Railroad Days Car Show

It has been a long time since I have participated in my Club's annual car show at the end of June.  I wanted to go to Sturgis on the River and, because I bought an old classic, to attend Railroad Days Car Show.   The previous Tuesday I went out to Burgess to caress, pet, and otherwise be intimate with my new metal love.  I think she is gorgeous and has all the right curves.     

I went over to pick her up and naturally I was a bit apprehensive since this was our first date, so to speak.  She had already proven to be difficult to start without Marvin's $100 dollar can of starter juice.  He told me to take it just in case.  I rather thought that after a trip over to G-Burg that might keep gas in the carb so I wouldn't be embarrassed by having to use ether.  

I'm kind of crazy about Imperials.  I had a '61 for a few years and loved it and certainly bought into their advertising that stated they were America's Best Made Car.  This '65 was in very good shape and I like the stock-type cars of the '60's, not the more popular muscle variety.  

Here is Miss Frump positioned between two trucks.  Owners are voyeurs who get their thrills when people walk by to look and ogle.  Sadly, more people were interested in the trucks instead of Miss Frump.  The poor idiots were not aware that the gaudy artwork on the new truck to her right was that:  gaudy and hideous.  And they were also making tracks to the '63 truck to Miss Frumps left which was found in a barn somewhere in Colorado.  Sorry, but these trucks are a dime a dozen, like Mustangs, and Camaros.  They were not aware that the bone-white colored car in the middle was something rare that they may never ever see again.  How many 1963 Dodges are they ever going be able to touch and admire?  But I'm not bitter.

No classes this year so Miss Frump ended up between two trucks, who, for some damn reason, seemed to draw more attention.

I get all choked up everytime I see Miss Frump's rear end.  Word on the street was Dodge put more artistry into the rear instead of the front because the rear was what most drivers would see. 

At over 18 feet long, Dodge needed to get back into the big car game after the downsizing disaster of 1962.  Loyal Dodge owners hated the small cars so the execs came up with the 880 to satisfy longtime Dodge owners and dealerships.  

This beauty, also a Dodge,  of the 1956 variety, belonged to Club member Kenny Lumberry.  Kenny died a couple months ago after a short illness.  Kenny was instrumental in my joining the WIAAC and was the leader of my favorite Club activity, the Lumberry Tour.  The Lumberry Tour was an annual Fall drive through backroads Knox County, up to Henry and then down to Sparland and Tanner's Orchard.  We'd have lunch in Henry and I always took Rice Krispy treats for other members.  (I didn't make the treats, so they were always scrumptious. Thanks NM)  RIP Kenny. 

A nice stock Chevy.

A nice stock Lincoln.  I always liked this version of he Continental because they designed the car to look like a streaking star.  

Distinctive dash area.

A nice stock Mercury.

A kind of gross motorcycle that I'm sure garnered way more attention than Miss Frump.  

Miss Frump again, now with her hood popped.  

A nice 1906 Gale which was manufactured in Galesburg.  Imagine G-Burg being the modern day Detroit.  OK it kind of is, but I'm talking about when Detroit was the center of car manufacturing.  It  almost happened.  The Gale never made more than a handful of cars but if it had, it could have been something else for this area. 

Tim and Carrie Stage joined me for a while today and enjoyed the cars, and ugh, trucks.

My first date with this beauty and wouldn't you know it?  We had to suffer through some rain,  something old cars shouldn't have to endure.  Too many places that can get moist and start rust.  Some old cars never even get washed with water, they use, instead, a waterless wash.  But Miss Frump handles it well and the windshield wipers worked great.  It was a harrowing and defeating trip back to Burgess to see her get wet and have to use her wipers but she handled it like the classy old dame she is.   First date went well.  I think I'll ask her out again.

The car show was fun and saw quite a few old friends and acquaintances.  No trophy, but then again, she doesn't draw too much a crowd, either.  They just don't know what to make of her.