2000 Essen Motor Show

Another month is here, and it looks like the MAX fun wagon stopped off in Essen, Germany, to attend the 33rd annual 2000 Essen Motor Show (And to see just what German das Bier is really about.—MAX). Renowned for its kaleidoscopic show serving all facets of the automotive industry, this year’s event featured 550 exhibitors from Germany and 16 other countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the good ole U.S. of A.

Wahnsinnig (German for “crazy” in case you aren’t fluent.—MAX) is how many showgoers may have described the 10 or so days that visitors and cars overran the town of Essen, although the townspeople may have described it as a “huge pain in our arsch” and “beschissen” (German for “shitty.”—MAX). In case you weren’t in the loop, automobile tuners present the world’s biggest tuning show here, and each year the show itself attracts the second highest number of visitors to Germany. To make it easier on the 350,000-plus souls who attended, the show was separated into different sectors and spread across 18 exhibition halls, among those Automobiles, Tuning, and Oldtimer and Classic Cars. The theme for 2000 was “50 Years of Formula One,” which showcased 30 original world-champion cars on display for all to gawk at.

Tuners familiar to MAXsters that were present include Lorinser, Brabus, Zender, Hamann, Abt, projektzwo, Rieger Tuning, Folia Tec, Kerscher, JL Tuning, in.pro., and Krupp Bilstein. And who can forget Hella, Rallye Racing, Yokohama, Schroth, BFGoodrich, Racing Dynamics, TechArt, Meguiar’s, Pirelli, Sparco, Toyo, and TSW? Publisher Maria Brown (She’s the one with the wahnsinnig boots on.—MAX) also hung out with Miss Swantje of Eibach Springs, who showed our Essen newbie around town.

Kurz zusammengefasst (Translation: in a nutshell.—MAX), all those crazy Euro car peeps were there, since most of them are German (Duh.—MAX). And while we drooled at the prima (Bavarian for crazysexycool.—MAX) MRydes such as the new BMW M3 and the Imola Yellow Audi RS4, we were saddened by the fact that some models aren’t available stateside. Tatsaechlich (As a matter of fact.—MAX), aside from moving our offices across the pond, we guess the only thing MAX can do now is circulate a petition to show those Euro manufacturers just how much we need those models in the U.S. That, and if we have to stoop to schmieren (To grease someone’s palm, aka to bribe.—MAX) custom officials, you’ve got our backs, right?

We may not remember much else about the Essen Motor Show, but there’s a good excuse. When you die picheltour (Major bar hopping.—MAX) as much as we did, well, you tend to forget some details. Thankfully, pictures can say a thousand more words, or something to that effect. Yeah...