Owls Head, Maine - Located in the heart of Maine's midcoast, the Owls Head Transportation Museum is home to one of the finest collections of pioneer aircraft and ground vehicles in the country. Open year round, these vehicles are the focus of tours and education programs during the off-season months. But come May, the museum takes on a life of its own, literally. Nearly every vehicle in the collection, be it the 1917 Fokker Triplane, or the 1907 Cadillac Runabout, even the 1898 Leon Bollee Tricar, is operational and all are regularly demonstrated during special events held through October.
This year is shaping up to be one of our most exciting special event seasons. All outdoor events (except the auto auction) include our antique airplane show. The museum’s planes fly early, beginning promptly at 9:30 am, weather permitting. The early morning calm is best for the more tender of our pioneer aircraft which include a 1910 Farman III, 1912 Curtiss Model D Pusher and 1913 Etrich Taube. If you have not had the good fortune to see these elegant airplanes in flight, make a point of bringing family and friends and enjoy “Breakfast with the Pioneers.” It’s a rare treat that never gets old.
First on the docket is our annual Memorial Day weekend kick-off event the Owls Head Antique Auto & Aeroplane Show, May 26 and 27. This event is open to exhibitors of any pre-1992 vehicle be it a car truck, motorcycle—which is true with any of our vehicle meets. And all exhibitors get in free. Traditionally this show is a great start to the rally season. This year being its 100th anniversary, Chevrolet will be the featured marque. So in addition to pre-1992 vehicles all 2012 Chevrolet owners are welcome to exhibit their vehicle on Runway 17. We are hoping to get a good turnout of early Chevrolets so help us spread the word.
Next we host our annual Hot Rods, Customs & Muscle Car Meet, June 16 and 17. Featuring the styles and colors of the 1950s to raw power of the 1970s, it’s a celebration of America’s passion for cool cars. Always a popular event for exhibitors, it’s a visual treasure trove for the casual observer. It is also our Corporate Appreciation Weekend when we invite our corporate supporter’s employees and their families to visit the museum at no charge. It is one of the many benefits of corporate membership.
Moving into July things start getting really busy. Our popular Fabulous ’50s, Sensational ’60s Car Meet starts things off July 7 and 8. Upwards of 400 vehicles from two of the auto industry’s most stylish decades descend on Owls Head. Big fins and big engines are the norm. Certainly one of our more nostalgia-inducing events, it’ll make you want to “twist again like you did last summer.”
From simply big, we go to bigger and biggest with the Owls Head classic Trucks, Tractors & Commercial Vehicles Show, July 21 and 22. From pick ups and delivery vans to tractor trailer trucks (which are sometimes hauling tractor trailer trucks), this is a show within a show. Always a popular family event—who doesn’t like trucks?—it features an antique tractor parade each day. In addition members of the Maine Antique Power Association (aka MAPA) display several operating engines of various shapes and sizes.
Which brings us to August and historically our two largest events of the year. First up is the Wings & Wheels Spectacular, August 4 and 5, which includes an antique aeroplane and aerobatic airshow. Antique and classic cars, trucks and motorcycles are welcome to exhibit and for several clubs this weekend is a regular on their summer schedule. But as the name implies a good portion of the event takes place in the sky. Headlining this year’s event will be aerobatic performers Kendal Simpson flying a Pitts Model 12 and Dan Marcotte is his Ultimate biplane. Also the Texas Flying Legends Museum will demonstrate several original World War II aircraft. Last year they thrilled the crowd with their Japanese Zero, P-40K Aleutian Tiger and a FG-1D Corsair. They’ve promised at least the same this year.
Rounding out the month is our 35th Annual New England Auto Auction, August 25. The largest museum fund-raiser of the year, it will again feature up to 200 antique, classic and special interest vehicles for sale. From Buicks to Bentleys, Fords to Ferraris, Ramblers to Rolls Royces, it’s a veritable history lesson in automotive manufacture. And honestly, it is as much fun to watch as it is to participate. The sale is preceded by a week-long preview from August 20 to 24.
September starts off with a rumble with our annual Vintage Motorcycle Meet, September 1 and 2. More than 200 antique and classic motorcycles take over Runway 17 with usually twice that number or more modern bikes in the museum parking lot. The event is always a good opportunity for the museum staff to demonstrate the 1898 Leon Bollee Tricar, our oldest operating ground vehicle and discuss the replica 1868 Roper Steam Motorcycle and the 1913 Scripps-Booth Bi-Autogo.
The rumble continues with Earth Movers & Shakers, September 22 and 23.This event has grown in popularity every year and this year we expect a full contingent of bucket loaders, back hoes, road graders, dump trucks and more. Several vehicles will be demonstrated and will bring new meaning to playing in a sandbox. In addition, the Northeast Chapter of Model A Club of America will make the Museum a tour stop on Saturday—more than 100 vehicles are expected.
Bring on the world! Our final outdoor event of the season is our Foreign Auto Festival, October 6 and 7. This is always a popular event as the air turns brisk and fall colors are on the rise. With more than 200 exhibitors most countries are well represented. The Mid-Maine Sports Car Club makes this an annual rally event and with MG as the featured marquee and our MG & Microcar exhibit open, several MG clubs have already committed to attend.
The Owls Head Transportation Museum is located at 117 Museum Street in Owls Head. For more information call 207-594-418 or email info@ohtm.org. And be sure to check our website, owlshead.org, or “like us” on Facebook to get regular event updates.
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| The Owls Head Transportation Museum is cranking up for another fun event season beginning with the Spring Auto & Antique Aeroplane Show, May 26 & 27. (Photo shows aircraft conservator, Karl Erickson, starting the Museum’s 1917 Curtiss JN-4D “Jenny”.) |
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