Marysville Car Show to mark city’s 100th anniversary – The Voice

The Blue Water Region Antique Automobile Club of America and the Wills Sainte Claire Automobile Museum’s 31st annual Marysville Car Show will take place June 9. (Courtesy of Rita Ernest)

The Blue Water Region Antique Automobile Club of America and the Wills Sainte Claire Automobile Museum are gearing up to host the 31st annual Marysville Car Show on June 9.

The show will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Marysville Park. Cars can start parking at 8 a.m. This year, the show will honor Corvette and celebrate Marysville’s 100th anniversary. It is open to vehicles of any age and type, including motorcycles, and proceeds will go to fund the nonprofit 501c3 Wills Sainte Claire Automobile Museum.

The museum is focused on educating and preserving the history of the Wills Sainte Claire automobile made in Marysville in the 1920s, museum volunteer Rita Ernest said. C. Harold Wills, Henry Ford’s first employee and chief engineer, left Ford’s employ to manufacture the Wills Sainte Claire in Marysville and develop his “City of Contented Living” for all his employees.

“How better to honor the city of Marysville during the 100th anniversary than to celebrate by promoting the museum which hosts the automobile made in the city?” Ernest asked. “The museum also has on display a Gar Wood boat and a Buhl Bull Pup aircraft manufactured in Marysville. We encourage people to come visit the museum to relive the history of Marysville.”

She said this is the 31st annual car show organized by BWRAACA, and that 23 years ago, the club joined forces with the newly-created Wills Sainte Claire Automobile Museum to promote the museum and increase the awareness of the heritage it brings to St. Clair County and Marysville.

“This show tends to bring out the older vehicles,” she added. “Attendees love to see the earlier cars made in the 1940s and earlier.”

Ernest also said the event will be relocated to the east side of Marysville Park, on the corner of Huron Boulevard and River Street.

“We hope the participants and spectators alike will enjoy being closer to the St. Clair River for freighter and boat watching,” she said. “We encourage folks to patronize the Lion’s Club vending trailer and enjoy lunch in the tree-shaded park.”

Ernest said the car show gets its sponsors and donations from local businesses and citizens.

“Since COVID, it’s been a struggle for some,” she said. “Sponsorship has been down. Also, some local business owners have retired and have sold to larger corporations. We have difficulty getting sponsorship from non-local companies. We hope to raise $8,000 this year.”

She said planning for the car show starts about a year prior to the event, and organizers work throughout the year to schedule the space at the park, arrange for concessions from the Lion’s Club, secure a DJ and acquire sponsors for the event. A program booklet is produced with ad layouts in which sponsors can purchase ad space to advertise their business. The booklet promotes both sponsors and the car museum.

Ernest said there are normally 75 to 100 vehicles of all types on display, but due to rain last year, the number of vehicles shown were fewer than normal.

At the car show, trophies will be awarded. Car owners can pay $15 to show a car or $20 if they want their car judged at the show. The fee is less for those that are preregistered. Registration can be found at willsautomuseum.com/blank-7

There is no cost for spectators.

“The Wills Sainte Claire Auto Museum is located at 2408 Wills St. in Marysville’s Industrial Park,” Ernest said. “The members are proud to be located in Marysville. The city is very supportive. We encourage all residents, including children, to visit the museum and learn about the heritage of the community and county. The museum is all volunteer operated; there are no paid employees. Volunteers are always needed. Monetary contributions are always welcome.”

For more information, visit willsautomuseum.com.

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