The increase in car registrants made the need for additional space a necessity.
“We had 52 cars at our first show 15 years ago. This past year, over 265 cars entered the One Room School Car Show,” said Dave Speas, event co-chair and CCRTA president. “We were parking cars everywhere, including the front and back yard of a private residence next door.”
Then Dan Young offered use of the whole meadow on a different date.
“We appreciate Dan Young’s continued support for the car show,” Speas said. “As much as we were reluctant to move the date, we wanted to give more space and visibility to our car owners. Dan helped do that for us.”
Registration opens between 10 a.m. and noon. The fee is $10 and the first 200 car registrants will receive a dash plaque. Judges assign 50 awards, including Top 35 and 16 Special Awards with Best of Show at 3:30 p.m.
The show is open to the public for free. Other activities include a 50/50 raffle, free entry drawings, silent auction and music by DJ Dick Ryman.
“The purpose for the car show has never changed,” explained Connie Bost, event co-chair. “The Clark County Retired Teachers Association operates the Advance One Room School in New Carlisle. The car show helps maintain the school’s programs and the upkeep of the building and grounds.”
The choice of a hot rod car show for a fundraiser was an easy pick for Speas, who owns a 1938 DeSoto S5 Coupe.
“The show is a fun way to raise money in one day,” he explained. “To share cars with car people, to have fun with music and chances to win prizes, trophies and receive recognition for one’s car makes for a great day.”
The rain date is Oct. 20.
The Advance School No. 7 first opened for students in 1878 and closed in the 1920s. In 1999, the retired teachers began a complete renovation and refurnishing of the building, which had last been used as a barn. Three years later, the doors opened again in 2003 to mostly fourth-graders for a one-day education field trip called “A School Day in 1878.”
“From the time the students get off the bus until after recess, they are students from 1878,” said head “schoolmarm” and retired teacher Linda Clements. “We wear period clothing, use slate boards and study out of textbooks, such as the McGuffey Reader.”
Clements attends the car show wearing her schoolmarm outfit and selects a car for her special award, Teacher’s Pet.
Advance One Room School No. 7 in New Carlisle opened its doors in 1878. Area students attend the one-room school as a learning and enrichment activity. Contributed photo
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