Annual car parade to be led by 1911 Cadillac Model 30

The 56th Annual Antique and Classic Car Parade takes place in Hamilton and Fairfield on July 24, 2009. The parade will begin in Hamilton and travel to Fairfield and back again.

File photo The 56th Annual Antique and Classic Car Parade takes place in Hamilton and Fairfield on July 24, 2009. The parade will begin in Hamilton and travel to Fairfield and back again.

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By Amanda Seitz, Staff Writer Updated 11:16 AM Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Hundreds of classic cars from all decades and manufacturers will be revving their engines across Fairfield and Hamilton Saturday, July 24.

Registration for The Hamilton/Fairfield Antique and Classic Car Parade is already high, Publicity Director Virgil Jones said.

“The pre-registration is up to around 250 already,” Jones said. “We’re estimating 350 cars registered for the parade, that’s a lot of cars.

Cars from as far back as 1895 are expected to show up, said Bob Piper Vice President of The Antique and Classic Car Club of Butler County.

“Our event is open to 1895 and older that are in original and restored condition,” Piper said.

But the lead car for the parade will be the star of the day — a 1911 Cadillac Model 30. The car, owned by Thomas Wallace of Dayton, is one of only 10,071 known Cadillacs in 1911.

“That’s quite an award-winning car. We feel real privileged having that as a lead car,” Jones said. “It’s the mere fact that it’s an outstanding car.”

The day will start off with judging and exhibition at 8:30 a.m. at the Hamilton West Shopping Center at Main Street and Broodwood Avenue. Following the display, the parade of cars will start their engines at 1 p.m to make a pit stop at Fairfield Crossings on Ohio 4 and Symmes Road for 45 minutes.

After the Fairfield showing, the antiques and classics will speed on down to the Butler County Courthouse around 2:30 p.m. to pick up any of the 67 available awards they might have won.

The parade will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Corvair. To commemorate the occasion, a 1960 Corvair Monza owned by Jim Powell will drive alongside a pack of 6 other Corvairs. And even more Corvairs might show, Jones said..

“Corvairs are really turning out here because of the Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus chapters of the Corvair association, so we’ll have a lot of Corvairs,” Jones said.

Ford models are expected to be the most popular item of the day, Jones said.

“We have a great turn out of Model-T and Model-A Fords,” Jones said. “There’s an awful lot of them in the area.”

Although cars will be the main focus of the day, Jones said the beauty of the oldest car show and parade of its kind lies deeper.

“It’s the oldest one of it’s kind, there’s no other thing like it,” Jones said. “People show up, bring their grandchildren because they remember when they were kids their grandparents and their parents brought them to the parade. It’s a family thing that’s been going on since 1955.”