Cars, fans flock to fair car show
Weather as pleasant as if it were scripted and as large a field of participants as the show ever has drawn made Saturday’s Neil Westervelt Memorial Iola Rotary Club Car Show an event to remember. BEST OF SHOW trophy went to Gene and Patty Weaver, Paola, for their 1940 Ford sedan.
All told 85 vehicles — cars, trucks and motorcycles — were registered by late morning.
Westervelt, who was Rotary president of the just completed year, originated the show. He died earlier this year. His 1972 Dodge Dart Swinger and a 1937 Dodge pickup truck, refitted to show status by Richard Sigg, who also died earlier this year in a traffic accident, were parked at the north end of several rows of participating vehicles.
A large crowd of spectators — its numbers never dwindled — meandered through the upscale vehicles. Comments of amazement came often and owners were deluged with congratulations for the work they had done.
Rotarian Judy Brigham and the club’s president, Karen Gilpin, thanked all who attended and lauded Westervelt and Sigg for the positive influences they had, both on the car show and the community.
Raymond Sutterby, who was riding with Sigg when the fatal accident occurred and is recovering from injuries, paid tribute to Sigg.
“Richard could rebuild a car, paint it, and then build a garage to house it,” Sutterby said, with each step being exacting and well done.
Other winners:
Best paint: Jim West, Iola, 1935 Ford 2D sedan; Best Mopar: Roy Bolton, Fort Scott, 1964 Plymouth Fury; Best Ford: Dave and Peggy Banwart, Lamar, Mo., 1967 Ford Mustang; Best Chevy: Marvin Aikins, Chanute, Chevelle SS 396; Best Engine: Duff Cole, Nevada, Mo., 1927 Ford; Best Stock Pickup: Bill Nixon, Lamar, Mo., 1994 Chevrolet 1500; Best Interior: Bill Fritsche, Iola, 1929 Ford Model A coupe; Best Modified Pickup: John and Pat Kern, Paola, 1934 International; Best Modified: Mike Schwindt, Iola, 1965 Chevy Chevelle Malibu SS; Best Tri-Fi: Rick Chronister, Paola, 1957 Chevy; Best Unfinished: John Groff, Iola, 2006 homemade Woody.
Class winners:
Original Motorcycle: first, Dave Fontaine, 2010 Harley, second, Bill Fritshe, 1947 Triumph; Modified Motorcycle: first, Brenda Vestal, Honda, second, David Vestal, Harley; Original Car 1949-1972: first, David and Peggy Banwart, 1967 Ford Mustang, second, Rodney Kimlin, Chevy Impala; Original Truck 1949-1972: first, Mark McGaugh, second, Don Britt 1957 flatbed; Modified Car 1973-2013: first, Scott Green 2012 Chevy Camaro, second, Rob Johns, Chevy Camaro; Modified Truck 1973-2013: first, Bob Holding, 1999 Chevy Suburban; second, A.J. Silvey, 2002 Chevy Silverado; Modified Car 1949-1972: first, Ray Bolton, 1964 Plymouth Fury, second, Schwindt, 1965 Chevy Malibu SS; Original Car 1900-1948: first, Mark Freimiller, 1911 Ford Model T, second, Betty Jo Hadley, 1930 Ford Model A; Original Car 1973-2013: first, Gary and Tammy Tinsley, 2012 Chevy Camaro, second, Arthur Ongui, 2012 Chevy Camaro; Modified Car 1900-1948: first, Gene and Patty Weaver, 1940 Ford Sedan, second, Jim West, 1935 Ford; Special Interest: first, John Graff, Chevy, second, Rick Michael, 2013 Chevy truck; Original Truck 1973-2013: first, Bill Nixon, 1994 Chevy SS, second, Chris Tidd, GMC Jimmy; Modified Truck 1900-1948: first, John and Pat Kern, 1934 International, second, Richard Sigg, 1937 Dodge; Modified Truck 1949-1972: first, Reutz, 1953 F100, second, K. Lyon, Ford Bronco.
