Greetings All

I went to the auto show earlier today with a friend of mine and his girlfriend. First of all, I wish the ad would have mentioned the $1.50 Nassau County surcharge (aka tax). At least the $2 off coupons negated the tax.

There were cars outside, as well as some booths and a ride (one of those movie-ride virtual simulators). Inside, just past the escalators & stairs, were a few cars and booths. Then came the room you had to pay to get in.

This was one large room with all of the 2001 cars from the various companies. I didn't see the Ecto-1, or any of the other special attraction cars, so I followed the signs which said "Show Exit & More Attractions" (figuring that that was were they were). This led to a small hallway where there were two cars, and a whole bunch of booths where people were hawking their wares, trying to get you to sign up for credit cards, auto insurance, guns, and more. At the end of the hall was the guy who stamps your hand so you can get back in without having to pay again. I asked him where they were hiding the Ecto-1, and he told me. I heard SEVERAL PEOPLE ask him, "Where's the Ghostbusters car?"

Well, I followed his directions - go right back in through the entrance into the big room, and hang a left just past the concession stand. It would have been nice if they would have put up a big sign right when you walk in, with a big arrow pointing left telling us that the special attraction cars are there. Anyway, I was as happy as a kid in a candy factory when I turned the corner and saw the General Lee (from The Dukes of Hazzard), followed by the Ecto-1, and then the Pokemon Pikachu car (it's a little yellow Volkswagon Beetle with Pikachu ears) -- all were packed down a little hallway (it was *SO* cramped). OK, so the Pikachu car was only moderately exciting. It was the Ecto-1 that I came to see - I wouldn't have made the trip for the General Lee or the Pikachu Car.

The Ecto-1 was situated at an angle (so were the other two cars), with a posterboard collage of GB pictures on the car's right (our left), and a small tv playing GB1 just above the picture collage. On the left side of the car (our right) was a Proton Pack encased in glass (or plastic), which was pushed back toward the wall (I don't know if it was a real prop or a homemade fake). Hanging from the car's rear view mirror was a No Ghost logo medallion (I don't know how else to describe - think of a big keychain-like item), and sitting on the dashboard was a Slimer puppet (it appeared to be the plush Slimer puppet that Kenner produced as part of it's toy line).

The WORST part of it is that the cars were barricaded by a metal bannister (like the velvet ropes you see in museums so you don't go close to the exhibits). Because of this, I was EXTREMELY limited to what pictures I could take (though I did manage to take 40 pictures of the entire show - most on Ecto, but not all). I asked the lady if she'd let me through the barricade so I could get a close-up of the Proton Pack and get a shot from the other side of the car. She said NO, but that I could give her my camera and she'd take the pics for me. I gladly handed her my camera and she took the shots. I hope that the Pack shot will come out, considering that there might be glare from the flash and the case it was in.

I know that at past shows, owners of the car (or one of them) would let people sit in the car. I DREAMED of having a picture taken of me sitting in the car, looking out the window, with my left arm hanging out the open window and my right hand on the steering wheel. Sadly, that dream never happened. Also, because of the barricade, I couldn't get any shots of the back of the car or any shots of the car's interior.

As for the other two cars ... There were two General Lees (one outside the arena, and one inside). The one inside had its hood popped up (I think they might have popped it up while I was there, because I don't think that it was up when I first saw it). To the car's left (our right) was a poster encased in glass of the Dukes Of Hazzard cast (it might have been a collage of pics, I don't remember). Hanging from the rear-view mirror was a plastic thing with the Dukes logo and a drawing of the car.

Tucked away in the corner was the Pikachu car. Not much to say about this, except that it was rather funky. It even had little Pokemon characters on the hubcaps. If the pics I took came out, and I decide to put them on my site, you'll see that the car speaks for itself.

Oh yeah, Scooby-Doo was there. Well, it was a costumed character Scooby. I took a couple of pics of him, as well (why not?!?).

Overall, I'm somewhat disappointed by the way the Ecto-1 was displayed (behind the barricade and cramped in a corner - so you couldn't see all sides of the car) and by the smallness of the venue (the Exhibition Hall, nee basement, is WAY too small for a car show). A few years ago I went to a car show at the Jacob Javitz Center in New York City, and let me tell you, it was HUGE! Several floors, TONS of cars, LOTS of merchandise.

Still, it isn't as easy to get to as the Nassau Coliseum (and they didn't have Ecto-1). Was this show worth $7.50 ($9.50 without coupon)?

Well, HELL YES -- but only because of Ecto-1 and only because I'm a huge Ghostbusters fan. - Paul Rudoff, Spook Central (Images courtesy MikeB)