Car show draws more than 100 entries
Jennifer McBride/Valley Press Tyler Riffle, left, and Jake Gascon, both 10 years old, ogle the cars at the 9th Annual Rods n’ Classics car show on Saturday.
The 9th Annual Show and Shine Car Show offered fun with flair last weekend in Thompson Falls with a Rally Run and the Show and Shine.
The event featured 106 entries — all parked together in Ainsworth Field.
Dan Whittenburg, one of the event’s organizers, said they were very satisfied with the turnout.
“When we get a hundred cars, we get more than pleased,” he said.
People from all around the area came to appreciate the view and the workmanship. Fred and Merry Thompson of Libby say the trip is worth it.
“We like seeing the nice cars,” Fred Thompson said. “You can really appreciate all the work.”
Three years of effort went into the Thompson’s 1931 Ford, so it offers them a chance to show off their own work, as well.
Tyler Riffle, 10 years old, from Thompson Falls, said he liked seeing the cars because they were different.
“They’re odd,” he said. “They don’t look like the ones on the road.”
Besides the eye candy, the car show also offered people a chance to give back to the Cancer Network of Sanders County. The car show donated $672 total to the cancer network. Some of that money came from the winner of the 50-50 raffle. A cancer survivor himself, the winner anonymously donated the winnings — $336 — back to the network.
“There’s no reason for us to have a lot of money around and we like to give back to the community,” Whittenburg said. “The good thing about the cancer network is that the money stays in the community.”
When it came down to awards, several locals came up on top of the pile, including Donna Damaskos of Thompson Falls, who won the people’s choice award. Her 1956 Ford F100 will be featured next year on the event’s fliers and T-shirts, when the car show will be celebrating its tenth anniversary.
Results:
Top ten cars (no particular order):
Bob and Jo Joy, Kalispell, 1933 Chevrolet Master Coupe; Bob Fisk, Moses Lake, Wash., 1938 Ford Coupe; Jean Wainwright, Deer Park, 1936 Nash; Bruce Keller, Kalispell, 1955 Chevrolet Pickup; Donna Damaskos, Thompson Falls, 1956 Ford F100; Dean and Ethan Beck, Libby, 1957 Chevrolet Pickup; Gary and Sophia McGraw, Plains, 1931 Ford Roadster pickup; John Defrenn, Mullan Idaho, 1951 Mercury; Rob Ellenwood, Polson, 1932 Plymouth PB; Joe Jam, Columbia Falls, 1950 Chevrolet pickup; George Morgan, Trout Creek, 1929, Ford truck.
People’s choice
Donna Damaskos, Thompson Falls, 1956 Ford F100.
Club choice
Dave Castwood, Nine Mile, 1955 Chevrolet.
Best motorcycle
Nick Ganatos, Thompson Falls, 2020 Harley Davidson.