This article was written by Stephanie Vavra.
The Seventh Annual Emmanuel Reformed Church Car Show “is our best year yet,” stated Show Co-Chair Pat DeShane of Morrison, IL. She registered 122 entries, on/or before Saturday, August 24, 2019. From 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., spectators strolled along the new location in downtown Main Street, Morrison, IL.
The ERC Men’s Ministry Car Show Committee award 30 sponsored plaques to owners of cars, motorcycles, and trucks. In addition, Best of Show earned a 6′ trophy; People’s Choice won a 5′ trophy; Best Car and Best Truck each received 4′ trophies.
Forty-two generous sponsors enabled lots of winners to take home hardware.
Best of Show was awarded to Jesse Rodriguez, Sterling, IL, for his 1933 Ford Coupe. Its striking, ombre paint flowed from yellow, to oranges, to red. In the aerial photo, it appears second from bottom left.
Best Car went to Chuck Jeanblanc, Amboy, IL, with a 1953 Hudson Hornet. Painted battleship gray, the vehicle was embellished with two tanks atop the engine.
Pete Estraea, Sterling, took home Best Truck honors. He entered a blue, 1952 Chevrolet pickup with five chrome bars in front. In the aerial photo, it appears third from bottom left.
The People’s Choice award was presented to John Comer, below left, of Sterling, for his 1972 Oldsmobile Hurst. It was an Indy 500 Pace Car. In the aerial photo, it appears sixth from bottom left.
Comer’s strong win was determined by public opinion, at a cost $1 per vote. $500 was raised and donated to Whiteside County Children’s Advocacy Center, April House. Director Carrie Melton presented the trophy, that was sponsored by the Lloyd DeShane family. Car Show Co-Chair DeShane is at right.
Family Chef Restaurant sponsored the “Top 30” plaque awarded to Harvey Zuidema, Morrison, for his iconic, restored 1957 Divco milk truck.
Anni Ellis of Port Byron, IL, entered this 1937 Dodge pickup. Titled “Rootbeer,” the striking paint job is “Sunset” over “Pearl Black.” Note the sun glistening off both fenders and the door frame.
Sally Rees of Morrison, navigated the crowd with “Claree,” her Chihuahua-Greyhound mix canine.
Lloyd and Shauna Nabb from Maquoketa, IA, entered this unusual 1951 Kaiser Henry J. Note the under hood decor.
The largest truck was a fire engine entered by Larry Voss, of Prophetstown, IL. He found “an old, junk boat along the road for sale in the Quad Cities. I bought an Iowa fire truck to pull it.” Voss, left, and Ryan Holzkopf are shown with the two items. “I snapped three [flag] poles due to low wires,” he acknowledged. Voss started the official Rock River Chapter of “Redneck Yacht Club,” in March 2018. “There are only 25 in the Country.” This chapter stretches “from Rockford[, IL,] to the Quad Cities.” His goal is to gather other members to clean up debris from a portion of the Rock River; organize events, such as a race along the river; help when a natural disaster hits. “Rednecks to the Rescue” is his slogan. Event monies raised would be donated to charity or a Food Pantry. Redneck Yacht Club has “eight or ten” members, and all interested persons may join, at no fee. You must buy a t-shirt with the RYC logo. Contact Voss at 815-989-6023.
Adding to the festivities were
- Morrison’s Farmers’ Market from 8:00 a.m. to noon
- music by 3D Sound Company
- Morrison Kiwanis grilled ribeyes, pork chops, brats, and hot dogs. Kris Bielema was pleased with the location change from the “sandwich corner. “We sold out. We don’t have this number of people all together, from our [annual] sales.” Morrison High School Key Club members helped set up at 8:00 a.m. Junior Ivy VanKampen served; Junior Tony Fulton grilled meat.
- collection for Morrison Friends Food Pantry. Jason McDearmon assisted Fulton, IL, third grader Noah DeShane to bag supplies and food.
