Vintage cars, buses and trucks will parade down Riverside Avenue on Saturday.
By Don Nelson
If this year’s Winthrop Vintage Wheels Show is anything like the 2016 version, prepare yourself for a long, leisurely day of viewing beautifully restored vehicles of all kinds.
And since the wheeled treasures are all one year older, they’re more vintage than ever.
Saturday (Sept. 9) will be the big day, with cars, truck, buses and motorcycles parked on Riverside Avenue, which will be closed to modern traffic for the event. Last year, a record turnout of more than 160 vehicles nearly filled the street.
Meanwhile, vintage travel trailers will take over the Pine Near RV Park on Castle Avenue, antique tractors will be on display at the adjacent Shafer Museum, and old-time bicycles (many of which you will recall from your youth, if you are of a certain age) will fill the racks in front of Rocking Horse Bakery.
The displays are within easy walking distance of each other. And it’s all free.
The action starts Friday (Sept. 8) with a cruise-in and registration for participants at the Winthrop Barn, from 5-7 p.m. Registration is $10.
Registration continues on Saturday from 8:30-10:30 a.m., when the antique motor vehicles will line up and stage for a parade at the Winthrop Inn on Highway 20 beginning at 11 a.m. Vintage motorcycles, trailers, tractors, pedal cars and antique bicycles stage at their respective areas.
Once parked, the vehicles will be on display until 3 p.m. There will be an awards presentation at 3 p.m., based on the public’s votes for their favorites. Trophies will be awarded for best in show and “People’s Choice.” Local merchants will also be awarding trophies. All vintage wheels included in the show will be eligible for awards.
Beginning at 4 p.m., show participants can take part in a “bucket poker” run that will take them on a scenic drive through the valley.
This year’s sponsors are Aspen Grove, Brandenburg Construction, Carlos 1800, Cougar Creek Timber Frame Homes, Freestone Inn, J.A. Wright Construction, KOA Campground Winthrop, KOZI radio, Lariat Coffee Roasters, Les Schwab Tire Centers, Inside Out Home & Garden, Napa Auto Parts Twisp, Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Pine Near RV Park, Methow Cycle & Sport, Methow River Lodge & Cabins, Methow Valley Photography, Three Finger Jack’s Saloon, Robin’s Egg Bleu, Rocking Horse Bakery, Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe, The Outdoorsman, Trail’s End Bookstore, Winthrop Inn, Winthrop Motors and the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, visit http://winthropwashington.com/event/winthrop-vintage-wheels-show.
