Revving Up for the Sandhill Crane Car Show: A Celebration of Automotive Artistry

The Sandhill Crane Car Show, a highly anticipated annual event, cruised into Wheatfield on September 21st, showcasing a diverse array of automotive masterpieces. Overseen by the experienced Bill Davis of Bill's Automotive, the show attracted nearly 200 vehicles, ranging from vintage classics to modern marvels, captivating the attention of enthusiasts and casual observers alike.

Unleashing the Power of Automotive Passion

A Showcase of Automotive Excellence

The Sandhill Crane Car Show was a true celebration of automotive artistry, with 26 classes of vehicles judged throughout the day and five special categories. From the gleaming chrome of antique models to the sleek lines of contemporary rides, each entry represented the culmination of countless hours of restoration, modification, and sheer passion. The top three in each class were awarded trophies, recognizing the dedication and craftsmanship of their owners.

The Crowned Jewels: Major Award Winners

The event's pinnacle was the coveted Best of Show award, which was bestowed upon Willie Wireman's stunning 1972 Chevrolet C-10. This vehicle also earned the prestigious Chamber Choice accolade. Other major award winners included Duane Waldrop's 1969 Chevy Camaro for Best Engine, Robert Ferguson's 1969 Pontiac GTO for Best Paint, and Helen Guzorek's 1968 Chevy Camaro for Best Interior. The Judge's Choice Award was presented to Melanie Richie Sayer's 1977 Ford Mustang II, further showcasing the depth of talent and diversity on display.

Vintage Gems and Modern Marvels

The show's classes were divided by era, allowing visitors to appreciate the evolution of automotive design and engineering. In the Pre-1950 Stock category, William Vandermolen's 1926 Ford Model T stood out as the best in class. The 1950-1959 Stock class saw Bill Davis, Sr.'s 1956 Chevy Model 210 take the top spot, followed by John Latta's 1955 Ford Victoria and Adam Rossie's 1957 Chevy Hard Top.The 1960-1969 Stock class was dominated by Daryl Bierma's 1969 Ford Mustang, with Daryl Russell's 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner and Debbie Russell's 1969 Chevelle rounding out the top three. In the 1970-1979 Stock group, Ronnie Goby's 1972 Chevy Nova claimed first place, followed by Dennis Patton's 1970 Chevelle and Louis Gorden's 1973 Plymouth Duster.The more modern 1980-2000 Stock category saw Shawn Garner's 1998 Pontiac Trans Am take the top spot, with Cindy Fabish' 1980 Chevy Camaro Z28 and L. Gillis' 1999 Ford Mustang in second and third, respectively. The 2001-2009 Stock years were led by Kevon Lennington's 2001 Mustang and George Burnes' 2006 GTO, while the 2010-Present class was topped by Tim Longbeen's 2017 Challenger, followed by Larry Cindary's 2022 Ford Shelby GT 500 and Denise Cultice's 2024 Camaro.

Modifications and Masterpieces

The Modified classes showcased the creativity and craftsmanship of the participants, with each era represented. In the Pre-1950 Modified group, Ronald Clark's 1932 Ford Roadster took the top spot, followed by Linda Unland's 1932 Hapmobile Sedan and Rich Wojtowicz's 1939 Olds. The 1950-1959 Modified class was dominated by Deb and Tracy Allen's 1956 Chevy S-10, with Christine Wojtowicz's 1951 Chevy 3100 Series and Bill Davis' 1955 Chevy 210 Sedan rounding out the top three.The 1960-1969 Modified group was led by Scott Wireman's 1967 Chevy SS, with Shawn Mihalovits' 1969 Camaro and David Hart's 1967 Pontiac Firebird following closely. In the 1970-1979 Modifieds, Mike Musall's '79 Chevelle took the top spot, with Robert Koartge's 1978 Olds Hurst and George Hansen's 1977 Chevrolet in second and third, respectively. Bill Misch continued his winning streak in the 1980-2000 Modified division with his 1981 Chevy, followed by Kyle Blanchard's 2000 GMC Sierra and John Tarsa's 1991 Nissan.The 2001-Present Modified class was dominated by Scott Shireman's 2014 Dodge Challenger, with Brian Ridge's 2016 Ford Shelby GT and Jim Moore's 2009 Dodge Challenger rounding out the top three.

Specialty Categories: Showcasing Unique Gems

The Sandhill Crane Car Show also featured several specialty categories, each highlighting the diverse passions of the participants. In the Pro Street Category, Crusher Waldrop's '67 Camaro took the top spot, with Anthony Valpo's 1938 Chevy in second. The Project vehicle class was led by Dan Weimer's 1970 Chevy, followed by Michael Garcia's 1968 Pontiac Firebird and Josh Waldrop's 1969 Camaro.The Junior Class was won by Darin Adams' 2010 Chevy Camaro SS, showcasing the next generation of automotive enthusiasts. The Special Interest category was topped by Ron Pivarnik's 1934 Ford Roadster, with Jay Misch' 1967-70 Chevy/Shasta C-10 and William Vandermolen's Wheel House rounding out the top three. The Rat Rod class was won by Brian Nelson's 1956 Ford F100, with Zane Smith's 1931 Ford A in second place.

Trucks and Motorcycles: Celebrating Diverse Passions

The Sandhill Crane Car Show also featured categories for trucks and motorcycles, showcasing the breadth of automotive enthusiasm. In the Stock Trucks class, Beth Gilmore's 1994 Ford F150 took the top spot, followed by Glen Gorby's 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Daytone Edition and Shawn Holm-Hanson's 1969 El Camino.The Modified Trucks category was won by Johnny B's 1955 Ford F100, with Willie Wireman's Chevy C-10 and Pat Schlegel's 1950 Chevy 3100 also making an impressive showing.The motorcycle classes were equally captivating, with Rick Helton's 2003 Indiana taking the top spot in the Stock American Bikes category, followed by Robert Stevenson's 2015 Harley Street Glide and Mark Wireman's 2014 HD Breakout. In the Modified American Bikes class, Owen Misch' 1998 Harley Sportster was the winner, followed by Lewis Turner's H-D FXE Super Glide and Gary Beaver's 2003 H-D Device. The Stock Foreign Bike award went to Carl Klahn's 2014 Streetglide, while Shotgun Reynold's 1975 Kawasaki 21 won the Modified Foreign Bike category.

Corvette Royalty and Survivor Legends

The Sandhill Crane Car Show also featured a dedicated Corvette-only category, where Christy Dzur's '95 model took the top spot, followed by Sean Bennett's 2021 Corvette and Phil Norwak's 40th Anniversary 1993 Corvette.The final category, the "Survivor Class," was won by Michale Mirele's 1941 Buick, showcasing the enduring legacy of these automotive icons. Dave Hachlica's 1986 Lincoln Continental and George Jen's 1973 Buick Wagon also earned recognition in this prestigious class.The Sandhill Crane Car Show was a true celebration of automotive passion, where the past, present, and future converged in a stunning display of craftsmanship, creativity, and community. From the gleaming chrome of vintage models to the sleek lines of modern marvels, each entry represented the dedication and enthusiasm of its owner, captivating the hearts and minds of all who attended.