Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb |
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Hill Climb starting line
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| Status | Active |
| Genre | Racing Festival |
| Begins | 1 October 2021 |
| Ends | 3 October 2021 |
| Frequency | First Sunday of October |
| Venue | Town Square |
| Location(s) | Newport, Indiana |
| Coordinates | 39°53′6″N 87°24′23″W / 39.88500°N 87.40639°W |
| Country | USA |
| Inaugurated | 6 October 1968 |
| Most recent | 6 October 2019 |
| Attendance | over 250,000 |
| Sponsor | Newport Lions Club |
The Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb is a super fun yearly festival! It happens on the first Sunday of October in Newport, Indiana. The Lions Club of Newport and the Town of Newport work together to organize and sponsor this exciting event.
The main part of the festival is a race. Old cars, trucks, and motorcycles from different time periods (like Steam, Brass, Vintage, Antique, and Classic Car eras) drive up a very steep hill. This hill is Newport's Main Street, and it's 1800 feet long! Drivers try to get to the top as fast as they can. This festival is actually the second biggest car event in Indiana, right after the famous Indy 500 race!
The Story of the Hill Climb
The very first Hill Climb happened way back in 1909. Some businessmen in Newport started it. They wanted to make money because people were really interested in watching cars climb hills back then. Hill climbing contests were becoming popular.
But by 1915, new types of racing, like track racing, became more popular. The excitement for hill climbs started to fade. The businessmen didn't make as much money, and people lost interest. So, the event didn't happen in 1916.
The Newport Volunteer Fire Department tried to bring the event back in 1963 and 1964. They called it the Antique Auto Hill Climb. But again, it didn't make enough money and needed more helpers. So, it stopped after just two years.
In 1967, many fans of old cars and car clubs really wanted the event to return. They asked the Newport Lions Club to help. The Lions Club was formed, and they decided to bring the Hill Climb back as their main way to raise money for good causes. The first new event was held in 1968. Soon after, they decided that the first Sunday of October would always be the "race day." The festival used to last longer, sometimes starting on a Thursday or Wednesday, but now it's a fun three-day event. The hill climb did not happen in 2020.
What You Can See and Do
Besides the exciting hill climb race, there are many other cool things to do at the festival:
- Flea Market
- Baby Contest
- Kid's Big Wheels Race
- Parade
- Car Raffle
- Car Show
- Auto and Memorabilia Auction
Gallery
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A Model A Ford at the finish line.
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A Stanley Steamer at the 2009 event.
