Public events to salute the J-car

A car show will highlight a farewell ceremony for the Cavalier.
LORDSTOWN -- General Motors is offering area residents a chance to say farewell to the Chevrolet Cavalier on Aug. 7.
The GM Lordstown complex will have a car show and other activities to salute the J-car, the name for the body style of the Cavalier and its twin from Pontiac, the Sunfire/Sunbird. The event also will serve as an opportunity for the public to see the plant's new small car, the Chevrolet Cobalt.
The car show will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors will be admitted free, but registering a car for the show will cost $8 in advance or $10 the day of the show.
Proceeds will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeast Ohio and the Paula and Anthony Rich Center for the Study and Treatment of Autism at Youngstown State University.
What's scheduled
Included will be the seventh annual International J-Body Bash, with more than 500 of the world's most advanced J-body cars.
Also scheduled are two Lordstown-built Cobalt SS Supercharged Coupes, a GM racing display, drag race simulators, a employee talent show, face-painting and other children's activities and the Cleveland Cavaliers cheerleaders.
Scheduled to speak at 11 a.m. are U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, Gov. Bob Taft and GM and union officials.
The winner of a raffle for the last Pontiac Sunfire also will be selected. Workers and retirees are able to buy tickets for $5 each, with proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Plant officials haven't announced what will happen to the last Cavalier or the first market-ready Cobalt.
The plant has produced about 5 million J-cars since 1981.