The final, summer car show took place Sunday, September 13, 2015, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., at DQ Grill & Chill, 200 N. Sawyer Road, Morrison, IL. The last and largest of four informal, drive-in car-truck-cycle shows was organized by Ron Weimer and his many assistants. Weimer is shown beside a sunflower gold and vanilla 1958, two-door, Chevrolet Delray, owned by Ron Decker of Morrison. The latter Ron chose the colors, “because I liked them; they just went [well] together. [He] did the whole thing, but not the painting or interior. [Decker] did the electrical, mechanical, and body work, [which] turned out to be pretty nasty. It only took me six years to do it!” He drives this striking vehicle “at least once a weekend.”
The Big Fall Show “averages 80 cars each September,” Weimer said. “Trophies [were] awarded to everybody and [there were] door prizes.” The big show is “always fun, always free,” he added. Anyone can enter anything with wheels: cars, trucks, motorcycles, vans, tractors, and ATV’s. There is no registration fee. This is Wiemer’s 17th year arranging summer car shows, because “I love Morrison.”
Lexi Sikkema, Lyndon, IL, is shown with a baker’s dozen of trophies, one of which is taller than she. Best of Show winners Doug and Laurie Bass took home that hunk of hardware. Additional trophy recipients included Ron Decker; Joe Billings; Al Van Dyke; Dale and Jan Mussman; Steve Foster; Doug and Laurie Bass; Joe Graves; Keith Wiersema; Phillip Smith. Trophies for motorcycle entries went to Ethan Sikkema and little Lexi Sikkema. Her motorcycle has training wheels!
Morrisonians Dale and Jane Workman entered their sleek, 1961 Ford Thunderbird, which Jane stated they drive “just occasionally. We brought it back from Portland, OR,” while on a visit. “We have not done a thing to it. This is how we brought it home.” She especially likes the interior. Editor’s note: Ditto!
A black and white, 1957 Chevy Nomad station wagon is owned by Ron and Donna Greul of Lyndon, IL. Remember white wall tires? The Ford model A was in show condition, too. This was the first design produced by Henry Ford, from 1903 through 1904. He manufactured 1750 cars, which could attain an amazing–for the time–top speed of 28 miles per hour.
Dennis Reiss of Garden Plain, IL, entered his yellow and white, 1956 Golden Hawk Studebaker. It sported an elegant white and silver interior.
Roger Rhoads, Fenton, IL, drove this 1961 Austin Healey Sprite to the show.; wife Marjorie enjoys riding in it, too. Although the original suspension “is a little bumpy,” he drives it. He “fixed some rust and primed it [then] took it to Mac’s Body Shop to paint.” Rhoads purchased the “pretty simple little car” in 2001 or 2002. He has “never checked it,” but estimated he gets mileage in “the mid-20’s” per gallon.
