Fiddlin’ around Owls Head museum combines spring greens, vehicles in jam-packed event

Spring is in the air at the Owls Head Transportation Museum, bringing forth a Memorial Day weekend filled with the aroma of cooking fiddleheads and the gear-jammin,’ rib-rattlin’ sounds of four-wheel drive vehicles.

The annual “Fiddlehead, 4×4 and Antique Auto Festival” marks the first event of the season at the Owls Head museum and is expected to attract hundreds of vehicles and fiddlehead fanciers to the daylong event Sunday.

The Fiddlehead Festival will feature more than 200 pre-1980four-wheel drive vehicles, antique automobiles of all makes and models, live fiddle music by the Old Gray Goose, museum tours, engine demonstrations as well as the museum’s first Antique Aeroplane Show of the season.

Fiddleheads and four-by-fours will kick off the season with fun and food, said museum curator David Machaiek. “This festival really sets the mood and gets us going for the season and hopefully people will enjoy it as much as we do.”

Machaiek has already sent out invitations to more than 300 owners of vintage four-wheel-drive vehicles and has fiddlehead harvesters ready to comb area streambeds for the flavorful fern.

Once the supply is laid in, teams of volunteers will begin the process of cleaning and blanching the fiddleheads so each visitor can have the opportunity to sample Maine’s traditional spring greens. Machaiek said the fiddleheads will be served with vinegar or a special dressing.

“We may recruit someone to whip up a special fiddlehead dish, you never know,” he said with a smile. “We’ve been known to surprise people.”

The museum is a must-see attraction for car buffs and motor heads as well as those who fancy the beauty of a sleek antique auto or airplane. Sunday’s event will also feature the season opening of the State of Maine Wing. The wing is a new addition to the museum and houses its sports car exhibit. Included in the exhibit are a 1965 Ferrari race car, 1957 Thunderbird, 1935 Auburn Speedster, 1963

Mustang prototype and many others.

Of course, the festivities would not be complete without a demonstration of the fabulous Ingo Bike Challenge. The Ingo Bike is a 1930s-era bicycle that has an off-center real wheel hub that it attached to a narrow platform the rider stands on. Riders attempt to propel the bike forward by rocking back and forth and up and down on the platform while pushing and pulling on the handlebars.

Invented by two brothers, the bike was originally called the Exercycle and those attempting to ride it usually get a workout in futility the first time out. For the inexperienced rider, it’s a definite challenge. For the pros, such as museum director Charles Chiachiaro, it’s a treat to behold.

The event will also include the unveiling of the restored 1918 Standard biplane that was flown by Harry Jones of Old Orchard Beach. Jones, who was Maine’s first pilot and served as an aerial policeman, was the first in the state to deliver airmail and offer rides to daring passengers.

A number of other antique planes from the museum’s collection will also be on display. Significant aircraft include a 1923 Fokker, 1916 Sopwith Pup and a 1917 Curtis Jenny.

“We’ll have the Jones Standard and many other antique planes lined up on the grass strip for people to look at,” said Machaiek. “Depending on the weather, maybe we’ll even see the Red Baron.”

The Fiddlehead, 4×4 and Antique Auto Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 26. The Owls Transportation Museum is open seven days a week and is located on Route 173 in Owls Head two miles off Route 1 in Rockland. For more information, call 594-4418, send e-mail queries to info@ohtm.org, or check out the full schedule of events on the Web site: www.owlshead.org.