By Tim McCarthy
tmccarthy@haverhillgazette.com
—
A classic car show will line Washington Street during Team Haverhill's River Ruckus on Saturday, Aug. 14.
More than 100 classic cars, from turn-of-the-century antiques to souped-up muscle cars from the 1970s, are expected to make an appearance.
"It should be just like stepping back in time," said Team Haverhill member Ron Thompson, the car show's organizer. "This will be a great opportunity for people to come to downtown Haverhill."
Washington Street will be closed throughout the day for the event but will reopen around 5 p.m.
Thompson, the owner of a 1959 Ford Fairlane, said he anticipates cars such as the subcompact Nash Metropolitan and the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. The show is open to any car that could fall under the description of classic, antique or special interest.
There's no need to register in advance for the show. Instead, interested parties should go to parking lot of Academy Lanes in Bradford at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 14 to register that morning. At 11 a.m., all registered cars will take part in a parade will travel through Bradford, cross the Basiliere Bridge and park along Washington Street at the end of their grand entrance downtown.
The car parade will be led by The New Liberty Jazz Band performing atop its own antique fire engine. After the cars are parked and the hoods are popped along Washington Street, street entertainers and the Paul Prue Blues band will amuse River Ruckus guests as they admire the cars. Rock 'n' roll legend "Elvis" will make an appearance, by way of celebrity impersonator Mike Visselli.
The public will be able to vote on their favorites to win the "People's Choice Award." More than bragging rights will be at stake; the owner of the winning car will receive a gift certificate to Keon's 105 Bistro and a custom trophy.
The show is expected to end around 3 p.m.
The classic car show is sponsored by the Haverhill Bank and the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce.
Bank President Tom Mortimer said that he viewed sponsoring the event as an investment in Haverhill and hoped for similar events in the future.
"I think the classic car show will be a big draw," Mortimer said.
Each week throughout the summer, The Haverhill Gazette's print edition and website will highlight a feature of River Ruckus and profile its sponsor. Visit our website at hgazette.com.
