Scenes from the 28th Annual Antique and Classic Auto Show and Chicken BBQ
Terry & Evelyn Collins try to select the Collins Award winner
Mayor John Patterson with the Mayors Choice winner, Jerry Landry of Duncansville
and his 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible.
Dudley Spencer with longest distance recipient Dennis Magee of Safety
Harbor, Fla.
The grandson's of Elwood Queen Sr., with the winner of the Elwood Queen
award. From left: Joe Queen, Jason Hockenberry, Carl Nearhood of Karthaus and
Tommy Chutko.
This Camaro was airbrushed in memory of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and King Richard Petty. It was popular car.
Story
compliments of
Car show hosts over 100
classic rides
Monday, June 02, 2008
By Terry Whetstone Staff Writer
IRVONA - Over 100 vehicles and thousands of people descended on Irvona yesterday as the Irvona Fire Co. presented its 28th annual antique and classic auto show.
Mayor John Patterson spoke to the crowd prior to the awards being presented.
"We see these firefighters hustling around here today to raise money," he said. "But we don't see them when they are out at two or three in the morning fighting a fire or protecting someone because we're at home."
The mayor thanked everyone for participating and supporting the fire company with its latest fundraiser.
The weather was nearly perfect for car show enthusiasts with the temperatures in the mid 70s and a nice breeze. Unlike last year, there was no rain to dampen the afternoon, which saw 119 vehicles in attendance.
"We would like to thank all of the vehicle owners for coming out and supporting us today," said Dudley Spencer II, president of Irvona Fire Co. after the show. "With the price of gas we were not sure how the turnout would be."
But it was pretty good, with entries coming from all over, the farthest being Dennis Magee making the trip from Safety Harbor, Fla.
He was asked if he drove to the show in his 1980 MG car, and he said he did.
"I was in the DuBois area," he said. "I happened to pick up The Progress there and I saw about this show, so I thought I'd come over and enter while I was here."
He received an award from fire company officials for traveling the farthest to enter the car show.
Six special awards are distributed each year. This year the People's Choice award went to Don Sewalsh of Elmora for his 1969 Pontiac GTO, and the Owners' Choice went to Bart Kilraine of Revloc for his 2001 Ford pickup truck.
Mayor Patterson sponsors a trophy each year, and this year the Mayor's Choice was a 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible owned by Jerry Landry of Duncansville.
Two other special awards are in memory of past fire company members.
The William and Dorothy Collins Memorial Award is chosen by members of the Collins family. William Collins was one of the company's original members and he died in October 2000. This year the award went to Gary Harrison of Irvona for his 1991 Heritage Softail motorcycle.
The final special award is the Elwood Queen memorial award. Mr. Queen died in the line of duty in November 2000, and his family recently started this award in his memory. His grandsons selected the award and they selected the 1952 Chevy Modified Truck owned by Carl Narehood of Karthaus.
"You couldn't ask for a nicer day," Mr. Spencer said after the awards had been presented. "We changed a few things this year and they worked out very well; things went very smooth."
Seven hundred barbecue chicken dinners were prepared, plus a full kitchen menu was available. There were also games for the kids and a flea market, and D&J Rocks played music throughout the afternoon. Trophies went to the top three finishers in each division, and once again, the competitors did the voting.
Mr. Spencer also thanked everyone for attending the affair and those who offered a hand.
"I would like to thank everyone who pitched in and helped," he said. "We were a little shorthanded, but everyone who was there stepped up and helped and we appreciate that."