One-Of-A-Kind Vintage Festival Returning

With Rare Cars And Planes September 7

NEW MILFORD — To say last year’s inaugural Wheels & Wings was a success is an understatement. Even with rain and fog, the event drew over 1,000 enthusiasts and close to 300 cars to a location few had ever heard of. Attendees were blown away by the caliber of vehicles on hand plus the setting, a beautiful grass-strip landing field nestled in the foothills of the Berkshires.

For this year’s September 7 show, event creators Black Horse Garage is pulling out all the stops including calling on the Antique Automobile Club of America’s (AACA) Housatonic Valley Region chapter to help organize the festival.

Together, the two groups are promising enthusiasts another spectacular day of vintage cars and planes at picturesque Candlelight Farms Airport in New Milford. There will be something for everyone, from a 1952 Hot Rod (one of the first of its kind invited to Pebble Beach) owned by Newtown resident Paul Fitzgerald to a magnificent Packard Senior 12 (one of seven in existence) and even a pre-war Fiat racer that competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and hundreds more.

Black Horse president John Buonanno is expecting a few cars owned by Newtown residents may be in New Milford this year, including a 1990 Bentley, a 1959 Cadillac and a Porsche 911.

“People are still talking about last year’s show and the friendly atmosphere,” commented Mr Buonanno. He says that the show got rave reviews because it brought together a variety of vehicles you can’t find at any other local show –multi-million dollar rarities, for instance, alongside perennial muscle car favorites.

The decision to invite the AACA to help organize this year was one of both necessity and admiration.

“Our first show was more successful than we could have imagined and we know this year we’ll need reinforcements. Plus, these are the guys who used to put on the Bridgewater show – and that was one of the state’s best events,” said Mr Buonanno.

All vintage car owners are invited to bring their vehicles as there will be awards in more than 25 categories. Gates open at 10, but show participants should arrive by 9.

The September 7 event will run from 10 am to 4 pm. A September 14 rain date is planned.

Candlelight Farms Airport is at 5 Green Pond Road, right off of Route 7. Directions are available at www.BlackHorseGarage.com.

For more information, call 203-330-9604.

The Housatonic Valley Region Chapter of the AACA was founded in 1973 as the Newtown Restorers Club. The club was founded on the premise of helping others work on and restore their antique cars. Now the local chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America, the group meets monthly at Hawleyville Firehouse.