The OpenAir Classic will bring at least 170 convertibles and more than 350 drivers and navigators to Dubuque, IA, and the “Driftless Region” of northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin Aug.15-18, 2024. The tour features “open-air vehicles” of any make or vintage and participants who enjoy exploring scenic backroads and smaller communities that proudly retain much of the charm, tradition, history, and ambiance of classic American culture.
The tour is open to any “street- legal, licensed, open-air” convertible or T-top of any make or vintage and is limited to 200 vehicles. Cars range from antique collector models to huge “golden era land yachts,” muscle cars, Jeeps, foreign sports cars, and brand-new beauties fresh off the showroom floor. Participants come from all over the Midwest and from as far as Florida, Texas, and Arizona.
The tour will be based at the Grand Harbor Resort in Dubuque and visit local checkpoints like the Fenelon Elevator, the Mississippi River Museum, Stone Cliff Winery, and Eagle Point Park.
Day trip loops on Friday will feature Great River Road segments through Guttenberg, Marquette and McGregor, Iowa, then cross over to Prairie du Chien, Potosi, and Dickeyville, Wisconsin. On Saturday the entourage will explore Bellevue on the Mississippi, Grant Wood Scenic Byway, and Dyersville attractions before visiting the Field of Dreams where the cars will be on free public display from about 4:00-5:30PM. Tour participants will attend the legendary commemorative twilight “Ghost Game” baseball exhibition.
“This is what we call, ‘The O.M.G. Country’!” said tour-founder and Director Gary Knowles of Madison. “It’s the beautiful and lumpy parts of Iowa and Wisconsin. You can’t go over a hill, around a bend, or cruise along the Great River Road without saying ‘Wow! Look at that! Look at that!’ This is awesome country blessed with spectacular vistas, exciting twisty roads, classic American countryside, Grant Wood rural scenes, Norman Rockwell towns, and legendary ports of call. Our drivers and navigators will love it.”
To join OpenAir Tours or participate next year send an email to info@openairtours.com or visit the website OpenAirTours.com.
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