Packard Proving Grounds: Cars 'R' Stars Show returns to historic site after a 2-year hiatus

One of the oldest classic car shows in Michigan is returning to the historic setting of the Packard Proving Grounds in Shelby Township on June 12 following a two-year hiatus.

“They’ll be cars of nearly every description, we don’t limit the cars that are invited to come, they run the gamut, they represent all makes and models and years,” said Tom Mitchell, of Shelby Township. Mitchell is the Cars 'R' Stars chairman and a volunteer at Packing Proving Grounds. 

In the last few years, Cars 'R' Stars @ PPG, formerly known as Carnival of Cars, has enjoyed a resurgence in tandem with the ongoing preservation and restoration of the famous Packard Proving Grounds.

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Built 95 years ago by legendary architect Albert Kahn, the proving grounds was one of the first "testing grounds" for performance cars of the era. The little-known gem of Detroit's automotive history is a key part of the city's auto legacy, nearly demolished before a dedicated group of Packard buffs, the Packard Motor Car Foundation, saved it. 

Engineers and test drivers from across the country would house themselves in a dormitory that was part of the beautiful Tudor revival lodge with an eight-bay garage and a 2½-mile oval test track.

"It had banked turns that would allow a Packard driving at high speed to stay on the track without the driver holding onto the steering wheel," said Mitchell.  

During World War II, the grounds were an important part of Michigan's role as the arsenal of democracy as well, and served as the place where war tanks were tested.

Today, the beautiful lodge, garages, additional buildings and grounds continue to be preserved and restored and actually serve as a unique and popular setting for weddings and special events.

The historic significance of the Packard Proving Grounds makes it stand out as the ideal setting for a collector car meet and celebration, Mitchell said.

“We can accommodate around 450 cars on the property," said Mitchell. "A unique feature of our site is that almost all of those cars are parked on grass and not on the tarmac that they are in a lot of shows that are held in parking lots. The only ones that are on cement at our show are the Packards which are there because that’s an area that we set aside for them.”

This year's gathering will include a display of vintage Chevrolet Chevelles, part of the car culture of the 1960s and '70s. Members of the Chevelle Club of Michigan are displaying the cars.

"Everyone with the car enthusiast mindset either owns or owned a memorable Chevelle or at least knew someone who did," Mitchell said. "These were some of the most iconic and recognizable muscle cars and even daily drivers back in the day. Their popularity is still strong today."

In addition to the featured Chevelles, the Cars 'R' Stars show will present the full collection of historic Packards that are stored at the Packard Proving Grounds. The luxury car of its time, the collection of some 15 noted Packards range from the earliest built in 1899 to the one-of-a-kind 1916 Packard driven by the wife of the Packard president to the Packard Pan American of the 1950s that was famous on the show car circuit.

The show will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m, and features  hundreds of vintage vehicles from all eras. The show field will be open to everything from early Brass-era automobiles to today’s supercars and factory hot rods and muscle cars. There will be numerous fine examples of cars restored to original condition as well as modified and customized cars and survivors and barn-finds — all set out on the beautiful 14-acre grassy site.

Vehicles will be judged in static Concours fashion and best-in-class trophy winners will get awards uniquely crafted from the wood of the historic Packard Plant in Detroit, making a distinctive keepsake.

The preregistration fee is $15 for non-judged cars and $20 for judged cars. On the day of the show registration is $20 for non-judged and $25 for judged cars. 

Anyone who is coming to register a car to show must enter off of 23 Mile Road, west of Van Dyke, rather than the pedestrian gate in front of Van Dyke. 

Admission to the show is $6 a person, with proceeds used to assist in the maintenance and restoration of the site.