Batman and fellow superhero Spider-Man pose with the Batmobile at the 2015 Georgian College Auto Show
The Georgian College Auto Show is always a crowd pleaser, and the 2015 show was no exception.
Held on June 5-7 in Barrie, Ont., the outdoor student-run auto show — the largest of its kind in North America — kicked it up a notch for its special 30th anniversary.
This year’s show entitled “Accelerate your success” had some first time features, including an adaptable vehicle display from the Spinal Cord Injury Ontario and an array of locally sourced fare prepared by Georgian College culinary students.
Back again this year was the Brampton Batman and his Batmobile (along with your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man), the Pfaff Porsche autocross track to raise money for Camp Bucko, KidZone and the electric vehicle experience, among others.
Visitors could also check out the exotic Aston Martin vehicles on display and a 2016 Shelby GT350 Mustang.
The Mercedes-Benz team. From back left to right: Joseph Miller, Xiao Xiao Yang, Emanuel Culgliari, Jordan Martinez. Front row: Adam Smith
When the auto show rolls around, the school’s parking lots are transformed into rows of booths for various OEMs — all run by students from the Automotive Business School of Canada.
In fact, the auto show organizing committee —also made up entirely of students —said this year’s show brought out 170 student volunteers, including many from non-automotive programs.
This isn’t an ordinary school project. Ashley Schneider always looks forward to the auto show.
“We’re not just colleagues, we’re all students. We’re all friends together. It’s a lot of fun. It’s not just a dry environment —we get to have a lot of fun outside of the show too,” said Schneider, the director of marketing and media for the auto show and a third year student in the ABSC degree program.
ABSC student Valarie Rivest with one of the exotic Aston Martins
The auto show opened officially on June 5 with an opening ceremony in which Dr. MaryLynn West-Moynes, President and CEO, Georgian College, addressed the students, board members and some of the school’s founding members.
“Why would students still be engaged in an auto show 30 years later?” said West-Moynes to the audience. “It’s because of the entrepreneurial spirit that exists.”
She added: “The fact that so many members of the industry keep coming back every year is because of our students and their confidence.”
You can watch a recap video of the opening day of the 2015 Georgian College Auto Show here on Canadian automotive video.
