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2006 Washington Auto Show: Top Ten Certified
The dates were moved, the location was upgraded, vehicle allocation increased and the on-scene activities amplified tri-fold. Did you open the paper or turn to your local news channel during the week of January 24 -29? We’re not talking about your everyday auto show when it comes to town. Lets fill you in on how Chocolate City mixes Congress with newly released vehicles and the people who keep metro area dealers in business.
Every bigwig city has an auto show to be proud of beginning with Detroit, which runs annually with the top billings. Following are Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. The rest are nothing more than an excuse for families to spend some time together. Except for D.C. and the Washington Auto Show (WAS)! First, the dates were changed from late December to late January to honor Congress and the rest of D.C. officials who have the power to pass certain laws. Automakers need that on their side. Second, the show has moved into a fascinating new building. Now in its second year, the Washington Convention Center is ripe to host any and all top shows. To shift to the excitement, the WAS was like an auto show turned amusement park. From the car giveaways to the games to the contests, the show was Jam Rocking as if the Marleys were in town.
 To get to the point, the WAS was taken hands down by Automotive Rhythms’ (AR) newly featured Urban Restyln’ Salon™ which went head on with Chrysler’s 3 million dollar Camp Jeep display. Off-roading inside a convention center? Priceless. Moving on, the Salon consisted of more than 55 of the slickest “flipped” whips, trucks and SUVs and a cadre of sport bikes and cruisers. Scion, Mazda, Honda, Chevrolet, GM Accessories, Cadillac, Range Rover, Infiniti and Jeep all brought out their best . No worries, Meguiar's car care products kept the shine on. Moreover, the entire theme was the ultimate lifestyle experience in the world of custom and luxury rides, pairing these automotive innovations with a special schedule of musical entertainment, consumer contests, fashion events and celebrity guests, including Hip-Hop superstar Bow Wow and Chevy-sponsored Slum Village. Were you looking for vintage kicks? Sneaker Suite made that possible. Let’s break down a day-to-day synopsis of the Urban Restyln’ Salon.
Tuesday, the show’s public kick-off, Bow Wow entered the stage of the Restyln’ Salon to sign autographs for hundreds of anxiety-driven little girls and their parents. Urban Radio leader WPGC 95.5 paired with AR to allow a special guest to win a private meet-n-greet with the young Rap Star. Although he handled the attention like a diplomat, the crowd treated Bow Wow like royalty.
 Wednesday, Automotive Rhythms “flipped” D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams’ whip and featured it at the salon. His 2006 Cadillac STS was provided by Capitol Cadillac Hummer and “flipped” by Big Boys Toys of Oxon Hill, MD and E&G Classics. The Mayor took the wraps off his loaned vehicle on Wed., Jan. 25, at his weekly press briefing, held at the show. The Pearl Blue Caddy was decked out with 20” Chrome from Vogue, a mesh grille and body kit from E&G Classics and DVD monitors and sound system from Big Boys. To fit his new ride, the Mayor also received gear from Gilyard Mfg., a new, urban fashion line on the scene, and specially designed Air Force 1s with painted bow ties by “Q” of Grand High Shoes. It was even on the news!
Thursday, was the McDonald’s® “Spice the Night Event” which gave away a 2006 Ford Fusion from Apple Ford with Rennen luxury rims. The lucky winner had to guess the correct number of McDonald’s Spicy Chicken boxes inside the Fusion. Also it was the unveiling of the finished Flip My Whip™ contest winner. Their Yukon Denali was adorned with $10,000 of customizations and was made possible by The Washington Auto Show, Automotive Rhythms, McDonald’s, Big Boys Toys, and WPGC 95.5. Later that night Automotive Rhythms teamed with Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge to host the Urban Restyln’ after party and celebrate the launch of Automotive Rhythms the Magazine. The attractive setting of The Avenue, DaimlerChrysler vehicles parlaying out front, free food and drinks and mix of guests from publishers to entertainers made for an exciting evening.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday were simply mad. The area stayed packed as Scion DJs spun directly from their xB DJ vehicle, Chevy’s Slum Village performed and signed autographs, and thousands in free gifts were given freely. The hottest ticket of the week was Shell’s V-Power gas cards. Those things had the crowd going crazy over the opportunity to win them. Gilyard gave away a $500 Wardrobe; Jada Toys provided miniature flipped whips to raffle off; Vogue Tyres offered their new set of chrome 20s to a lucky winner, and P-Cutta of Rooftop Entertainment set up a CD store including the newly released “Automotive Rhythms: The Drive Buy - Volume III.” All of this took place within the confines of Big Boys Toys' elaborate 400-rim wall display!
 As far as the vehicles, Automotive Rhythms showed out again with the flipped VW Phaeton with 20” Davins wrapped in Michelins, JL Audio amps and woofers, Audiobahn speakers, suspension tuning from Wagensport Performance and a sweet grille from E&G Classics. Our Project Audi S4 looked sweet lowered and sitting on custom rims from TireRack.Com. Then there was the Black Range Rover Sport with 24” Zenettis and Strut’s Ascot Collection, a JL Audio system and Bluetooth enabled radar from K-40 Electronics. The Range was rivaled by Mack’s Black H2 sitting on 28s and also hosting a Strut grille. If you haven’t heard about Strut, then just remember that’s it’s literally jewelry for your vehicles. Tammy Darvish of DarCars kept bringing down Congressmen and Senators to see just how fancy a multi-thousand dollar grille can get. They loved it!
The Urban Restyln’ Salon was also sponsored by Meguiar's, WPGC 95.5, UPN Channel 20, Capitol Cadillac Hummer, Honda, Koon’s Ford Rockville, Mazda, Scion, Honda, Shell V-Power, GM Accessories, Volkswagen of America, and Land Rover. Customizing sponsors included JL Audio, 410 Motoring, Rennen Auto, Wagensport Performance, Strut, Audiobahn, Davin Wheels, Stromung Exhaust, E&G Classics, Michelin, J.R. Custom Concepts, Sony Xplod, Extreme Audio, K-40 Electronics, Brandywine Foreign Car Parts, MRC/Chips-ur-us.com, LL Tek, 2Bennett Audimotive, Rockville Porsche Audi, TireRack.com, and BIRA.org. Fashion partners featured Gilyard Mfg., Sneaker Suite and Grand High Shoes.
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The free Ford Fusion with Rennen sport wheels |
Can't forget the custom sport bikes from CCI |
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So Many gifts to give away |
WPGC 95.5's Shack with the AR crew at 1 of 3 McD's remotes to promote the Flip My WhipÂ
contest |
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K. Rawlins & D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams profiling his "flipped whip” |
Detroit's Slum Village performing live from the Urban Auto SalonČ |
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With a Supercharged V8 you will need Shell V-Power fuel for life |
Shouts to Quinton of Grand High for the custom kicks |
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Star wrestler John Cena rockn' that Gilyard |
K. Rawlins and Senator George Allen with the gem of all grills: Strut |
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Much love to the Washington Auto Show and our sponsors |
Pro Motion Tuning's Mazda RX-8 |
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The SUVs |
Mack's flipped Chevy |
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Rennen's Classic Benzy |
Bow Weezy and AR's Eric Elston |
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So many wheels, so much chrome! |
AR's VW Phaeton returns for its last official dance |
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The AR men delegating for real. Next year is going to be Crazy! |
AR & Jerome Williams |
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The Artwork |
Slum Village |
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Range Rover getting Love |
Raj & Jada's Toys |
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Lincoln Classic |
Eva the model |
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AR's Urban Elite Car of the year, Infiniti M |
Automotive Rhythms & Bow Wow |
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Demont Peekaso paints Bow Wow a perfect picture |
Mayor's Flipped Caddy STS by Automotive Rhythms |
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K. Rawlins hands over Mayor's flipped shoes from Grand High |
The Mayor Checking Out his custom Kicks from Grand High |
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The Mayor with his Flipped Whip (Cadillac STS) |
The Media loving the Mayor's Caddy |
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AR Team & Q present Grand High custom kicks to Bow Wow |
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