Rare Classic Cars, Vintage Cars, Historic Vehicles to be Showcased at Conner Prairie’s Inaugural Festival of Machines Sept. 13-14

Fishers, IN, August 21, 2014 --(PR.com)-- A new central Indiana festival in September will showcase rare classic cars, vintage cars and historic vehicles of many kinds during a weekend-long celebration of transportation.

The inaugural Festival of Machines presented by Ricker’s runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 13-14 at Conner Prairie Interactive History Park, located at 13400 Allisonville Road in Fishers, Ind.

A select group of concourse-quality classic cars will be showcased throughout the two-day festival, highlighted by models including a 1914 Stutz Bearcat; a 1927 Cadillac Duel Cowl Phaeton, one of just eight cars ever produced to commemorate Cadillac's 25-year anniversary and only one of two in existence today; and a 1933 Marmon Sixteen Victoria Coupe.

“Indiana once was home to more automobile manufacturers than Detroit and was seen as the leader in automobile design, innovation and manufacturing,” said Chris Petrelli, director of programs and education at Conner Prairie. “Major technological advancements to vehicles like front-wheel drive, tilt steering and cruise control were invented here. The Festival of Machines will showcase our featured collectors’ important work in preserving these vehicles, allowing them a venue where they can share their excitement and enthusiasm for collecting dynamic examples of mechanical achievement with all generations.”

Motorsports celebrities, including IndyCar driver Pippa Mann, will appear daily to meet and greet fans. Mann will also share information about her partnership with Glass Hammer Racing to engage young women interested in motorsports careers and other science, technology, engineering and math-related careers. Drivers will be available to pose for photographs, sign autographs and share their stories and answer questions about what it’s like to race professionally.

A two-seat Dallara Indy Car will offer festivalgoers rides throughout a portion of Conner Prairie’s 800-acre grounds both Saturday and Sunday on a first-come, first-served basis.

The festival won’t just showcase classic cars, though. Steam engines, vintage planes, boats, military vehicles, vintage fire trucks and other emergency response vehicles, construction equipment, helicopters, vintage tractors will also be featured. In addition, a commemorative flyover of historic aircraft will occur both days.

Several family-friendly activities will be held each day, including courses for pedal cars and Soap Box Derby cars for young children, hay rides, games, a steam engine and tractor parade and more. Children can also explore the inner workings of engines, test their boat-building skills and design and build their own fizzy rocket dragsters.

Admission to Conner Prairie’s Festival of Machines presented by Ricker’s is free for members; for non-members, the cost is $15 for adults, $14 for seniors age 65 and over and $10 for youth ages 2-12. Active and veteran military personnel with proper identification will be admitted free.

For more, visit ConnerPrairie.org and under the “Plan your Visit” tab select “Festival of Machines.” Follow #FOM2014 on Twitter.

Spanning 800 wooded acres in central Indiana, Conner Prairie Interactive History Park in Fishers, Ind., welcomes more than 340,000 guests of all ages annually. Five outdoor, historically themed destinations and indoor experiential learning spaces combine history with science, technology, engineering and math and offer an authentic look into history that shapes society today.