The Press Non-Conference: Dodge's Cupcakes Bring All The Boys To The Yard
In terms of new product, this year’s Chicago Show hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. Let’s see… facelifted crossover, hatchback version of existing car, convertible version of existing car… It’s the proverbial “slow news day” in million-square-foot format.
Lacking even a new bodystyle or three-year-old Japanese-market van to debut, Chrysler did the smart thing to make sure the journalists were satisfied: they broke out the cupcakes. Now for the trivia question: Can you spot the former Monte Carlo Rally winner in this picture?
That’s right: the lady seated in the electric scooter is the world-famous rallyist, Sebring winner, and grande dame girljourno Denise McCluggage, who is currently celebrating her eighty-fifth spin around the sun. She admitted to me that getting into the cookie scrum was considerably more challenging than winning a major rally, but noted that some major part of that was due to the difficulty of backing up an electric scooter. I later saw her perform an impromptu slalom of a few potted plants at well above walking place. Some people can still get it done regardless of age, you know!
More by Jack Baruth
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After witnessing the cupcake scrum firsthand, I lost what little faith in humanity I had left. I did manage to beat my way up there to get a red velvet cupcake though, so I'm pretty sure I can manage when auto shows delve fully into Mad Max style scenarios
Good to see Denise is still on wheels. I remember Car and Driver talking about her in the 60s.