simcoe drove the C8 out of the design studio to the excited crowds of people. Many of them had put in a tremendous effort into that project, and it was incredible to see their finished product in person. As much as I hate to say it, photos don’t do the new Corvette justice!
At the end of the event, I managed to set up the new 'Vette with the 70’s Aerovette in front of the reflection pool. I didn’t want to overstay my welcome, but it was the perfect opportunity to make something like this happen. I tried my best not to tell people what to do, but I did ask if they could lower the front end as you can on other modern supercars. Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option, and I felt that would be crucial to the stance.
Detroit holds a special place in my heart. I’ve been able to go places and see things other people can only dream of. And for that, I’m honored.