Top Down Here They Come

This weekend, more than 200 topless cars will drive roller coaster back

roads, stop at off-the-beaten-track checkpoints and experience open-air touring as the eighth annual Open Air Classic convertible tour explores parts of Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota along the Mississippi River’s Great River Road. Based at Stoney Creek Inn, the OpenAir Classic welcomes all makes of convertibles and all vintages. Cars range from vintage classics to fresh-from-the-showroom models. Participants come from Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan with some from as far away as Texas and Florida. There are different itineraries for the tour each day, all mapped out by the cruise directors. This year the tour will even include a drive on Wisconsin’s only weekly asphalt NASCAR race track, the La Crosse Speedway.