Shifting Gears on Artomobilia Weekend
July 2018
Writer // Janelle Morrison Photography // Anthony Ross Tyler and Courtesy of Artomobilia
In its 11th year, Artomobilia Weekend: A Celebration of Automotive Art & Design will feature a distinct gathering of recognized artists, collector cars and automotive enthusiasts, showcased on the streets of the Carmel Arts & Design District. Featuring more than 400 enthusiast and collector cars, the Artomobilia boasts one of the most eclectic gatherings of original, period-correct cars, including Supercar, Exotic, Sports Car, Classics, Racers, Historically Preserved, Indiana Built, Sedan/Coupe and more. This year’s Artomobilia will offer a focus on Ford Performance cars, featuring the Ford GT.
Artomobilia focuses on display and appreciation over the competition, and although each of the automobiles is truly magnificent, this event is not just about cars; it’s about the art and automotive enthusiasts. The event embraces the essence of automotive art and design by uniquely combining the artwork of local galleries and artists with the presentation of significant automobiles and their iconic design.
For 2018, the Artomobilia team will present, for its fourth year, an exclusive lifestyle event hosted at the Lucas Estate in Carmel on Friday, August 24 called Fuelicious. This year’s event will benefit Heart Reach, a local nonprofit organization focused on providing AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) in the hands of first responders and trained individuals in public locations. An AED is used to restart the heart in the event of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Each year, sudden cardiac arrest kills 335,000 people of all ages and fitness levels without warning.
Ninety-five percent of those who suffer from SCA die because CPR and defibrillation usually occur too late, if at all. If first responders apply CPR and utilize an Automated External Defibrillator within five minutes, the AHA estimates that at least 40,000 more lives per year could be saved.
“This year’s focus of the Fuelicious event is on Heart Reach,” stated John Leonard, Artomobilia Weekend co-founder. “Heart Reach is known for its ‘Bolt for the Heart 5K’ that is held in Carmel. The organization purchases the AEDs to put them into municipal vehicles, such as first responders. The defibrillators are about $1,000 per unit, so we’re going to see if we can raise enough this year at Fuelicious for Heart Reach to purchase 40, 50 or 60 defibrillators.”
Leonard stressed that the Fuelicious event sells out quickly with just over 500 tickets and 50 tables available. “If you have an interest in checking it out and attending, you need to buy early and often as they say,” Leonard emphasized.
Attendees of Fuelicious will enjoy the atmosphere of relaxed elegance and celebration, delivering a unique environment for pairing a discerning audience and unique sponsors. Guests will enjoy a premium culinary experience, live entertainment, a distinct collection of automobiles and a premier audience of committed automotive enthusiasts that combine to create an unmatched, exclusive social entertainment experience supporting the work of Heart Reach. 
Brand new to this year’s agenda is SHIFT, the Artomobilia Team’s newest event for 2018, held Sunday, August 26 following Artomobilia. Collectors and enthusiasts, along with their distinct cars, will experience some of the best roads Southern Indiana has to offer along a hand-selected driving course. Participants will start as a group in downtown Indianapolis at the Silo Auto Club & Conservancy, founded by Mike Simmons, a former Zionsville resident who has been a longtime supporter of Artomobilia and is a sponsor of this year’s SHIFT experience.
Participants will rev up the morning with a light breakfast and a thorough review of the routes, rules and requirements. Next, they will depart with their colleagues and head south to a collection of hand-selected roads that will excite and delight while keeping the participants spirited driving and performance capabilities within the responsible limits of the law. In that time, they’ll collect two cards in pursuit of a winning hand.
After a stopping for their third card and a sophisticated, chef-prepared luncheon and refreshments, the participants will head north, making a quick stop to pick up their fourth card before arriving at their final destination back in downtown Indianapolis. There, they will collect their final card, share the day’s experience and celebrate the balance of the afternoon with 50 of their newest friends.
The purpose driving SHIFT is to raise awareness and support of active automotive enthusiasts to the incredible work of Indiana Children’s Wish Fund. Indiana Children’s Wish Fund is a 501(c)(3) and single entity, statewide wish-granting organization focused on Indiana children, ages 3-18, with life-threatening or terminal illnesses.
“The entrance fee for SHIFT is admittedly high,” Leonard said. “It is important for participants to know that 100 percent of the entry fees are going to the Indiana Children’s Wish Fund, so we are hoping that we can raise $25,000 for that organization.”
Leonard concluded, “Artomobilia Weekend brings together an interesting group of people with a lot of different perspectives but who all share the same love of all things automotive.”
For a complete schedule of events, list of sponsors and registration information, visit artomobiliaweekend.com.