by Jeff Gilbert
WWJ AutoBeat Reporter

Attendance at the North American International Auto Show is running well ahead of last year's pace, with customers of all ages walking away impressed.

"It's amazing, better than Christmas morning," said 9-year old Sam Rickart of Fort Wayne, Indiana, who is a self-professed "car nut."

"I'm amazed," said Sam's mother Sara Rickart. "We've never been before, and there's just so many beautiful cars. The boys have been, we've been holding on to them like they need to be on leashes, because, there's so many things to look at."

The Rickart family joined by around 200 thousand of their closest friends during the show's three day opening weekend.

87 thousand people attended the show on Saturday, a 3.5 per cent increase over the 2010 show. Attendance on Sunday was up about three per cent, with more than 99 thousand people attending.

"We're currently trending to meet our goal of 725,000-750,000 attendees at NAIAS 2011," said Barron Meade, Chairman, in a statement released by the show. "I'd like to express a heartfelt thank you to everyone behind the scenes here at NAIAS who has helped contribute to the show goers' positive experience."
And many were in a car buying mood.

"When I'm in the market for buying a car, this is where I go and make my choice," said Glenda Stanley of Washington Township. Stanley had one big goal in mind, as she narrowed down her choices.

"Economy on the gas," she said. "I drive far. I work in the city. So, I need to have good gas mileage, especially with the gas prices today."

Many others came to look, not just at the cars, but at the large double-deck displays, many with large video screens, brining back a sense of glitz and glamour in a manner that hasn't been seen in a couple of years.

"It's gorgeous," said Pat Schroeder of Canton. 'It's just plain beautiful. It seems to be a "ritzed up" from last year."

Follow Jeff Gilbert on Twitter @jefferygilbert.