The (car) show must go on

“The show must go on,” is the creed of a good event promoter-and that goes for car show organizers like Rick Paulick, of Green Bay, Wis. A Corvette salesman by day, in 2015 Rick launched an indoor car show called NEW Motorama. The second edition of the show, in early April, was both a success and a good example of how frustrating running a show can be at times.

Right after the show was over, rumors started circulating among enthusiasts that a Lamborghini displayed at the show had purposely been damaged. The car belonged to a company called Custom Offsets of Appleton, which sells custom wheels and accessory lighting.

This Lamborghini was purposely damaged during the show, either with a key or by someone sitting on it with rough jeans on.

“Somebody did lightly damage the car,” Paulick told Old Cars Weekly. “the damage was done by a key or, possibly, by jeans, as the car looks like it may have possibly been sat on. Also, somebody drew am obscene image on it, spit on it and put handprints on the door glass. . . very classy.”

According to Paulick, the car had a wrap on the body and only the wrap was damaged. Luckily, it is repairable. Custom Offsets is working to help keep the cost of repairs to a minimum.

The damage to the car was light and affected only the vinyl wrap on the body, so it is repairable.

“They say there is one in every crowd who ruins it for everyone else,” said Paulick. “But the show went on and I’m taking care of the damage.” Paulick said that any responsible show promoter would do the same.

“This incident did not ruin the show, which was great this year,” Paulick added. “We gave a Lifetime Achievement Award to Red Lewis (Lewis is the creator of The Automobile Gallery in downtown Green Bay.

Red Lewis of The Automobile Gallery in Green Bay receives his Lifetime Achievement Award from Rick Paulick (l.) and his wife.

The show also went on with other awards being presented. Russ Nockerts was the overall Grand Champion and took home $1,000 cash with his customized ‘56 Chevy pickup called "Dixie Jane." Local hobby personality Tom Kujava presented the new Tommy Kujava Award. “Remember, the Riddler Award had to start somewhere, too,” Paulick pointed out.

Russ Nockerts was the overall Grand Champion and took home $1,000 cash with his customized ‘56 Chevy pickup called "Dixie Jane."

Other positives that came from the Green Bay event carrying on despite the sabotage that happened there included Paulick raising over $10,000 for two different breast cancer charities. He also presented a $500 scholarship to the Freedom High School Auto Club for their help on a Kids’ Racing Cars program and raising $600 for a Freedom High School Auto Club field trip.

Paulick added that the show will also go on next year. “We reserved March 31, April 1 and April 2, 2017 for the Third Annual NEW Motorama,” he said. Maybe that will give Brown County Arena and Shopko Hall—where the show is held—to install a few more security cameras. Then, the show can go on without the “one in every crowd” types causing problems.

(Editor’s note: Any Old Cars Weekly readers who attended the show and saw something suspicious can contact Paulick through his Website www.newmotorama.com.