Cars rally in Trout Creek over weekend

Danielle Switalski

A 1932 Ford Truck, a 1957 Bel Air, a 1959 T-Bird and a 1979 Corvette were just a few of the cars that had been rebuilt, polished and waxed to gleaming perfection and were bound to satisfy all car lovers when they were on display last Saturday for the fifth annual Trout Creek Cool Summer Nights car show.

The event, which began at 10 in the morning Saturday and lasted until 2 p.m. had a steady flow of car lovers who came to Trout Creek from as far as Maple Valley and Renton, Washington, Bonners Fairy, Idaho and from all over the Western, Montana region.  Spectators came for some quality sights and that is exactly what they got with over 40 cars on display, a solid mahogany boat and a line of motorcycles. 

Self proclaimed car fanatic, owner of the Lakeside Motel and organizer of the car show John Harris said the event keeps growing every year and he hopes it continues to get bigger in the coming years.

“I’m a car fanatic, and I wanted to create something here in Trout Creek.  It’s right during elk hunting season and it’s kind of the wrap up of summer for us and provides another event in Trout Creek,” said Harris. 

The car owners don’t go away empty handed with awards given out for first, second and third place in multiple categories.  Categories include People’s Choice, voted on by the people passing through to look at all the cars, Best Paint, Best Boat, Pre-1945, 1955-1957, 1958-1971, 1973-current, best truck and best motorcycle.  Besides the People’s Choice Award, judging is done by the owners of the cars on display.

Ben and Phyllis Broyle from Hayden, Idaho won first place in the category 1955-1957 and won for Best Interior for their 1956 red and white Bel Air, named Maxine after Phyllis’ mother.  This is the Broyles third year at the Trout Creek car show and also the third year they are taking home some trophies. 

Broyle is not at all unfamiliar with car shows, as he said him and his wife travel to car shows all summer to places such as Reno, and during the winter he fixes up his cars.  Broyle has four other classic cars he is working on, but the Bel Air is the one he takes to the shows. 

“It’s something to do and we love cars.  This is why we come back every year, it’s a fun little show with a lot of friends,” said Broyle.

Scott Young who won second place in the Pre-1954 category with his 1923 T-Roadster said he built his car in one year from start to finish. 

“It was a lot of time put into it, every night, every weekend I worked on it for long hours,” said Young who drove with his wife, Barbara from Montana to Southern California three days after he finished his car.

When asked how fast the car goes he said “faster than you want to be in it.”  The T-Roadster is painted a dark purple with orange flames on the side and the engine is taken from a 1959 Chevy, which Young says was a rare find.  Young said he specifically chose the color to accentuate the brass and chrome on his car. 

The most interesting part of his car is the gas tank, which is made out of an old beer keg from the 1800s that has a steel liner inside of it and says “Kalispell Malting and Brewing Co.” on it.

Young said he used to have a car similar to this one when he first got married, but had to sell it when his family got too big and said “I always kicked myself in the butt for it.”  When he began thinking about building this car, he said he wouldn’t do it unless he found a 1973 steel model t-roadster body.  His friend called and said he found this exact model and things just fell into place from there.

Among the other winners were Paul and Nancy McDowell’s 1960 Blue Corvette for People’s Choice, which also won for the 1958-1972 category, Best Paint went to Debbie and Rod Stamm for their blue 1932 Ford Tuck which also won the Pre-1954 award, Best Boat went to Mike and Stephanie Finn with a Christy Craft, Amy Resler won for the 1973-current category with her 1979 Corvette. Best Truck went to Bob and Joyce Welch with their 1947 Ford Pickup and Best Motorcycle went to Nick Ganatos for his 2002 Harley Davidson. 

Harris said along with his hope that the car show keeps growing each year, he also has plans to have a boat show during the Hydro Boat Races, which is a new event in Trout Creek put on by the Community Improvement Association that is set for June 18, 19 and 20, 2010.