WARREN Car show to focus on fast Packards

A 1903 Gray Wolf and two Packard Twin Six Racers are part of the exhibit.
WARREN -- Packards at Speed is the theme of the National Packard Museum's 13th annual car show Saturday and next Sunday.
The show, featuring Packard racing and specialty vehicles from 1903 to 1954, is sponsored by First Place Bank Community Foundation.
The historical vehicles are coming to the city from all over the country. Plans and negotiations for the event have been in the works for nearly a year.
Among the items to be displayed will be the 1903 Gray Wolf, built in Warren in response to J.W. Packard's desire to have a racing car to use in advertising, a Packard Twin Six Racers from 1917 and 1920, both of which competed in South America.
Many Packard enthusiasts are familiar with the history of Col. Jesse Vincent and the 299 Engine, originally designed to serve the aircraft industry.
It was installed in an attractive, boat-tailed single seater and became the first in its class to lap the Indy track at more than 100 mph Aug. 2, 1916.
The engine is Serial One and the only survivor of the two that were made.
The 1928 Miller front-drive Indianapolis Racer will also be in the show. It's one of three Packard Cable Specials and is sponsored by Delphi Packard Electric Systems.
The 1928 Vincent Speedster driven by Col. Vincent and others at speed exhibitions to impress visitors and dignitaries is also coming.
Other cars on display for the show include a 1951 Packard Model 200 Business Coupe Pan Am race car, a 1954 New York to Peking rally car, one of the four 1954 Packard Panthers and a 1951 Pan American.
Entertainment
Included in the highlights of the Packard Museum car show will be entertainment by the W.D. Packard Jazz, Dixieland and Swing bands and music by the Stephen Foster Chorus and the Flintstones Band.
There also will be programming on powder coating and pin stripping in the museum, and the swap meet both days.
Weekend festivities climax July 28 as the Packard cars assemble on the south lawn of the music hall in preparation for the Packard Promenade and Review that starts at 2 p.m.
While the Packards are on the south lawn, the museum grounds will host an all-makes and -models cruise-in beginning at noon. Live music, food, awards and door prizes will be part of the festivities.
The weekend wraps up with a 7 p.m. free concert on the music hall's south lawn featuring the W.D. Packard Concert Band.
Admission to the grounds for the weekend is free, but there is a fee to enter the museum to view the specialty cars and exhibit.
Regular museum hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors ages 65 and older and $3 for children ages 7 to 12.
XVisit www.packardmuseum.org or call the museum at (330) 394-1899.