Can anyone give me some tips on what to expect at the Old Car Festival at Greenfield Village? I signed up for this event and have never been there before. Is this a two day event where you camp out over night or is it a one day affair where you stay by your car the entire time? Anyone who has attended this festival, I would love to hear about your experiences and any suggestions you might pass on.
Here's a link to you tube, has several different years on it
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Old+Car+Festival+Greenfield+Village& oq=Old+Car+Festival+Greenfield+Village&gs_l=youtube.12...4782.4782.0.7668.1.1.0. 0.0.0.313.313.3-1.1.0...0.0...1ac..11.youtube.zoy7rJlcV7Q
The OCF is a two day event with some of the finest old cars ever made. Some very rare. No you don't stand by your car, you go look at some of the other 600+ cars tht are there. You park your antique in a designated area by year of manufacture. You can drive around the village with you car if you like. Sometimes it is grid lock with old cars. A gas light parade is held Saturday evening. Very different. Book you stay at an area hotel.
Thanks for the "collection" you posted Wes; that just could take up a good part of my day! I'd sure like to attend (participate) in that event some day with my '27 depot hack, but I think your Ford has to be "pre-approved" before you can count on participating,.....is that correct?
Thanks again Wes,....as much as I'd like to go to that event once, I think it would drive me crazy to be there WITHOUT a Model T to drive!
The Old Car Festival is the longest running car show of its kind in the world. Started in 1950, this is it's 63rd year. Cars, motorcycles, bikes and, commercial vehicles from 1932 to the earliest that enter participate in this unique festival. Vehicles are parked according to their year of manufacture with separate areas for the bikes, motorcycles and, commercial vehicles.
How much you get out of the festival is up to the participant. Cars are statically parked but the owner/driver can drive their vehicle pretty much all around the unique, historic setting of Greenfield Village. That's what really sets this event apart from others: you get to DRIVE your vehicle! Visitors can not only see your vehicle but see what it looks, sounds and even, smells like as you cruise around the Village.
You also can participate in car/driver games, choose to have your car judged according to AACA guidelines and compete for trophies, you can take your vehicle through the Pass In Review (PIR).
PIR takes place both days. Cars are driven up to a grand stand where narrators talk about your car, its history, etc. Across the street from the grand stand are bleachers for visitors to watch and listen.
Saturday night, the Village stays open until 9 p.m. Starting at dusk there is the Gaslight Tour. In this, cars that wish to participate, turn their electric headlights on or, for the earlier cars, light up the acetylene and/or kerosene lamps and drive around the Village designated route. Their are usually fireworks at about 9 p.m.
Registration is open at this time and I would visit The Henry Ford website, I think, to find registration.
If you have a motor home or camper, I think you can make prearrangements with the Village to park it in the Village (out of site, of course) and stay over night. There are plenty of nice hotels in the area. The Dearborn Inn is historic being the first airport hotel. A little pricey, though.
If you're trailering your vehicle, the Village has a loading and unloading area and you can drive your vehicle into the Village from there.
The Old Car Festival is the companion show to the Motor Muster. The Muster picks up where the Festival leaves off taking in cars from 1933 to 1976 (If I remember right, that's the cutoff date). It takes place in June on Fathers' Day weekend and I think registration for that is closed now. The Muster is pretty much the same as the Festival.
Any questions, lemme know of contact the Village.
Harold, yes, the vehicles are pre-approved prior to acceptance. The reason is the Village wants to make sure they are as historically correct as possible -- no hot-rods, etc. But, they Village welcomes correct speedsters etc. I know, I know, this has been a point of contention for some time. Don't shoot the messenger.
Marty - Thanks so much for the detailed explanation ref the "OCF". For some reason, I hate "trendy" expressions like "bucket list", but if I had one, that'd be on it for sure! Thanks again, and thanks Wilber for starting this thread,......harold
Marty - We were typing at the same time,....thanx again,....harold
Harold, your welcome. If you can ever make it to the Festival, it's something you really shouldn't miss. I live in a suburb of Detroit and the Village isn't that far from here. I usually drive my 1914 T Touring and 1923 American LaFrance Brockway Torpedo Fire Engine to the Festival. There's pond in the Village and we put on a pumping demonstration with the LaFrance. This year will mark my consecutive 50th OCF (one year, I even cut short a European trip so I wouldn't miss it!)
Somebody taped the LaFrance pumping last year and put it on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVBJgpTuBqI
Wow, thanks Marty for the detailed description! I am really looking forward to my first OCF! It will be the highlight of my driving year. Is it Saturday/Sunday or Fri./Sat.? Also, does your registration include both days?
Wilber, you're welcome and the event is both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday until 9 p.m., Sunday until 6 p.m. Only pre-registered, accepted vehicles -- no "walk-ins".
Vehicles are allowed in the Village after 5 p.m. Friday. I think the Village opens Saturday and Sunday at 9 or 10 a.m. but participants are allowed in as early as they want, within reason.
You can pick up your pre-registration packet Friday evening starting at 5 p.m. You should be getting all that information in your pre-registration acceptance letter.
Where are you coming from?
Marty, if I don't plan on camping out but get a hotel room instead does my car sit out in the park all night? I don't have a covered trailer but an open one.
Yes, you can put your car in the grounds of the village, Friday evening thru Sunday. It is safe to leave it there overnight. Many owners leave their cars in the village, and many will cover the cars in case of a rain overnight. Hope to see you there.
Wilber, Jack is right. You can leave your antique car right in the Village. You can even drive your modern car in Friday night so you can drive back with whomever is with you. I pick up my registration packet Friday, drive the cars into the Village and cover them. Someone from my group follows me into the Village with a modern car and drives me out and home. The Village staff is terrific and can be very accommodating. A lot of this information will be in your acceptance/registration letter and/or you can call the Village staff.
And, honestly, there is so much to do and see with or without your car, you really should get there early BOTH days. God forbid the weather is bad (and in the 50 years I've been going, I think it's only rained maybe three or four OCFs) you always can go into the Henry Ford Museum.
How are accepted applicants notified and how long does it take to be notified?
Don, once you have sent in an application with the required photo, you should get an acceptance (rejection) letter probably a few weeks after the app is sent in. With over 600 vehicles (that includes bikes and motorcycles) it sometimes takes time for the staff to review and approve the application. Your application packet will include a lot of the above information and then some.
I've registered two of our cars this year. I've never been, but hope both are accepted. Sounds like a great event, and I've already counted on it (that means the wife has approved).
Hope to see many of you there,
Rob
Wilbur,
This is our favorite weekend of the year. I drive my 13 runabout all weekend and have more fun than should be allowed. The staff at Greenfield Village does an exceptional job of making everyone welcome. There are a number of Ford historical sites in Dearborn to visit so plan to arrive on Friday to experience them.
We hope to to see you there!
They changed the registration process this year, now is done online. Here is the website where you need to go to apply/register: http://registration.thehenryford.org/login.aspx. Pretty self explanatory to sign up and fill out an application to participate. They will notify you if you are accepted.
And some of the e-mail I received about participating:
Dear Old Car Festival Participant,
We look forward to your participation in the 2013 Old Car Festival here at The Henry Ford. The 63rd annual event will be held on September 7 & 8, 2013. We are excited to announce some new changes to our registration process.
The application and registration for the 2013 Old Car Festival will be significantly different than it has been in previous years. We have developed an online registration process, which will allow you as a participant to go to a specified website to create a registration profile and then register for the 2013 Old Car Festival. We will begin accepting registrations on May 1, 2013 and will until July 29, 2013. Please see the attached information for registration procedures.
Once your application(s) has been processed, you will receive a confirmation directing you to updated information regarding parking and other participant logistics you will need to know. This will be emailed to the address you provide to us in your online registration.
As in previous years, you will receive the following benefits of participation that are a signature part of the experience here at The Henry Ford:
· Four (4) complimentary admission passes valid for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. These passes are good for both Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum. We will not be handing out any additional passes, so please plan accordingly.
· Participants receive one additional pass for each additional vehicle they bring, for a maximum of 6 passes per participant. Again, we will not be handing out additional passes.
· Discount coupons for up to a total of four (4) additional Greenfield Village admissions in any combination of adult/youth may be purchased at a discounted price.
· Participants can get up to 4 discounted admissions for the Village or Museum on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday and 4 discounted ride pass wristbands for Saturday, Sunday, or Monday.
· Up to four (4) Village Ride Passes may be purchased at a discounted price.
· One dash plaque per participant.
· Extended hours at Greenfield Village on Saturday. Rides and food venues are also open for extended evening hours. Saturday night also features a concert of period music, dance, and entertainment.
· Saturday evening fireworks.
· Vehicles can be left on the grounds of Greenfield Village at all times on Saturday and Sunday.
· Close parking for trailers, motor homes, and modern vehicles with free shuttle service between Greenfield Village and the POEE registration area. There may be some changes to the parking area due to construction of the new Dearborn train station. Detailed updates will follow.
The registration fee to participate is $25.00 for the first vehicle registered and $5.00 for each additional vehicle with a cap of $35.00 regardless of the number of vehicles entered. After your vehicle has been accepted, you will receive payment information.
We invite you to continue your support of our mission and your involvement in one of the most unique car shows in the country. If you have any questions regarding the payment process, please call 313-982-6100 extension 2086. Logistical questions about Old Car Festival weekend or the registration process may be directed to Creative Programs Registration at 313-982-6058 or participantinfo@thehenryford.org.
Thank you for your continued support of The Henry Ford.
Sincerely,
Jim Johnson
Senior Manager, Creative Programs
I'm not sure how long the process takes. I've had my application in for nearly a month. Sounds normal from what I've heard here. A strange thing happened though. While checking my registration account for updates, I found that two of the pictures I submitted had been replaced by pics of some other car. Looked like about a 1913 runabout. I had to upload replacement pics. If anyone here has applied with such a car, you should check your account to make sure the correct pics are there.
I decided to check our registrations, and the reg. page for our K keeps showing a photo of our N (same photo I used to register the N). The K photo doesn't show up on the N registration.
I deleted the N photo, and uploaded the K photo several times, but still the N photo. I wonder what is happening to cause this?
I sent my electronic application, no picture included as I returning with a previously shown vehicle (1914 T Touring with the Hienze Springfield starter). I received approval within one week. I could not believe it!
Hello Rob:
Am I correct that you and your K will be present @ GVOCF in September?
Regards,
Scott
Scott,
I hope so. I became a bit nervous and called THF this morning. They said applications from prior participants were being processed now. They told me new applicants won't be processed for at least three weeks.
I've pre registered our N and K. My plan is to take the cars to Detroit for the Dearborn to Lansing Tour, then OCF. Fly home, then return and drive the trailer with cars on to Hershey from Detroit.
I also think there will be one other K there, along with a few Model As (1903-1904), one or two Model Fs, a Model C, and a few 1909 Model T, including one two pedal/two lever (members of the Early Ford Registry).
Hope it all works out. Will you be there (and your towncar )?
Rob
Hello Rob:
That is the plan. Business obligations take precidence, but am confident this is a go.
Regards,
Scott
Rob:
I too happened to call THF yesterday late morning to inquire about the application I submitted for the Model K and the Model T. The lady that answered the phone said "didn't you just call a few hours ago?" I replied no... She said someone else called about two cars, one being a Model K. I wondered who that was.......?
She then suggested that I send an email regarding my inquiry and provided an address (which I don't have at my fingertips). I did as suggested and received a prompt reply stating that those responsible for the OCF are very busy at the moment dealing with the Motor Muster (newer cars) which takes place in June. The reply also stated that it would be at least three weeks before they have time to review the applications for "new" cars for the OCF.
With a little luck, we'll have two Model K's at the OCF. I suspect that that may be a first.
Will we be running for "pink" slips at the OCF?
Timothy
Tim,
Evidently there will be a "glut" of Model Ks at the Old Car Festival this year.
As for our "race", I expect to have a big advantage, since our K doesn't have a "Wimpshield" to slow it down (aerodynamic).
Rob
I'm looking forward to watching 810 cubic inches of K power thundering past Henry Ford's first factory.
If you guys are racing for the pink slip I want to be the flag man!
Dave,
I'll have to get my cutout working. The K is incredibly quiet (although I ran it without the muffler, and it did sound like 400 cubic inches then).
Dennis,
As long as you give me a rolling start .
The link below is a K and Ford six cylinder racer youtube video for anyone interested:
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=opd_c9772YI&feature=em-upload_owner&desktop_uri=% 2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dopd_c9772YI%26feature%3Dem-upload_owner