WARREN Car show celebrates Packard's odyssey

Events will include driving tours, educational programs, a swap meet and band performances.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Packard lovers, start your engines!
The annual Packard Car Show is coming to town. It runs Friday through July 22 at the National Packard Museum on Mahoning Avenue.
Hundreds of Packard cars and car collectors are expected to be in town for the show, being called "2001 A Packard Odyssey."
Events will center on Packard Park, Packard Music Hall and the museum, which opened July 1999.
Events: There will be a swap meet on museum grounds, and cars will be displayed there Friday and Saturday.
An all-Packard car show and promenade begins at 2:30 p.m. July 22 behind the music hall.
For more information, call the museum at 394-1899 or 394-8484.
The event is sponsored by the community foundation at First Place Bank.
Other sponsors are Diane Sauer's Martin Chevrolet, Trumbull County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Delphi Packard Electric Systems, Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce and Grundy Insurance.
The museum opens at 4 p.m. Friday for registration. Other events that day include a performance in the museum by Packard Dixieland Band, a reception at Buckeye Club on Park Avenue and a tour to General Motors Lordstown Assembly Plant.
Saturday highlights include the swap meet, a dinner at the museum, an auction, educational programs and tours of Amish Country and the World War II Museum in Hubbard.
Jim Crouse, chairman of the car show, said the war museum displays tanks, guns and other items of interest.
"I took my grandson there. He's 8 years old. I couldn't get him to leave," Crouse said.
The Packard museum will close early Saturday -- at 5 p.m. -- because of the dinner.
Crouse said tickets are still available.
Featured speaker will be Charles Blackman of Michigan, a former college professor who has owned several Packards.
Historical items will be appraised July 22 in the museum and musical performances will include Stephen Foster Chorus, Packard Jazz Band, The Flintstones Band and W.D. Packard Band.
Awards will be given at 4 p.m. July 22 at the band shell on the south lawn.