News

For Immediate Release

Contact: Leianne Neff Heppner – Leianne@summithistory.org

16th Rubber City Road Rally will be a drive through the countryside with premier sponsors Bob Hutchison and Tom Hutchison

While the Society started its fundraising series in January commemorating the 100th anniversary of prohibition, plans for a bootlegging Rubber City Road Rally have been changed due to COVID-19.

Instead, participants will enjoy a drive through the countryside spotting vintage barns while answering questions for the rally. Participants will start on Mutton Hill at the home of Akron and Summit County’s founding family, the Perkins Stone Mansion. A designed route will be provided to guests who may decide to stay in their cars or pick up their packets under the tent on the lawn when they arrive no later than 4:15 p.m.

Cars will be let out every minute. The route will meander through western and southern Summit County including the homestead and barn of Road Rally Premier Sponsors, brothers Bob Hutchison and Tom Hutchison.

The route ends in Norton at Seiberling Farm, a working farm since 1831. Honorary Chairs are siblings Chuck Seiberling and Dottie Dunham. Guests may walk around the farm to see the landscape and check out the family barn.

*Also on display will be works of art by Dr. Robert Kroeger for the silent auction. They are paintings of barns located here in Summit County. Bob is following a passion to capture Ohio’s barns and tell their stories through paintings and writings. His book on barns will be released next year. Dr. Kroeger will be visiting locations in Summit County on September 16th and Society president & CEO Leianne Neff Heppner is still organizing locations. Please contact the Society office if you have a vintage barn for consideration for this project after Road Rally.

Then, it’s off to a socially distant dinner at Magic City’s Remarkable Diner where attendees may choose between taking their meal to go, dining at one of the outside patios or eating inside with air conditioning.

Reservations are required and tickets may be purchased on EventBrite or by contacting the Society Office at 330.535.1120.

The Lisle M. Buckingham Fund of Akron Community Foundation is the “Checkered Flag” sponsor and TireSource is the “Hay” sponsor. Event co-chairs are Elizabeth C. Campbell and Johnna M. Economou.  

The Road Rally is the Society’s major fundraiser. In honor of the 96th anniversary of the Society, members pay $96 and non-members pay $100.