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GUICIE

1/15
1999

114 Detroit Jewish News

New Beetle as the 1999
either snow nor sleet
North
American Car of
could deter more than
the
Year.
Partygoers
17,000 patrons from
swarmed
the Beetle and
attending the 1999 North
participated in the virtu-
American International Auto Show
al reality slot car game.
preview charity gala at
Guests raced
Cobo Center in Detroit.
the
cars to the
The black-tie event Jan. 8
finish
line on a
dazzled the world and
fast
track,
raised $4.3 million in one
while using
evening for Detroit-area
remote con-
children's charities.
trols and wear-
In addition to the
ing a special
astronomical fundraising
helmet to view
total, the automobiles and
the road.
their displays shined amid
Photojournalist
the glitz and glamour of
CARLA JEAN Linda Solomon
the guests.
Peter Levin, director of brand development for
SCHWARTZ and her husband
Volkswagsn debuted the
Cadillac, and his wife Carolyn are regular attendees
Local Columnist Barry lingered at
at the charity ball.
New Beetle, with more
the BMW display,
power and punch than last
which featured a futuristic
year. A special panel of automotive
acrobatic show. Dressed in silver leo-
journalists from the United States
tards. gymnasts skateboarded and
and Canada chose the Volkswagen
flipped around the cars. They
even put on snow skis during
their acrobatic routine.
Remember the T-bird? It's
back with a model for the mil-
lennium capturing the glamour
of the past. Crowds ogled the
creamy-yellow Ford automobile.
To view this roadster, guests
climbed an elaborate staircase to
the exhibit. At this point, this
T-bird is not for sale but is
expected to be in the 2001
model year.
Don Shane, sports director/anchor of
Peter Levin, director of brand
WXYZ and his wife Mona looked
development for Cadillac, held
gant
in black-tie attire.
court around the Cadillac con-
cept car with his wife Carolyn.
and taxicabs lined up at Cobo to shut
About 9 p.m., limousines, vans
Carol and Skil, Roberts of Bloomfield Hills
tle guests to Auto Show parties aroun<
battled the snow to attend the gala event.
town. Many restaurants were booked
for the evening for private soirees.
According to Patty Stearns of the
Detroit Free Press, the WXYZ Channe
7 afterglow reception held at the
j
Riverview Ballroom in Cobo was a —\
coveted invitation.
Some of the lucky invitees include
Sue and Hank Marx, Lois and Avern
Cohn and Marj Jackson Levin, who
were seen schmoozing with Marla
Drutz, programming director for
WXYZ. The station's sports
director/anchor Don Shane and his
wife Mona looked glamorous at the
party.
The entire evening was a huge suc-
cess in spite of the nasty weather.
"What makes this a wonderful
evening is that all the proceeds go to
children's charities," said Southfield
attorney
Rick Ruby, who attended the
WXYZs Programming Director Marla Drutz chats with Marj Jackson Levin and
event with Carol Rothenberg.
Lois Cohn at the WXYZ afterglow