Celebrate the American passion for cool cars at the Rod, Custom and Muscle Car Cruise-In

Owls Head, Maine - Car enthusiasts of all persuasions are certain to enjoy the Rod, Custom and Muscle Car Cruise-In Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12 at the Owls Head Transportation Museum. 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-1995 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 event coincides with National Street Rod Association appreciation weekend.  NSRA members
from around New England will display their fantastic array of custom street rods all weekend on Runway 17. Additionally, the NSRA mobile garage will be operating and free safety inspections will be offered to exhibitors wishing to participate.

Highlights of the weekend will also include a visit from the Maine Motorsports Mobile Museum. An integral part of the Maine Vintage Race Car Association’s efforts to preserve Maine’s rich racing history, this museum on wheels travels more than 1000 miles a year to locations across the state. The unique attraction features numerous displays, memorabilia and more and will be on site at OHTM for the duration of the event weekend.

Representatives from Wicked Good Vintage Racing will also be on hand with an assortment of their operating vintage stock cars.

Attendees of the event will be treated to a demonstration of the Museum’s WWI-era biplanes (weather permitting). Aircraft that may tbe demonstrated and flown include the Museum’s 1923 Fokker C.IVa, 1930 Travel Air Speedwing, 1917 “Checkerboard” SPAD and more. The Museum’s open flightline, held on both Saturday and Sunday, provides an opportunity for visitors to see, hear and experience the planes close up and visit with the pilots.

OHTM planes fly early, so try to get to the Museum in the morning to see the airshow.

Ground vehicle demonstrations will abound throughout the weekend, and highlights will include a special demonstration by Joe Germann of Motorhead Extraordinaire, Inc. in his rare, original 1965 Ford Falcon Factory Drag Car, “The Wild Child.”  Several special vehicles will also be on display including a 1968 Shelby G.T. 500 and a 1968 Ford Mercury Cougar GT-E XR7 428 Ram Air Cobra Jet, one of just three made with a 4-speed manual transmission.

Ground Vehicle Conservator Warren Kincaid said a number of museum collection vehicles will be discussed and demonstrated, likely including the Museum’s 1913 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, 1886 Benz replica, 1932 Cragar racer and 1911 Cadillac.  Kincaid said that visitors can expect to see numerous additional vehicles join the demonstration lineup as well.

In addition to an assortment of classic, vintage and antique vehicles, the Museum will offer an array of family activities including free Model T rides.

The Rod, Custom and Muscle Car Cruise-In 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 and aircraft maintenance demonstrations.

Admission is $16, 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 museum is grateful to our event sponsor, Motorhead Extraordinaire Inc. and to season sponsors: French & Brawn Catering and Marketplace, WMTW Channel 8, Tradewinds Motor Inn, Marshall Tent & Event Rentals, Camden National Bank, Breakwater Vineyard, Columbia Classic Cars, Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, Rockland Ford, Fiore Olive Oil and Journey’s End Marina.

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.