Car Show A Success Despite Gloomy Day
 | Author:
Dee Gannon, MT43 News Correspondent
MT43 News Correspondent |
Car Show A Success Despite Gloomy Day
Dee Gannon
MT43 News Correspondent
Rain on Sunday, October 1, did not dampen the spirits of the Fall Fest Car Show for the hundreds of people who came to see the beautiful (and some not-so-beautiful) vehicles. Owners gathered to chat about their favorite subject, cars.
There were 182 vehicles registered, with a few stragglers that came after registration closed. There was a total of 187 vehicles in the show; some so shiny you could see your reflection in the paint. Some were daily drivers, some looked as if they were towed there. The oldest were 1920s Model T Fords; the newest was a 2001 Plymouth Prowler. They came chopped and channeled, lowered almost to the ground and jacked so high you would need a ladder to get in to drive. Some were stock; some had been modified to all ends.
A certain 1964 Mercury Comet was just that, with blowers out of the hood. Listening to those around the Comet, who seemed to be ‘in the know’ the motor itself was no big deal, but the modifications to the heads, air filter and blowers were all custom-made.
The amount of money that the participants have in their cars is amazing. A few cars were even for sale; a 1923, bright yellow Ford Model T was for sale (with no posted asking price) by a local man. A 1934 Ford Coupe, bright blue, was for sale for $45,000. This reporter doesn’t have that kind of cash…but if I did…I’d go for the 1957 Thunderbird (wasn’t for sale, but everyone has a price).
License plates were fun, too. There was a white 1966 Pontiac GTO with the plate WHTTIGR. The plate of a beautiful black 1961 Studebaker Hawk just said FARMHWK (won 60’S award). That owner said that his parents bought it new in 1961. There were other braggart plates as well: 265PLUS, 409MINE, and MORPOWR.
Cars came from North and South Dakota, Bozeman, Butte, Helena and Townsend, along with other locations. Although this reporter didn’t talk to a lot of folks (lots of empty chairs, can only assume that they were enjoying Fall Fest while the rain subsided).
The winner of the ‘All Show’ was a black 1959 Chevrolet El Camino, owned by Grant Callantine, of Belgrade. I asked him if he, by chance, had more cars than this, and he replied, “Yeah, I have bad habits. Lots of them.” Not a terrible habit if you have the finances that you need for cool cars.
A backyard mechanic is all you need for repairs and maintenance on many of these older cars. They are pretty straightforward if you’re looking to change plugs, points and fix about anything on them. Newer cars are scary…you open the hood and see this huge cowling over everything except the oil neck, battery and window washer fluid neck. That’s when you need an ‘Automobile Technician’. That just sounds expensive.
So, if you have a car to be seen; or, just want to see cars, be sure to come to the 2024 Fall Fest Car Show. You’ll have a great time, rain or shine! ‘
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PhotoCredit: Photo Credits: Dee Gannon
Image 1 Caption: All Show winner, 1959 Chevy El Camino owned by Grant Callantine of Belgrade, Montana.
Photo Credits: Dee Gannon
Image 2 Caption: 1957 Ford Thunderbird owned by Tom Jackson of Bozeman, Montana.
Photo Credits: Dee Gannon
