Optimist Car Show Has Nearly 200 Vehicles On Display
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Whether you like new cars or vintage makes and models, the 2016 City of Lakes Cruise-In and Car Show sponsored by the Optimist Club Sunday had it all. This year for the seventh annual event there were 176 automobiles in the show, up from 156 two years ago, according to Optimist John Elliott. Elbert Russell, Warsaw, had his 1937 Plymouth on display. He said half of it was already restored when he bought it, and he finished restoring it about four years ago. The white car with blue flames and suicide doors only gets about 9 miles per gallon though, he estimated. The Fort Wayne Corvette Club was back for another year with different colors and styles. One example belonged to Randy Kiroy, Fort Wayne, who had his 1963 Grand Sport replica Corvette on hand. The show wasn’t just limited to cars though, as there also were motorcycles, emergency vehicles and trucks. Richard and Sam Groninger’s 2000 Ford F-750 pickup was a monster, standing higher than any other vehicle at the show. It had several modifications to it, all listed on a sign in front of the massive vehicle. The car show started at noon, with winners announced at 4:30 p.m., and they included:Motorcycle class: Tim Hauth, Warsaw, 1959 silver Cushman; Bruck Smock, Fort Wayne, 2015 Harley Davidson. Special Awards: People’s Choice, Phil Pion, Fort Wayne, 1977 Volkswagen Cabriolet; Participants’ Choice, Ryan Petty, Winona Lake, 2003 black Mustang Cobra; Mayor’s Choice, Bob Barth, Warsaw, 1955 yellow/green Studebaker; President’s Choice, Gary Kohlheim, Decatur, 1965 red Ford Mustang 2+2. Pre-1950 class: Dan McKibbin, Warsaw, 1917 American LaFrance firetruck; Allen Robinson, Warsaw, 1938 red Chevrolet Sedan; Butch Leisure, Greenfield, 1933 Black Cherry Willy’s; Ed Kunze, Peru, 1933 purple cruiser; Doug and Sandy Welling, Fort Wayne, 1926 red Ford Model T; Brantley Bussard, Warsaw, 1930 green Ford Model A; Steve Christner, Peru, 1940 blue Ford Coupe; Bill and Sindi Wilhelm, Decatur, 1932 brown Ford Hi Boy. 1950-1966 class: Roy Hauth, Winona Lake, 1954 red Jaguar XK121; Larry Riley, Warsaw, 1966 red Chevy Corvette; John Lachota, Warsaw, 1957 orange Chevy Bel-Air; Bob Tucker, Warsaw, 1960 blue/white Ford T-Bird; Dick Coppes, Atwood, 1963 black Chevy Nova; Larry Sexton, Bourbon, 1953 red Cadillac; Cameron HIleman, Akron, 1966 red Ford Mustang; David Briscoe, Peru, 1966 red Dodge Coronet. 1967-1980 class: John Coffey, Bourbon, 1970 white Olds 442; Tom Striggow, Bowling Green, Ohio, 1969 red Ford Mustang Mach 1; Robert Mason, Avon, 1972 red/orange Chevrolet 4x4; Mark Howar, Cromwell, 1969 blue Chevy Camaro/Yenko; Rich Gajados, Fort Wayne, 1967 blue Chevy Corvette; Dave Sloan, Warsaw, 1969 candy raspberry Chevy Chevelle; Douglas King, Roann, 1971 red Chevy S-10 truck; Jim Denham, Mexico, Ind., 1968 blue Chevy Chevelle. 1981-2003 class: Jay Powell, Peru, 1994 yellow Mustang Boss 302; Brian Klinger, Etna Green, 2001 silver Corvette Z06; Steve Wilhite, Warsaw, 1991 red Corvette; Richard Groninger, Warsaw, 2000 blue Ford F750; Jeff Dickerson, Warsaw, 1994 black Nissan 300 2x; Brian and Karen Burgan, North Manchester, 2002 red Chevy Camaro; Brandon Bussard, Warsaw, 2001 electric green Mustang; Lee and Judy Grigsby, Warsaw, 1998 silver Corvette. 2004 to Present class: George Graves, Argos, 2012 red Dodge Demon; Bob Bowers, Leesburg, 2016 orange Chevy Corvette; Les Berry, Fort Wayne, 2015 red Chevy Corvette; Robert Schlotter, Walton, 2013 black Dodge Charger; Ryan Tilden, Warsaw, 2011 red Nissan GTR; Barbara Echterling, Monticello, 2007 yellow Chevy Corvette; Dick White, Wabash, 2007 red Chevy Corvette; Cindy Harper, Syracuse, 2015 black Chevy Corvette.
