49th Newport Hill Climb set for this weekend

NEWPORT -- The 49th Annual Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb is scheduled for Sept. 30 and Oct. 1-2, as the Newport Lions Club prepares for the annual gathering of antique auto enthusiasts.

Hoping to stage another record-setting festival, the Lions will hold the event over a 1,800-foot-long, 140-foot-high Newport Hill, once a proving ground for early automobile designs.

As featured this summer on cable television’s “My Classic Car” program, nearly 300 cars are expected to compete in 31 classes in timed runs over the hill, while some 500 show cars, street rods and street machines are judged alongside classic antique vehicles in nine classes for trophies.

New additions to the competition are three antique motorcycle classes, also limited to side-valve models 1953 and older and grouped by engine displacement.

The time of each run is multiplied by the cubic inch displacement of the engine to determine the final score, so the fastest time doesn’t always guarantee a top trophy. Practice runs will be held from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, and from 8-10 a.m. Sunday. Opening ceremonies will begin at 10:30 a.m. Sunday with competition runs starting at 11 a.m.

In celebration of Indiana’s Bicentennial, each competition or show car driver entered will receive a commemorative desktop Indiana State Flag. Also, cars from Indiana-based manufacturers (Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg, Studebaker, Marmon, Stutz or any of 72 others) can register at the discounted price of $16.

The festival weekend begins Friday evening with the annual Dog Show and a Gospel Music Jamboree at the Newport Methodist Church, featuring The Lesters from St. Louis.

With the opening of the hill for practice runs Saturday at 8 a.m., some 300 flea market and swap meet booths will be open for business, as well as numerous food concessions around the courthouse square. The Lions Club’s pork barbecue will also begin serving Saturday.

A Cruise-In and Street Dance are scheduled for Saturday evening and the day will be capped off with a huge fireworks display at dusk.

The festival will conclude with a giant prize drawing Sunday afternoon, including the Lions Club’s 1941 Ford Super Deluxe two-door sedan, with the famous Ford Flathead V-8. Copies of the three history books on the Hill Climb, covering the first Newport Hill Climb in 1909 until today, will be on sale throughout the weekend, along with various other souvenir offerings.

The Newport Hill Climb likely began as an “innocent” challenge between two owners of those new-fangled automobiles. While early autos had trouble making it up the crest of the hill, soon topping the 140-foot plus hilltop became common, but still a great struggle on the early gasoline engines. Then it wasn’t just enough to top the hill; you had to be the fastest to climb it.

The first Hill Climb was held in 1909 and organized by the businessmen of Newport as a way to capitalize on the interest in climbing the hill. Hill Climbing contests were becoming more common place, and by 1915 the “newness” has worn off, and board-track and other circular racing forms were becoming more popular. The financial returns to the businessmen shrank, as did the interest in holding the event, and the 1916 event never materialized.

More information on the Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb by calling 765-492-4220. Information is also available at www.newporthillclimb.com.