Wings and Wheels is different every year, airport manager in Willoughby says
Jul. 23—The opportunity to see classic cars and vintage aircraft up close and personal will come once again at this year's Wings and Wheels event at the Lake County Executive Airport in Willoughby.
The fly-in and drive-in event is scheduled for Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the airport, located at 1969 Lost Nation Road. There is no entry fee for spectators, as well as no registration fee for planes and cars.
Registration and staging will take place from 9 to 11 a.m.
For inquiries, call either Classic Jet Center at 440-942-7092 or the airport at 440-321-9036.
The beauty of the airport's Wings and Wheels event is that it is always different, said Patty Fulop, airport manager.
"You can visit each year and not see the same cars and aircraft," she said. "This year, I expect to see members of a Model A Club. As always, we will have music, food and fun."
The event usually draws 200 or so cars and a couple dozen aircraft weather depending, Fulop said. Based on the airport's earlier pancake breakfast and other aviation events she visited this year, she expects a good turnout for Wings and Wheels.
"People are still anxious to get outdoors and gather safely," she said. "Because we have no registration fee and offer trophies for bragging rights, those who build, collect and restore aircraft and automobiles like to come to our show."
As manager of the airport, Fulop said she enjoys providing an event to neighbors, friends of the airport and the general public that gives them a chance to have some family time or just a day out that has no admission fee, and no parking charges.
"The event is sponsored by Randy Carver of Carver Financial Services and Mike Toman of Classic Jet Center," Fulop said. "They do it to offer their customers a no-cost event and to allow them to interact with folks of like interests."
A variety of fun and music will be provided by Classic DJ Services in Mentor. Food trucks will be available including East Coast Custard, Jackpot Chicken and Kiko's Kitchen, all of which provide a lunch variety for guests, as well as the participants, Fulop said.
"Coffee and doughnuts can be purchased for the early registrants from the local Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 5," she said. "The event could not happen without the many volunteers that lend a hand with everything from setup to parking cars to registration to cleanup."
Eleven years ago, Carver took note of the many Carver Financial Services clients who had classic cars. From there, clients asking about showing their cars and telling stories developed into Wings and Wheels.
"There's a lot of car shows, but people love airplanes," Carver previously told The News-Herald. "I decided, with the cooperation of the city and Classic Jet to do Wings and Wheels. It's grown every year."
Carver plans to continue doing this event and has thought about doing Wings, Wheels and Water and possibly bring boats out in the future.
