Coming UP: Owls Head Spring Antique Auto Show May 31st-June 1st

Owls Head, Maine - Dust off your classic vehicle and join us on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1 at the Owls Head Transportation Museum for their annual Owls Head Spring Antique Auto Show. This show is the perfect way to kick off the outdoor auto show season in a fun atmosphere that provides two days of excitement for the entire family. Gates open to the public at 9:00 a.m.; exhibitor gates open at 8:00 a.m.  The show will go on rain or shine and a variety of indoor demonstrations and activities are planned in the event of inclement weather.

All pre-1994 vehicles and all organized automobile clubs are welcome to exhibit. Exhibitors and one guest get in free. Clubs wishing to arrange parking are encouraged to call ahead.

The Spring Antique Auto show will feature a variety of exciting debuts including the opportunity to see their beautiful 1930 Curtiss-Wright Travel Air D-4000 Speed Wing take to the skies for the first time since the historic aircraft joined the collection in December 2013. Visitors will also have an opportunity to be the first to view 1917 SPAD in flight following a full recovering and repainting in our aviation workshop. The “Checkerboard SPAD Team” of museum volunteers responsible for the project will be on hand to answer questions about the plane as well.

Additional planes that will take to the skies for demonstrations (weather permitting) include the Museum’s
1941 Stearman, our 1933 Waco, our 1918 Standard J-1 and our beloved 1917 Fokker DR.I triplane (aka the Red Baron). Their open flightline provides an opportunity for visitors to see, hear and experience the planes close up and visit with pilots.

Remember, they fly early, so try to get to the Museum in the morning to see their planes in action!

Ground Vehicle Conservator Warren Kincaid said a number of museum collection vehicles will be demonstrated and may include our 1932 Ford Cragar Racer, 1886 Benz replica, 1908 Overland Roadster, 1933 Pierce Arrow and many more.  Several vehicles that have never previously been demonstrated will be run as part of the Spring Antique Auto Show.

Raffle tickets are on sale for a 1951 MG TD, this raffle is a special promotion in 2014 and all proceeds from ticket sales will benefit museum programs. Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased online or on site at the museum where the grand prize car is on display, only 500 will be sold. The winner will be selected on August 23 at the museum’s inaugural Barnstormers Ball fundraising gala. Tickets to the Barnstormers Ball can also be purchased online or at the museum.

In addition to an assortment of classic, vintage and antique vehicles, an array of family activities will include vehicle demonstrations, free Model T rides and (weather permitting) antique aeroplane demonstrations.  At 11 am a stick and tissue airplane building workshop will be offered for children. This popular workshop has not previously been offered at museum special events and will allow children to construct their own stick and tissue airplanes with the guidance of museum education volunteers. While the workshop is free a limited number of spaces will be available.

"I think Owls Head as never been more ready for an exciting event season.  Where as most people think the Spring Auto show is a warm up, in reality it is going to be one of the best shows of the season and one you will not want to miss.  The various winter projects will be seen for the first time.  Visitors will see the 1917 SPAD return to the sky with its flashy new checkerboard paint scheme, the 1930 Pitcairn Mailwing and our newest plane, a 1930 Travel Air Speed Wing in flight, we’ll run the 1886 Benz, 1908 Overland Roadster and more. We have been cooped up all winter, come May 31, we will be ready to run,” Auction and Event coordinator Toby Stinson said.

The Owls Head Spring Antique Auto Show will commence rain or shine. Vehicles will be exhibited on the Museum’s Runway 17, and the Museum will be open so that visitors can tour the collection and exhibits.

In the event of rain, alternate plans for children may include interactive readings from the book Excuse my Dust, museum scavenger hunts, pedal cars and a variety of transportation-themed art activities. Special offerings at the Museum will include running vehicle demonstrations, presentations on vehicle and automobile industry history and automobile maintenance demonstrations in the ground vehicle restoration workshop.

The museum is grateful to our season sponsors: French & Brawn Catering and Marketplace, Camden National Bank, Down East Magazine, Corson’s Auto Supply, Thomaston Place Auction Galleries and Journey’s End Marina.

Admission is $16 for adults, $10 for seniors over 65 and, as always, children under 18 and retired and active duty military personnel are admitted to the Museum and show free of charge. Refreshments catered by French & Brawn Catering and Market Place will be available for purchase at the Caboose during both days of the show. No pets are allowed in the Museum or on show grounds.

The Owls Head Transportation Museum is located at 117 Museum Street in Owls Head, Maine. The Museum is open seven days a week, year round. For more information please contact Owls Head Transportation Museum Public Relations Director Jenna Lookner at (207) 594-4418.