Escalante Days Car Show shines

Escalante Days Car Show shines

Aug 18, 2001

NO THIS ISN’T A USED CAR LOT. These muscle cars were on display during the Escalante Days Car Show at Joe Rowell Park on Aug. 11. Oldtimers from the 1920 and ‘30s, classic street rods, and sports cars were all there. Hundreds of people looked over the vehicles. The event was sponsored this year the Over The Hill Gang Car Club of Cortez.

STAFF REPORT

Although clouds and intermittent rain were present on Friday and Sunday it was certainly a clear and beautiful for the Escalante Days Car Show held on Saturday, Aug. 11, at Joe Rowell Park in Dolores.

Hosted by the Over The Hill Gang car club of Cortez, a total of 75 cars were entered in the 13 classes. Among the entrants was an unexpected 1947 Cadillac convertible street rod owned by Andre Newman of Chattanooga, Tenn. No, Newman did not drive all that way just to attend the small show in Dolores, he just happened to have been in Moab, Utah, when some street rodders headed this way invited him to tag along and he agreed.

Not only did he walk away with the long distance award, but took home awards for first place in the 1939-48 Street Rods, Best Interior, Dolores Chamber of Commerce Choice, and Best of Show.

"If I ever have a daughter, I’m naming her Dolores," he is reported to have said.

Newman wasn’t the only person having a good time. A large number of participants and spectators enjoyed the near-perfect weather and many of the beautiful cars on display.

Perhaps the highlight of the awards ceremony was a presentation of a plaque honoring Clarence and Kathi Bugg for their hard work and multiple good deeds on behalf of the automobile hobby and community. In the past, they have hosted the Escalante Days Car Show entirely on their own. This year they had help from fellow club members, but still managed to do the lions share of the work.

Here are the category and award placers:

Under Construction: 1.) Darwin Cline, ‘36 Ford; 2.) Jess Worrell, ‘51 Mercury; 3.) Jay Stroud, ‘68 Chevelle. Stock Trucks: Mike Olander, ‘66 Ford; Louis Vallejos, ‘53 Chevy; Lee Brunner ‘56 Ford. Stock-Pre ‘50s: Steve Hill, ‘49 Corvette; Richard Meyers, ‘30 Ford; Dolores Fire Department 1941. Best of ‘60s: Ray Majeski, ‘63 Corvette; Bill Armstrong, ‘64 Impala; Arlin Lieurance, ‘67 Camaro. Convertibles: Kelli Holmes, ‘57 Chevy; Ken Coates, ‘59 Ford; Steve Wylie, ‘69 Mustang. Street Machines: Jay Woodruff, ‘51 Ford; Val Robichaux, ‘70 Mustang; Ron Tucker, ‘89 Camaro. Street Rod 1939-48: Andre Newman, ‘47 Cadillac; Val Robichaux, ‘41 Ford; Paul Pearson, ‘41 Willys. Best Interior: Newman, ‘47 Cadillac. Best Engine: Jake Padilla, ‘34 Ford. Long Distance: Andre Newman, Chattanooga, Tenn. 4X4 Vehicles: Al Drotar, ‘67 Jeep; John Jones, ‘72 Blazer. Custom Trucks: Kay and Judy Tangreen, ‘34 Ford; Damon Millican, ‘68 Chevy; David Bowen, ‘48 Chevy. Best of ‘50s: Dennis Atwater, ‘55 Chevy; P.G. West, ‘58 Cadillac; Abner Hahn, ‘52 Henery J. 1970 and Later: Kathi Bugg, ‘71 Camaro; David Bowen, ‘78 Cutlass; Anson Jones, 2001 Corvette. Muscle Cars: Don Whitehead, ‘74 Plymouth; Clarence Bugg, ‘70 1/2 Camaro; Larry Shultz, ‘62 Impala. Street Rod Pre-’39: Peter Fultz, ‘32 Ford; Joann and Rod Petty, ‘37 Ford; Darwin Culver, ‘37 Chevy. Honorable Mention: Larry Coates, ‘65 Mustang; Roy Smith, ‘40 Chevy. Best Paint: Laura Coates, ‘65 Mustang; Most Likely to Get A Ticket: Rod Tucker, ‘89 Camaro. Sponsor’s Award: Peter Fultz, ‘32 Ford. Dolores State Bank Choice: Kelli Holmes, ‘57 Chevy Convertible. Chamber of Commerce Award: Andre Newman, ‘47 Cadillac; Best of Show: Andre Newman, ‘47 Cadillac.

To put on any car show and making it a success takes a lot of sponsors. They were: Clarence and Kathi Bugg; Bill’s Repair Service; J&D Autobody; Rocky Mountain Taquieria; Dolores Land Co.; Murray’s; Top Line Floors Inc.; Rio Grande Southern Hotel; B-Bar-W Development; Gonzales Construction; Floripa’s Mexican Restaurant; Ruby and Frank Gonzales; Dolores River Mountain Properties; The Naked Moose Restaurant; Midland Bean Co.; D&L Service; Busy B Janitorial; Town of Dolores; Dolores Chamber of Commerce; Generic Jeans; Dolores State Bank; Doctor Westerman; Lee Brunner; Val and Patty Robichaux; Dolores General Store; Sportsman’s Center; Sonic of Cortez; Tucker’s Pocket Pizza; Colorado Visitor’s Center-Cortez; Mustang Gas Station-Dolores; Vectra Bank Colorado-Dolores; Rich and Gwen Krieger; Paul and Lori Pearson; Don and Leslie Whitehead; Plesant Press of Dolores; NAPA of Cortez; Creative Habitat; Mark’s Race "N" Stuff; Mike Tulio; Empire Electric; and Wild Bill’s Embroidery of Bayfield.