Volume 2 Issue 23 Published monthly by the Arkansas River Valley Tri - Region Association May 2005 J.F.K's Convertible Now on Display at Museum of Automobiles Reprinted from Arkansas State Parks & Tourism Museum of Automobiles Former President John F. Kennedy's 1963 Lincoln Continental Convertible is now on display at The Museum of Automobiles on Petit Jean Mountain near Morrilton. "It's one of three cars that the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company gave to J.F.K. in late 1962 for his personal use and the personal use of his staff," Buddy Hoelzeman, director of the museum, explained. "In other words, it wasn't an official car like the ones the Secret Service drove him around in. This could have been one of the cars that Kennedy would just jump in and take off. I think (the Secret Service) lost him one time." Hoelzeman has pictures, which he received from the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, of the Kennedy family with the car. The Lincoln convertible has a 430 CI, V-8 engine with a bore of 4.29 inches and a stroke of 3.7 inches. With its turbo-drive automatic transmission, Carter AFB Four-Barrel carburetor and wheel base of 123 inches, this convertible is 213.3 inches in length with a weight of 5,340 pounds. Its cost new was $6,916 and 3,138 of these '63 convertibles were produced. The convertible is on an open-ended loan to the museum from The William J. Clinton Foundation. Hoelzeman said he received a call from Skip Rutherford, president of the foundation, asking if the museum would be interested in displaying the convertible. "Someone bought the car and gave it to Bill Clinton," Hoelzeman explained. "It wouldn't be appropriate to be displayed in the Clinton Presidential Center, so it's on long-term loan to our museum." Kennedy's convertible is the second presidential car on display at the museum with first being Clinton's '67 Mustang. "We're very fortunate to have it on display," Hoelzeman said. The Museum of Automobiles has a total of 51 cars on display, ranging in age from 1904-1967. "We rotate some new cars in periodically throughout the year," Hoelzeman added. "Eight to ten cars per year are changed out. We're continually looking for new cars because we have a lot of return visitors to Petit Jean." The museum consists of 22,500 square feet of display space and a gift shop. Other auto-related collections on display are antique gas pumps and gasoline equipment and license plates. "We have every plate the State of Arkansas ever issued beginning with 1911," Hoelzeman said. The museum also has a small gun collection display and antique arcade machines, including a player piano. "These are the forerunners to the video machine," Hoelzeman added. "You can see what the kids played with their pennies and nickels." The museum, located at the eastern entrance of Petit Jean State Park on Ark. 154, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week, closing only on Christmas Day. Admission is $6 for adults, $5.50 for seniors aged 65 and older, $3 for students aged 6-17, and free for children under six accompanied by an adult. The museum also hosts two car shows and swap meets each year, where collectors and buy and sell cars, car parts, and anything related to the hobby. The event, Mustangs on the Mountain, is set for 11 am to 3 pm, May 29 at the museum. Admission will be free. For more information, phone 501-727-5427 or visit www.museumofautos.com   Lake Dardanelle State Park Lake Dardanelle State Park's Nuts About Nature and Rollin' on the River Day Camp Lake Dardanelle State Park will be hosting a week long day camp for children ages 7-9 years from July 25th - 29th, and 10-12 years from August 1st - 5th. Each day they will meet at 9 a.m and won't stop having fun until 4 p.m. Your child's day will be packed full of outside activities, lake cruises, art projects, and much, much more. Lunch will be provided by local restaurants, and they will be making their own nature snacks such as Dutch oven cooking and roasting smores. The cost is only $85 per child, and this includes lunch, snacks, supplies, and lake cruises throughout the week. For more information call 479-967-5516. Don't miss out on this adventure full of fun, learning, and surprises! Press Release Chamberlyne Country Club in Danville, Arkansas will be the site of this year's River Valley United Way Golf Classic. The annual tournament is in seventh year and will be held August 20, 2005. Proceeds from the event help to cover administrative costs of the River Valley United Way, allowing more funds generated during the organization's annual fund-raising campaign to be given to 31 nonprofit member agencies. The tournament features a four-player scramble format, with morning and afternoon groupings. Players select their own foursome. The deadline for entering the tournament is August 12. Awards will be given to players in the first, second and third place flights in both the morning and afternoon groupings. There will be two hole-in-one prizes, each valued at up to $10,000. There will be contests, with additional prizes, for the longest drive and closest to the pin. Drawings will be held for special prizes for both the morning and afternoon groupings. For more information on sponsorship opportunities or registration, call the River Valley United Way at 479-968-5089 22nd Annual National Tourism Week May 7-15, 2005 for tourism awareness, promotional resources go to www.tia.org/tourism Calendar of Events Dardanelle May 6-7: 15th Annual Yell Fest: Carnival, 5K run, crafts, antique car show, Ugly Dog contest, fireworks, Yelling contest, and much more. For more info contact Vicki Sutton 479-229-3328 Russellville May 7: TAB Learning System Fishing Tournament: Fishing tournament pavilion. For more info call Lake Dardanelle State Park at 479-967-5516 May 7: 16th Annual Childhood Cancer Survivor Day Bass Tournament: Lake Dardanelle State Park. Contact Jackie Duvall 479-967-8697 May 7: Kid's Catfish Derby: Lake Dardanelle State Park. Contact Jackie Duvall 479-967-8697 May 18-21: ESPN Bassmasters Elite 50: Lake Dardanelle State Park. Contact Theresa Pelton for more info 479-967-1762 May 20-22: 3rd Annual Tri-Peaks Challenge Bike Race: Velonews calls this the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar event "the toughest finish in America." Three day race encompasses Arkansas' three river valley peaks--Petit Jean, Mt. Magazine, and Mt. Nebo. Contact Chuck Gordon for more info chuck@tri-peaks.org May 21-22: Alltel Big Lunker Classic: Fishing Tournament Pavilion. Call Lake Dardanelle State Park for more info 479-967-5516 May 28-29: American Red Cross Fishing Tournament: Fishing Tournament Pavilion. Call 479-967-5516 for more info. Paris May 7: 10th Annual Arkansas Wine Heritage Day: Cowie Wine Cellars. Starts at noon. Learn the history of wine making in Arkansas. Tours of the Wine Museum and refreshments. Contact Robert Cowie 479-963-3990 Clarksville Foothills Arena May 7: NBHA Barrel Race exb @ 10 a.m. May 14 & 15: Fear Not Team Roping May 20, 21, & 22: Heartland Tour Barrel Race For more information on the above events call 479-497-2688 or email foothillsarena@centurytel.net Morrilton May 29: Mustang on the Mountain: Museum of Automobiles atop Petit Jean Mtn. Mustangs on the Mountain Show and Shine 11-3 pm. No entry fee, free to the public. For more info call Rick Wood 479-489-5874 Altus May 7: 27th Annual Springtime Gala and 5K Race: Altus City Park 9-4 pm. Join the fun and bring the family for arts and crafts, music, games, a 5K race and fun walk. Contact Jennifer Brown for more info 479-468-4684 Centerville May 7: SL/TNT Street Radial Shootout May 8: Closed for Mother's Day May 14: SL/TNT Hot Street Shootout May 15: Points May 21: SL/TNT Hot Street Shootout May 22: Motorcycles Only For more information on the above events call 479-576-4001 or email cvdrag@arkwest.com