CAMP "DODGE" FOR A FINAL RIDE OF THE SEASON

 Last year didn't go as planned for putting Mary Lou away for the winter.  This year we had nice weather into November, so I gassed her up and added the bottle of Stabil I had from last year.  They also recommend you drive the car a while to let the additive circulate.  Darn!  One last ride it was.  I had seen other car owners get pictures of their ride by the jet at Camp Dodge.  The sun was going down, I had Jacob's camera, so I knew where I wanted to go.  Any why not?  The taillights on a '55 Dodge were inspired by jets...I mean it was The Jet Age.

WHAT DO YOU TAKE FOR A 50s THEME QUESTERS MEETING?

 Jane Ferguson is a member of a Questers group and invited Cindy to come to a meeting that had a 50s theme.  What to bring for show and tell??  Mary Lou!

On the way home from dropping Cindy off I stopped for a photo in my childhood neighborhood.  I like the look of the old bridge.

MARY LOU RIDES AGAIN!

 We decided to get Mary Lou out again after a long time off the road.  We last went to a car show on July 29.  Then Cindy had her heart attack the morning of August 5...the same morning her sister Diane passed.  That coupled with my job loss on August 14 meant the Dodge was a lower priority and became a possible asset to keep us afloat.  We are hanging on to her so far.  We have fond memories of Diane and Brad looking at the car with us prior to finalizing the purchase.

I checked the tires and Mary Lou was ready to cruise.

So out to the Sugar Shack we went.  We were hearing about Walt bringing different cars of of the "barn" but didn't see him when we got out there.

And then Walt and Marie rolled through in their beautiful 1955 Chevy Bel Air Nomad!  

50 YEARS AGO TODAY - AMERICAN GRAFFITI RELEASED IN THE US

(Posted on Facebook today)

On this date 50 years ago, the movie American Graffiti was released in the US.  I saw it at the historic Varsity Theater in Des Moines with my friend Doug.

I liked cars growing up but this movie kicked off my love of hot rods and classic cars that continues to this day.  Cindy and I were fortunate enough last summer to finally achieve our dream of buying a classic car (celebrating 1 year of ownership tomorrow).  I knew I had to take "Mary Lou" over to the recently revamped theater (rebranded Varsity Cinema) to mark the occasion 😀

VALLEY CLASSIC 8TH ANNUAL CAR SHOW (Est 450 CARS!)

 This was easily the largest car show we've been to.  And the number of cars far exceeded what they had last year.  We heard as many as 450 cars/trucks in attendance.  And need to count motorized bicycles as well as a few motorcycles. 😀

As we've come to expect when churches put on a show, very well organized with a large number of volunteers to staff the event.  I was getting emails the night before the show telling me how the pork was "put to bed" (see below).

A free lunch was served and they had water stations, a playground...you could eat inside in air conditioning.  What I thought was impressive is how they handled the awards.  The winners were told and they lined up in the parking lot. Then category by category, the winner would drive forward and their story was told.  Pictures taken and applause!

This show marked the debut of our canopy.

This guy had a '56 Dodge and got a speeding ticket going 120.  He got into insurance.

We thought we were stuck with newer cars but here came Corey Grimes and the Charity Cruisers.  Corey brought out this stock 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente.

My high school buddy Walt Russian's '67 Chevelle.

This 1951 Buick Roadmaster (yes, FOUR portholes) won an award.  Just a beautiful car.

We've seen this 1937 Packard before.  Our friend Walt Johnson thinks it could be a $175,000 car.

Here's another Packard...similar vintage.  

Love this 1950 Ford.  Clean and simple.

This 1947 Plymouth is a really sweet 1950s vibe.

Frenched '39 Ford taillights

Love the attitude!

We spent time with a nice couple that own this '64 Mercury.  Calypso Coral is the color I believe and original to the car. It had a 390 Interceptor engine.

And another miniature!  Need to get on it...

Vette

Charity Cruisers

This 1953 Jaguar was a winner.

So was this blown Hemi 1941 Willys.

They started up this drag boat so people could hear it 😀

This 1954 Buick was also a winner.

'63 Split-window

1951 Plymouth

'47 Stude

Another sweet Mercury...this one a '65 Monterey.

1957 Caddy hearse.

Bantam

Beautiful 1952 Chevy droptop.  He was proudly showing his build book.  Was a parts car.

Jacob took our pictures when we got home.  He's our go-to for Ky-sitting but now he's saying he'd like to go with us sometime.  We will find a way!