Car Show Results: Business Is Up, Crime Is Down
St. Ignace Event Draws Strong Participation
By Paul Gingras

Overall participation was up and business increased slightly at this year's 32nd Annual St. Ignace Car Show, organizers report. And, despite the show drawing tens of thousands of people, police issued only as many citations as on a typical busy summer weekend.

Show organizer Ed Reavie said about 750 cars were registered, plus 100 Hurst/Oldsmobile feature cars, which were not registered for competition but were parked near their classy peers along State Street Saturday, June 30. About 1,025 cars were parked in the downtown display last year, The St. Ignace News reported.

There is no scientific way to count the number of people who attend the free event, so each year Mr. Reavie relies on an "unscientific method" based on Mackinac Bridge traffic to estimate participation.

The Mackinac Bridge Authority tallies vehicle crossings during all three days, and Mr. Reavie estimates that about 75% cross for the car show.

This year, 68,788 vehicles crossed the bridge Thursday, June 28, through Friday, June 30, about 50,000 of them, by Mr. Reavie's estimate, for the show. Figuring two people per car, he believes about 100,000 visitors arrived in town. He used the same method last year and came up with about 73,000 people in 2006.

"If anyone can think of a better way to count bumpers and noses, let me know," Mr. Reavie said.

Saturday's crossing number was the best since 2003, he added.

Last year, during the main exhibition on Saturday, 22,716 vehicles crossed the bridge. This year, 28,025 crossed on Saturday, 24,163 crossed Friday, and 16,600 crossed Thursday.

Most of the car parking area was filled, from the Flame Restaurant and Tipi Lounge to Marquette Street, and other antique, muscle, and vintage cars parked along the back streets in St. Ignace, a notable difference from last year, Mr. Reavie said.

The number of people parked and driving the back streets of town, who came to the show but did not compete, amounted to an unofficial car show in itself, a testament to high numbers of people in town, Mr. Reavie said.

"If we can maintain that level of cars and spectators, we will continue to be very pleased," he added, noting that bridge traffic was backed up during the car show.

Jim North, president of First National Bank of St. Ignace, provides an economic estimate of the show's impact on St. Ignace annually. Mr. North notes the number and size of bank deposits following the event.

The Monday after car show saw a $1.5 million increase in deposit levels, compared with the average daily deposits of the preceding two weeks, which Mr. North calls a "benchmark" of the show's economic impact on local businesses. Last year, there was a $1.3 million increase in deposits from the show, he said. These deposits do not include credit card business that often takes several days to clear, and do not reflect deposits for hotel and motel reservations, which are often made months ahead of time, he added.

Further, Mr. North noted that although First National bank handles a good portion of the city's business, it does not process all of it.

Mr. North began this method of assessing the show's economic impact 10 years ago, and said the show has been good for the community.

"I have not seen that many cars in a long time," said Tim Matelski, chief of the St. Ignace Police Department. "The show went off without a hitch." For area police departments, it could almost be compared to "just a busy weekend," with the exception of two reckless drivers, he added.

Crime was "way down," he said.

Together, state, city, county, and tribal police gave two tickets for indecent exposure, two reckless driving tickets, two careless driving tickets, 20 speeding tickets, four no-seatbelt tickets, two people were arrested for possession of marijuana, one ticket to a volunteer firefighter who inappropriately used his emergency lights and siren, three open intoxicant tickets, and responded to one instance of domestic abuse.

"All in all, it was a good show," he said. There were no tickets given for minors in possession of alcohol (MIPs).

"It is the first time I can remember" when there were no MIPs, Chief Matelski said.