Cool Summer Nights Car Show revs up Trout Creek

Even in the heat of the summer, “cool” is the rule.

And cool was in ample supply as part of the Lakeside Motel and Resort’s 19th Annual Cool Summer Nights Car Show in Trout Lake Saturday.

More than two dozen exquisitely restored and cared for vintage cars and trucks were on display on the Resort grounds, with the shimmering waters of Noxon Reservoir as a backdrop on a warm, sunny summer day.

The event, which included live music and good food, lasted most of the day and by noon 27 cars had been checked in for the show.

Among those entrants was Nancy McDowell, who along with her husband Ron brought their lime green 1947 Studebaker pickup to the show and got busy putting the finishing touches on the vehicle they have named “Ratfink.” A large replica of the Ratfink character from model car/truck fame, rode in the back of the truck.

“We’ve had this Studebaker for 10 years,” Nancy said. “It was in the process of being reconditioned when my husband bought it and he did so because my maiden name is Studebaker.”

The McDowells travel to as many as ten shows a year, where, she said, “the best part is meeting the good people involved with these shows”.

This year’s show awarded trophies for top three entrants, along with trophies for the best paint job and the best pickup in the show.

Trout Creek resident Charles Hooten brought two vehicles to the show, including his immaculately groomed 1937 Ford Slantback with a big block engine and an automatic transmission.

“We drove this car to Reno last year,” said Hooten, who is a member of the local 406 Cruisers club which travels to various classic car shows throughout the area each summer. “We’ve been to five shows so far this year and will be heading back to Reno next week.”

Buying and maintaining classic cars of show quality requires, “a lot of money, work and time,” he said. “But this car rides like a Cadillac and has a lot of power. We went up White Bird Hill, (a well-known steep, switchback style hill in central Idaho), and averaged 65 mph going up it”.

Hooten also had his 1964 Dodge Dart on display Saturday, and has another classic car, a rare and very valuable split-rear window 1963 Corvette that he did not bring this time.

Event coordinator Allison Aumiller said the show typically attracts a steady crowd of locals and curious tourists each year. She said this year’s event would likely match previous years in attendance.

The awards, she said, are decided by paper ballot.

“The people decide who the winners are,” she said.

Noxon resident Stanley Richardson was hoping his vintage Chevy truck would be among the winners.

“I’ve pretty much renovated this truck from front bumper to back bumper,” Richardson said. “I’ve spent thousands of hours working on the Chevy.”

Richardson said he usually attends just a few shows a year, and ran the truck in the recent Noxon Fourth of July parade, as well as a parade in Sandpoint, Idaho.

He summed up what most of the car owners say about the reward for all their time and effort.

“It felt good driving this in the parades,” he said as he dusted and readied his Chevy for the show. “I felt like I was royalty on something driving this old truck.”