Yankee Air Museum 2nd Annual Wings and Wheels invitational car show
Yankee Air Museum Shrugs Off Old Man Winter; Plans Car and Plane Remix
Belleville, Michigan—Yankee Lady, the historic B-17 Flying Fortress hasn’t been seen flying overhead for weeks. All of the classic cars were put to bed long ago. Safe from the harsh elements, winter maintenance continues and the good kids are keeping their cars and planes well covered. At Yankee Air Museum, the focus is already on Sunday, June 23, 2019. That’s right, two days after the Summer Solstice the 2nd Annual Wings and Wheels invitational car show will be held on the west ramp at Willow Run Airport. Suddenly, it feels a little warmer.
“The days are so short now, that even if a warm streak hit, no one at your cruising hangout would notice a stray Studebaker,” chuckled Peter DeLoof, Event Chairman of Yankee Air Museum’s Wings and Wheels. “These are the times that try the souls of the car and plane enthusiasts. Our group therapy is in planning meetings and we’re making terrific progress.”
DeLoof, who owns a rare 1922 Fronty/Ford Indianapolis racecar, says the 2nd Wings and Wheels will be bigger, better than the inaugural event last year simply by building on the successful formula. People like being up close with history and being able to talk with the owners of exceptionally unique cars and planes. The general public is encouraged to attend this event and bring cameras.
The Wings and Wheels committee includes automotive luminaries Bob Lutz, retired General Motors Vice-Chairman and Bill Milliken, President of the eminent Points and Condensers Preservation Society. Lutz and Milliken together chair the car selection panel to bring the extraordinary to Wings and Wheels.
“Open the hood of today’s automobile and you see a handsome engine cover,” said Lutz. “Look under the hoods of the classics we present and you see an evolution of engine technology. We have some exceptional one-of-a-kind cars selected for our show.”
DeLoof said the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum has already agreed to send five cars from its collection, including one driven by legendary World War One fighter ace, Eddie Rickenbacker. He won’t divulge more cars, but said a Grumman Widgeon is among the rare aircraft slated to appear on June 23.
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Cars and planes are appearing by invitation only to assure the highest level of exclusive aircraft and automobiles together in one place, on one day, rain or shine. People who have an exceptional automobile or plane should contact Elisa Guyton, the event coordinator, at elisa.guyton@yankeeairmuseum.org to receive an application for the Wings and Wheels Selection Committee to consider.
“Getting the winter blues so soon?” asks DeLoof. “Is that old 1940’s favorite ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ already making the dogs howl? Save the date, set your focus on Wings and Wheels, Sunday, June 23, 2019. You’ll feel better.”
About Wings and Wheels: This fantastic automobile and airplane show is returning on Sunday, June 23, 2019 from 10:00AM until 4:00PM on the ramp at Hangar 1, Willow Run Airport, West side. Located at 801 Kirk Profit Drive, Ypsilanti Michigan, this is the hangar from which Yankee Air Museum operates its historic planes. Get up close to an amazing array of rare classic cars, selected by invitation only, and historic aircraft all on display together on the tarmac. Outstanding opportunities to chat up the owners and capture great photos.
The general public is welcome and tickets are $20.00 in advance and $25.00 on the day of the event. Kids 15 and under are free. Plenty of free parking available and food trucks will be on site. Net event proceeds benefit the Yankee Air Museum. This is the destination of the year for automotive and aviation cognoscenti. Air Adventure rides will be available on Yankee Air Museum’s vintage World War Two era aircraft, a B-17 Flying Fortress, B-25 Mitchell and C-47 Skytrain along with its Waco biplane.
For more information contact Elisa Guyton at elisa.guyton@yankeeairmuseum.org
About Yankee Air Museum: Established in 1981 the Yankee Air Museum is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. The Yankee Air Museum dedicates itself to educating people through the history of U.S. Military aviation, technology and home front efforts while inspiring generations through personal experiences to instill pride in our national accomplishments. Yankee Air Museum, located at 47884 D Street, Belleville, Michigan on the grounds of historic Willow Run Airport, is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Visit www.yankeeairmuseum.org to discover more about us and how we are working to preserve local history with the www.SavetheBomberPlant.org campaign. For more information, call 734-483-4030.
