Trout Creek hosts 20th annual Cool Summer Nights Car Show

With temperatures hovering in the 90s due to a mid-summer heat wave, there was more than enough cool to go around for classic car fans in Trout Lake this past weekend.

A whole lot of love, too.

As the sunshine bounced off Noxon Reservoir glimmering in the background, car buffs from throughout the area gathered on the back lawn of the Lakeside Motel and Resort to swap stories, talk about parts and share their labors of love with all who attended.

From a rat rod to a stunning 1940 Ford 2-door Deluxe to a pair of Corvettes, the show attracted a steady throng of locals and tourists as car owners proudly talked about their shiny rides. Rat rods are generally considered automotive creations made from several parts and models.

The event was the 20th Annual Cool Summer Nights Car Show, hosted by the resort and local classic car enthusiasts.

Event organizer and self-described “registrar,” Trout Creek area resident Roger Barnes beamed as he displayed his baby blue 1940 Ford.

“I have four other vehicles and I can tell you I would rather drive this one than any of the others,” Barnes said. “Having and showing a car like this is something that is in your blood, it something I love doing.”

Barnes, who has been showing cars since 2005, said he has always had a strong interest in working on and driving cars. He has been under the hood improving cars since the 1950s.

“I’ve been working on cars since the early 50s,” he said. “I love working on engines, “trannys” (transmissions) and anything else involved with cars. I used to race cars and motorcycles. Just something I’ve always been into.”

Barnes said he has won several trophies at car events throughout the region, but that is not his goal.

“I don’t do it for the trophies”, he said. “Getting one is nice, but the real reason for building and showing a classic car is the love of being part of this.”

His classic Ford features a 307 cubic inch Chevrolet motor and spotless cloth seats that were once common in automobiles.

“You sit in this car and it feels great”, he said. “This is a cruiser, not a racer.”

Those sentiments were echoed by John Harris, who had his red 1972 Heavy Chevy on display. Harris has a collection of eight Chevy Chevelles, along with several other cars.

When asked if his car on display was for sale, Harris said that is always a possibility.

“Some people come up and ask about a price,” he said. “I guess they are always for sale, which would allow me to get another one. I can’t imagine every being done with doing this.”

Like most of the other show participants, Harris said he attends several car shows and cruises each year, with plans to attend a show in South Dakota and McGregor Lake during August.

“This is definitely a hobby of love,” he said. “I grew up with these cars. You sit back in the seats and you are 17 again.”

Several of the car owners at the Lakeside show said they also planned to “cruise” to another show being held in Murray, Idaho, making it two shows in one weekend.

Russ Wood, whose 1967 Chevy Nova was also on display, credited his parents for instilling automotive love in him early in life.

“My dad was a drag racer and my mom was a road racer,” he said. “My dad had a 1957 Corvette when I was a kid. I’ve owned this Nova now for only four months. It was something I saw and had to have.”

Taking part in a car show involves a lot of tinkering, polishing and dusting, the participants all agreed.

Most arrived Friday and immediately set about cleaning and dusting every inch of their vehicles to get them ready for judging.

Aside from the good-natured kidding that goes on among the car owners, all agreed the common bond was friendship and love for classic cars.

“The best thing about this is getting together with friends who have the same interests”, Harris said. “Cruising with friends is a great thing to do”.

Pretty cool, no doubt.