You might call the Kendallville Municipal Airport a "Duesy" of a friend in need.

Not since 1984 has the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival celebrated Duesenbergs. Fifty Duesenbergs came to the Labor Day weekend festival 26 years ago but organizers want to top that record - even though it's increasingly difficult to attract the famed cars because so many now reside in museums.

The compelling reason for owners to bring their Duesenbergs - once the fastest automobiles in the world - to this year's festival will be an "exhibition of speed" Friday, Sept. 3, at the Kendallville Municipal Airport.

Jack Randinelli, chairman of the festival board, said the one word that can describe a Duesenberg engine is, "Loud!"

He says the "very, very classy automobiles are probably the most valuable and most beautiful cars ever manufactured."

Duesenbergs have the potential of reaching 120 miles per hour. It is not expected that any of them will reach that speed Sept. 3 but Randinelli said "there is something about classic car owners' egos that quite often gets in the way of common sense. It's hard to say how they will drive them down that track!"

John Baeke, Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club National Meet chairman, said the "exhibition of speed" is the result of a "perfect storm."

When first asked, the Federal Aviation Administration gave a firm and emphatic, "No."

It took months of battling bureaucracy and red tape but working together a broad range of elected and appointed officials enabled the Kendallville airport to receive permission from the FAA to host the Ab Jenkins Memorial Duesenberg Exhibition of Speed & Stinson Fly-in on Friday, Sept. 3.

Speaking Wednesday morning for Kendallville Mayor Suzanne Handshoe, who could not attend the press conference, Kathy Molargik, president of the Kendallville Aviation Commission, said, "It has 'taken a village' to get this approval at all of the various levels required."

Molargik said the event "is an unprecedented opportunity to raise awareness and promote the Kendallville airport to a larger audience. Increased awareness should lead to more people using our facility and create opportunities for growth in air service at the airport."

Molargik praised the "support and endless hours of work" by Handshoe, state Sen. Dennis Kruse, U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, Gov. Mitch Daniels and U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh.

Because the Kendallville airport receives federal funds, it is not allowed to close for any non-emergencies. But after local, state and national officials joined forces, FAA officials changed their mind, allowing the airport to be used for the exhibition of speed and fly-in during the afternoon and early evening of Sept. 3.

George O. Witwer of Kendallville, whose years of service on the ACD board began in 1972, said the exhibition of speed will advance the "meaning and purpose" of both the ACD club and festival. "It is very exciting to think that we can put the event on in a town adjacent to Auburn," he said. "I congratulate everyone involved!"

Auburn Mayor Norm Yoder said it is "amazing" how the festival reinvents itself over the years. "What a great throwback," he said about the exhibition of speed. "To have a partner in Kendallville, willing to jump through hoops, is very appreciated. It is a great addition to our Labor Day weekend."

Financial sponsors include Interstate Batteries and Classical Event Auctions.