Vipers Invade 33rd Annual St. Ignace Car Show This Weekend
Car Show Parade Is Friday Night
By Paul Gingras

This 1956 Ford Crown Victoria, owned by Tom and Barb Ripplinger of Hammond, Wisconsin, will be displayed at the St. Ignace Car Show Saturday, June 28.

Wednesday, June 25, a sleek 1994 Dodge Viper Roadster will thunder north on I-75. As it crosses northern Michigan, it will be joined by dozens more. Some from Detroit, others from Chicago, all heading toward the Straits of Mackinac for the 33rd Annual St. Ignace Car Show Thursday, June 26, through Saturday, June 28.

Behind the wheel of the roadster will be one of Michigan's most outspoken Viper enthusiasts, Mike Cipponeri, president of the Motor City Viper Owners, a division of the Viper Club of America.

"It is the right show. We love going up there, and it's just a super venue," Mr. Cipponeri told The St. Ignace News.

This year's event is special for Viper lovers; their cars are featured, and the model's creator, Roy Sjoberg, is Guest of Honor.

Having worked on Chrysler's Viper production project, Mr. Cipponeri feels "a little biased" toward the model which, after years of production "still gets the looks," he said.

Three Dodge Vipers, two convertibles and a hardtop, are posed at a Viper convention in Florida. The powerful, V10 sports cars, known for high-performance and bold styling, are featured this year at the St. Ignace Car Show. More than 50 are registered for display, and many owners are driving them in from throughout the Midwest. The Viper was designed to surpass the rapid acceleration and deceleration abilities of the Shelby Cobra - "and it did," said Viper developer Roy Sjoberg. (Photographs courtesy of Nostalgia Productions)

Viper clubs from throughout the Midwest and Canada will gather for the 2008 "Viper Invades Mackinac" portion of the car show, which includes displays on State Street and at the Village Inn Parking lot.

The sleek, early-1990s innovative cars are only one of the show's automotive attractions. The show will host vintage, classic, and antique vehicles of all shapes, sizes, makes, and models.

At the St. Ignace Car Show "you see vehicles that have ceased just being vehicles. You can see them as works of art," Mr. Cipponeri said.

This stylish blending of 1949 Plymouth grill and bumper parts with a 1946 Ford body will be displayed at the St. Ignace Car Show by owner Steve Hager of Waukesha, Wisconsin. Car show festivities are Thursday, June 26, through Saturday, June 28.

A display of Mustangs, Shelby Mustangs, and other Fords will surround Mackinac Grille restaurant on State Street, courtesy of Mackinac Sales of St. Ignace. Across from City Hall, northern Michigan dealers will join together for a Toyota display, and the traditional centerpiece of the show will be a General Motors (GM) display of technology, with older cars and modern performance vehicles.

"This is GM's 100th anniversary, and that should bring some really neat stuff out, cars that haven't seen the light of day in years," said show organizer Ed Reavie.

While many showgoers may think GM displays its products at every car show, the company is selective and continues to focus on the St. Ignace show, which has benefited the Straits area for years, Mr. Reavie added.

"People think it is the greatest place on earth, right there by the bridge," said Mark Black of Vicksburg, a 25-year show supporter who will display his 1948 Studebaker hardtop this weekend.

Considered "top notch" in the car-show world, it is a big deal to be featured at St. Ignace, in part, because it is a show where anything can happen, Mr. Black said.

At one car show, he recalled, a pizza advertiser tipped a helicopter sideways in the air and flew it right over the event, only to be outdone by a Volkswagen, advertising another pizza company, that had been rigged to appear to run across the water of Moran Bay.

"You see the coolest and neatest things," he said. "Ed Reavie really deserves credit for this show."

Organizers are expecting a strong turnout. Mr. Reavie has estimated that there have been 70,000 people in attendance and 1,000 entrants in recent years, and whether poor economic conditions in Michigan deter big crowds this weekend remains to be seen. Last-minute registrations are increasingly common in recent years, Mr. Reavie said.

Kewadin Casino Cruise

Night Was Thursday

Kewadin Casino Cruise Night began the festivities Thursday, June 26, at 7 p.m. Open to everyone registered for the Car Show, the ride began just north of St. Ignace at the casino on Mackinac Trail.

Vehicles lined up at 5 p.m. The procession rolled for 17 miles, passing through downtown St. Ignace, a portion of West US-2, and returns to the casino via I-75.

"It's a good ride," Mr. Reavie said. Downtown, participants get to go slowly and show off for crowds lining the route. On the highways, they can open up and cruise, then return to the parking lot for more fun.

Kewadin's parking lot display has turned into a nice deal, he added. The casino staff gives out awards, offers musical entertainment, and this year, food will be provided for participants.

Down Memory Lane

Parade Is Friday

A favorite among car show crowds, the 27th annual Down Memory Lane Parade will continue the festivities Friday, June 27, at 7 p.m. The parade will last approximately 90 minutes, traveling the length of State Street, and ending at Glen's Market.

For the second year, the parade is dedicated to the memory of longtime Car Show supporter David Aldrich of Okemos, who once won Best of Show for a featured convertible.

"It is an honor that I would like to keep going," said parade organizer Merv Wyse.

Declared St. Ignace Ambassador of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce, Parade Marshal Wayne Foote will lead the procession in a stylish, featured vehicle. He will be followed by "quite an array of Vipers," Mr. Wyse said. Reed City's Dynamite the Clown, who was unable to attend last year, will return to conduct walking performances throughout the parade.

Floats and performers will be interspersed with collector cars. LaSalle High School's Saints of Steel band will march the street, along with the 49th Field Regiment Pipe Band from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

"Look for Scooby Doo," Mr. Wyse added. "I won't tell you where he's going to be, but he'll be there."

Downtown Vehicle Display Is Saturday Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., downtown St. Ignace will be blocked off for the vehicle exhibit where showgoers can peruse the corporate automotive displays and individually owned show vehicles, free of charge.

The Manufacturer's Row Swap Meet, also taking place downtown, is expected to be as strong as last year, with about 200 booths selling everything from car parts to T-shirts, Mr. Reavie said.

The awards ceremony begins Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Brewbaker registration trailer. For the fourth consecutive year, GM is offering a 350-horsepower HO Deluxe engine, which will be raffled by the St. Ignace Ambassadors. All proceeds will be donated to the Chamber of Commerce.

The $5 tickets will be sold at several locations up and down State Street during car show events. The winner does not need to be present to win, and the prize will be shipped to the winner by GM.