NEWPORT, Ind. — The Newport Lions Club will celebrate the centennial of the first running of the Newport Hill Climb during this year’s Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb.

The first hill climb was June 8-9, 1909, organized by the businessmen of Newport as a way to capitalize on the interest in climbing the 1,800-foot-long 140-foot-high Newport Hill. The event continued annually through 1915, when interested died.

The Lions brought the event back in 1968 and have carried it on annually on the first weekend of October.

“There is a lot of interest in the old cars,” said Ed Conrad of the Lions Club, who begins manning the phones at the Lions Club building the day after Labor Day. “This is a chance for old men to relive their youth.”

By the middle of this week, Conrad had 140 cars signed up for the competition and 111 as show cars. He expects to have more than 300 signed up by next week.

“We are a little ahead of last year,” he said.

Hill Climb organizers are going to recreate a panoramic view of old cars as they were featured in 1909 along the courthouse square on Oct. 3.

“We haven’t changed much with the schedule,” said Larry Bemis, another Lions Club member. “You don’t monkey with a program that works.”

The festival kicks off Sunday night with the finals of the queen pageant. The pageant committee is inviting back all 35 previous Hill Climb queens.

The festival weekend begins next Friday with the annual dog show and the Gospel Music Jamboree featuring the Lesters of St. Louis.

With the opening of the hill for practice runs on Oct. 3, more than 350 flea market and swap meet booths will be open, as well as numerous food concessions.

The Lions Club’s pork barbecue will feature some 20 hogs donated for the annual feed.

The annual parade, cruise-in, street dance and fireworks conclude events that day.

Oct. 4 is devoted to the climbing of the club with more than 300 cars climbing the hill in 31 classes in timed runs.

The Lions are selling chances on a 1941 Dodge truck.

Bemis said organizers are concerned about attendance because of the economy, but knows that many regulars will be there.

“We have an awfully lot of people who plan their vacation a year in advance to come.” he said.

7 girls seek queen title

Seven area girls will compete in the queen pageant Sunday night.

-- Victoria Allen, 18, daughter of Eddie and Stephanie Allen of Veedersburg, a senior at Fountain Central High School.

-- Brooke Busenbark, 17, daughter of Dallas and Laura Woods of rural Bloomingdale, a junior at Turkey Run High School.

-- Haeli Denton, 17, daughter of Michael and Lana Denton of Cayuga, a senior at North Vermillion High School.

-- Alexis Leak, 16, daughter of Dennis and Debra Leak of Kingman, a junior at Fountain Central High School.

-- Beth Mahurin, 16, daughter of David and Pattie Mahurin of Rockville, a junior at Rockville High School.

-- Kinsey Spurr, 16, daughter of Darrel and Juanita Spurr of rural Bloomington, a junior at Turkey Run High School.

-- Kylie Wimsett, 17, daughter of Dallas and Laura Woods of rural Bloomingdale, a junior at Rockville High School.

NEWPORT ANTIQUE AUTO HILL CLIMB

-- SUNDAY

7 p.m. EDT: Queen pageant, Newport-Vermilion County Library.

-- FRIDAY

6 p.m.: Street fair and flea market; registration for dog day.

7 p.m.: Gospel Music Jamboree, United Methodist Church.

-- SATURDAY

All day: Flea market and food booths.

8 am. to 3 p.m.: Hill Climb registration.

8 a.m. to noon: Show car registration.

8 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m.: Hill Climb practice runs.

9 a.m. to noon: Pretty baby contest registration.

Noon: Big Wheel race (boys and girls ages 3-8); collector car auction.

2 p.m.: Pretty baby contest.

5 p.m.: Parade.

7 p.m.: Cruise In and Street Dance.

Dusk: Fireworks.

-- SUNDAY

All day: Flea market and food booths.

8-10 a.m.: Registration for competition and show cars; practice runs.

10:45 a.m.: Opening ceremonies.

11 a.m.: Hill climb.

FYI

For more infomration on the Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb at Box 398, Newport, IN 47966, (765) 492-4220 or htttp://www.newporthillclimb.com.