A Car Show Like No Other

These ‘40-’41 Ford panel trucks are too cool and slightly larger than the sedan delivery. This true-blue buggy is very straight. It has the standard, versatile twin rear doors that can be held open in two positions.

Amy and Doug Gettleson from St. Clair Shores, Michigan, brought their rare ‘38 Dodge panel delivery to the party. The fully ornamented and delightful old Dodge is powered by a 350ci Chevy small-block.

This is a different kind of highboy than I’m used to. It looks clean and straight, two of the things that capture my attention. Almost anyone with a neat old ride can come and have fun in St. Ignace.

Well, rusty and crusty caught my attention, too. You simply have to have a sense of humor when it comes to old trucks, especially one with as much character as this Chevy. The coolant was steaming, and the engine was leaking oil so bad a drip can had to be placed under the engine anytime it stopped. But the owner was having fun.

Check out the script on the side of this dark-teal Chevy truck. Also take a peek under the hood to see the blower on top of the engine. Lots of neat custom touches: frenched headlights, V-butted windshield, molded exhaust covers, and what appear to be widened rear fenders.

Certainly one of the most unusual vehicles on display was this white 4x4 ‘51 Mercury station wagon. Obviously a custom creation, but nicely done. Notice the chrome spotlights and the suicide rear doors. Are we having fun yet?

Bob Westrate from Kalamazoo, Michigan, made the trip in his ‘59 Chevy pickup—the trip was easy, indeed. It’s powered by a 427ci big-block engine and is nicely nosed and lowered.

How rare is a ‘47 Mercury pickup? Pretty rare! This one belongs to Taisto Eilomag of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. The Canadian pickup sounded as though the original flathead engine was still ticking like a watch.

Butch and Wanda Beamish of Coleman, Michigan, brought their chopped, all-black Pro Street ‘63 Chevy pickup to the party. There’s a 502ci Chevy big-block under the hood and Weld wheels on the corners. Note the custom tilt-forward hood.

Another fully ornamented ‘39 Chevy JC pickup belongs to Ralph Blocksma of Middleville, Michigan. The Buttercup Yellow hauler is powered by the industry standard 350/350 engine/trans combo. Chevy went to a two-piece glass windshield and a heavy horizontal grille—notice the Chevy script on the top grille bar—in 1939.

Hot Rod’s Senior Editor Gray Baskerville is going from full-throttle to fast idle after more than 30 years on the staffs of Hot Rod and Rod & Custom. He’ll still be involved with the mags but will now be more selective about his assignments. Gray was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from our gracious hosts. And no, he’s not moonlighting as a tow truck operator.

It’s alive! This ‘40 sedan is reportedly Bob McCoy’s old Tudor—the one that lead the way with flame graphics over the fenders and hood. We realize it isn’t a truck, but we couldn’t bypass the chance to show what is believed to be one of Hot Rod’s Top 25 all-time best hot rods.

Here’s a pickup concept for the guys who want the thrill of high-speed motoring, the wind in their face, their best friend behind them hanging on for dear life, and lots of luggage room as well. How to get them all?—how ‘bout a Boss Hoss Vortech- V-8-powered trike with a slightly narrowed and shortened pickup bed in back. This GM show-bike project was a fun one—production is, however, rather doubtful. Better swap those Firestone Wilderness HTs before hitting the wide-open spaces.

Steve and David Herald of Millington, Michigan, like to travel topless in their two-tone ‘72 Chevy half-ton. A 402ci Rat motor lurks under the hood.

Dan Webb, one of the country’s most talented and capable builders, has a shop in Burton, Michigan. This custom cycle is a project for himself; it’s a way to display his company’s skills with metal fabrication and have some fun, too. Look for some wild OEM projects from Dan to make the scene by the time this issue hits the newsstands.

Does Arne Sand’s sturdy ‘67 Dodge stake bed truck turn your crank? It does ours. (You can drop off that load of lumber at my place, Arne.)

Before we realized how much fun we were having, the weekend was over, leaving us with many pleasant memories of the people and places, cars and trucks, at St. Ignace. This event has a unique quality of genuine hospitality that we hope will bring us together again one day in the future.

The straits off Macinac Island connect Lake Huron with Lake Michigan and separate Michigan’s somewhat more remote and less-populated upper peninsula from the lower part of the state. This northern waterway was a major avenue for fur traders and explorers in the U.S. and Canada for 200 years. In recent times, St. Ignace, Michigan (located on the Interstate 75 business loop), has become the site of one of the most unique car shows in this country. There’s a little bit of everything, automotively speaking, and a whole lot of hospitality that brings famous faces and personalities together for a joyous vintage car and truck celebration.

This year’s guest of honor was Keith Crain, chairman of Crain Communications. Mr. Crain was just one of the many famous names that made up a list of who’s who in our industry. There were many well-known custom-car builders, aftermarket industry personalities, and plenty of auto industry design and marketing executives. Plenty of awards were also presented to those well-known names and faces who attended a special brunch hosted by Nostalgia Productions. More about that in a minute.

Hot Rod magazine Senior Editor Gray Baskerville and I took a red-eye flight from L.A. to Detroit, where we picked up a candy-apple red (to match our eyes) PT Cruiser at the airport. We drove north to the auto-holics anonymous meeting via the ever-expanding Great Lakes Motor Works (a shop owned by Mike Stowe) in Boyne City, Michigan. Mike’s a great car guy who has made himself a solid reputation for quality construction and neat rides. His shop now trains new blood in the art of custom fabrication and restoration. Mike’s buttery-pearl ’49 Pontiac convertible was featured in the February 2000 issue of Rod & Custom, and was the Kress Reavie Memorial award recipient in 1999.

Arriving in St. Ignace on Thursday evening put us an invitation or two behind the rest of the crowd, as organizer Ed Reavie had already rolled out the red carpet by inviting guests to his home—which is often mistaken for an automotive memorabilia museum. There was also an evening ferryboat ride for those who’ve always wondered what the underside of the Mackinac Bridge looks like. One nearby attraction visitors to St. Ignace should not overlook is a trip to Mackinac Island, where motorized cars are—gasp!—not allowed. The architecture alone is entertaining enough to make the laid-back island one of the most popular vacation attractions in the Midwest. The charm of strolling through the dockside shops and the accessible walkways is a most enjoyable slow-motion contrast to our typically hectic lifestyles.

Back at the car show on Friday, a steady stream of special-interest cars and trucks started rolling into town. As soon as hotel accommodations were secured, lawn chairs were parked alongside State Street (the one major artery through town), to allow front-row seating for viewing the constant parade of neat vintage iron.

When you’re Ed Reavie’s guest, you have to work to buy a meal. Nostalgia Productions’ hospitality is legendary—as are the names of the recipients of the prestigious awards. Among others, here are some of the awards presented: the North Hall of Fame, the Media Hall of Fame, the Race Car Hall of Fame, the Concours d’ Elegance, the Governor’s Award, the Kress Reavie Memorial Award, the Sam Barris Memorial Award, and the Media Hall of Fame (Corporate). There’s also a six-pack of specially crafted awards created by the talented Ridler Award-winning builder Dan Webb.

What is so special about this gathering is the opportunity to put faces to the names you’ve read about for years. Names like Mike and Larry Alexander, Joe Bailon, Gene Winfield, Wally Parks, Norm Grabowski, Bill Cushenbery, Linda Vaughn, Ken “Posies” Fenical, Roger Lindamood, Chuck Miller, Frank Livingston, Jack Walker, Troy Trepanier, Don “Big Daddy” Garlits, and more. Among these living legends are also the talented and dedicated men and women who have carved their names onto the auto industry’s list of movers and shakers. Among those in attendance were Executive Vice President Tom Gale of Daimler/Chrysler, Executive Director of Design Jerry Palmer of General Motors Design Center, and Angelo Giampetroni of Ford Motorsports.

Gray Baskerville was honored with a multitude of awards, including the outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award. Yours truly was honored with a Hall of Fame North award and a Dan Webb Artist of the Year award—which may partially explain the popularity of this event! While many warm and fuzzy feelings were being shared by guests and hosts alike at the Guest of Honor brunch, outside the parade of rolling iron was starting to clog State Street and spill over onto the side streets. The little town of about 4,000 people swells to about 100,000 guests and spectators, all intent on seeing as much of the action as possible. This event is, after all, in the backyard of auto-oriented cities such as Detroit, Pontiac, Flint, and Warren. The auto-holics are gathering, hungry for their high-octane taste, and for a fill of vintage tin.