On the Town: Cruising the auto show

Gala chairman Marianne Ballas, center, with committee members Pat Stark and John Yark. THE BLADE/BARBARA HENDEL Enlarge | Photo Reprints

EDITOR'S NOTE: This version includes Robb Brown as an event planning committee member.

Shiny red, lime green, candy blue, silver, white, and black cars in all makes, styles, and sizes are at the Greater Toledo Auto Show at the SeaGate Convention Centre. The event ends Sunday.

Featured are all makes and models such as Cadillac, GMC, Buick, Volvo, Nissan, BMW, Mazda, Toyota, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Ford, Lexus, Acura, Lincoln, Audi, Honda, Dodge, Jeep, Fiat, Ram. Prices range from about $17,000 to $185,000.

Those who attended The Cars are the Stars IX Preview Gala Wednesday hosted by Auto Dealers United for Kids received a sneak peek while dining and dancing for the sake of charity. More than $130,000 was raised for the Autism Research Collaborative, La Posada Family Emergency Shelter, Imagination Station Science Society, and automotive-related scholarships to Northwood University and Owens Community College. A grant will also go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. And if you go to the show, take nonperishable food for the FoodBank collection.

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Lee Conklin and Diane Larson of WTVG-TV, Channel 13 opened the show and preview charity gala.

Marianne Ballas, gala chairman, said that the event has raised $1.1 million over the years for charities. The committee also included John Yark, Mike Barchick, Jim Dunn, Robert Jorgensen, Tim Mathews, Michael Rouen, Pat Stark, Dave White, Jr., and Robb Brown. The sponsoring dealers, representing 25 franchises, were part of the committee: Ballas Buick-GMC, Dunn Chevy Buick, Yark Automotive Group, Grogan Towne Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Rouen Automotive Group, White Automotive Group, Ed Schmidt Automotive Group, Brown Automotive Group, Mathews Ford, and Kistler Ford.

Mr. Yark, of Yark Automotive Group, said the auto industry is a major part of the economy in northwest Ohio, employing thousands of people at the manufacturing level and investing hundreds of millions of dollars in the local economy.

Allan Block, chairman of Block Communications Inc., the title sponsor and The Blade's parent company, said The Blade is committed to Toledo and to community events such as the auto show. With him was John Crisp, director of sales and new media at The Blade. Other major sponsors included Lyden Oil Company, Fifth Third Bank, WNWO-TV, Channel 24; WTVG-TV, Channel 13; WTOL-TV, Channel 11, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Nearly 900 tickets were sold for the gala at $250 per ticket. Men and women in tuxedos and suits and cocktail dresses roamed among the cars as they visited the various dining stations. Adding extra glamor were the decorations by Keith Brooks — red and black fedora hats and sunglasses, great for cruising in any of the new cars.

Barbara Steele had her eyes on the Audi convertable that was priced at $184,625. The car gets only 13 miles per gallon in the city, but who's worried about gas when you are driving a car like this?

The 2012 Corvette ZR1 that sells for $124,995 drew dreamers, but who can resist the 2012 Beetle for $21,900?

Strolling about were Bobby Jorgensen of Kistler Ford, the 2013 gala chairman-elect; Frank Jacobs, Randy Oostra, Bob Chirdon, Mary Gerkin, Dave Knottke, Mark Moser, Chuck Mira, Barbara and John Burson, Jerry Chabler, Jim Poure and Barbara Tartaglia, Tim Valko and Jim Moore, Dirk Van Heyst, Rita Mansour, Gary and Cheryl Thieman, and Sue Hague-Rogers.

Also there were Clyde Scoles, Pat Critch, George Darrah, Dave and Hilary White, Bill Wolff, Mark and Lori Holland, Debbie and Jay Paul, Patti and Bob Kellerher, and Tim Doran, president of the Ohio Automobile Dealers Association.