EVENT // 2009 SEATTLE AUTO SHOW

The 2009 Seattle Auto Show, like most static car displays, is no place for a motorsport photographer. So when we asked ColdTrackDays correspondent Camden Thrasher to shoot this years show, he was, as one would expect, a bit hesitant. However, after offering him a press pass to the event, as well as a ride downtown through what Camden describes as the unnavigable streets of Seattle, he agreed to shoot the show.

Driving down from his native Bellingham, where he is a student of mechanical engineering at Western Washington University and a member of the WWU Formula SAE program, Camden arrived at my house around 10am yesterday morning... [read more]

Unable to control his urge to shoot objects at speed, Camden spent the better part of our car ride through downtown fiddling with my camera, taking pictures of passing cars. The result of which can be seen above.


Western Washington University had their Formula SAE car on display and there were few occasions when the car and its crew were not surrounded by gawkers. A one-off, custom designed and built, open wheel racer, the WWU Formula SAE car is an impressive piece of machinery.

Another car that drew quite the crowd was this Lincoln 'C' concept. Intended to display 'how the creature comforts we have become accustom to with Lincoln, can be packaged in a small, hatchback styled vehicle,' the 'C' concept was certainly worth a few moments of out time.

The new Ford Taurus SHO was on display and was, in my opinion, one of the coolest cars at the show. Why, you ask? Well, while the Corvette Stingray concept and the Caidllac electric coupe concept (see below) were impressive in and of themselves, the fact of the matter is, the Taurus SHO, with its Eco-Boost V6 and AWD, is a car that I could drive everyday, without issue.



The aforementioned Corvette Stingray concept.

The soon to be released Fisker Karma was on display as well, and drew quite the crowd of onlookers.

Upstairs, Park Place Ltd. had a handful of cars on display to include this Spyker and an Aston Martin DBS.

As a part of their 'come give us a test save' campaign, State Farm Insurance had this vintage Citroen on display as well as a 1963 Corvette courtesy of the Le May Museum.

A look down onto the show floor.



Another concept that caught our eye was this electric Cadillac coupe based on the Chevrolet Volt concept.

Parked just outside of the Qwest Field Events Center was this fine example of an early Mini Cooper, complete with a '100% free of BMW parts' sticker across the top of its windscreen.

For a look at all of Camden's photos from the 2009 Seattle Auto Show, click here

Photo: Camden Thrasher
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey