Car lovers flock to Cruisen by the Bay show
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POLSON — Vintage cars, antique cars, muscle cars, street rods, a few new cars and a sprinkling of motorcycles backed into spots on Main Street and side streets on Saturday as the Cruisen by the Bay Car show got under way. Wayne Fuchs played tunes to set the mood with songs such as “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Ain’t That a Shame,” and “Little Old Lady from Pasadena.”
Yvonne and Bob Kuttnick brought their bright red 1958 Impala convertible from Medicine Hat, Alberta, to Polson after last week’s car show in Lolo.
“1958 was the first year Chevrolet made Impalas,” Bob noted as he and Yvonne polished and readied the car for the show.
This was the couple’s first trip to Cruisen by the Bay, and they love the area. A malfunctioning water pump kept them repairing the part instead of buying cherries on Friday, but they plan to eat a few before heading back to Canada.
Close to the Kuttnicks was a purple '57 Bel Air belonging to Sherm and Bonnie Anderson, Deer Lodge. Although the color is listed as Twilight Royal Metallic, the Bel Air is as purple as a people eater, and its plates read GR8PJUC.
Modestly Sherm said he’s a car collector but when questioned, it turns out he and Bonnie own about 70 cars, many on loan to the Montana Auto Museum in Deer Lodge.
“I always wanted a street rod,” Sherm explained, jerking a thumb towards the Bel Air, “and I wanted it to be different.”
So he chose to paint it purple but had to wait several years to find just the right color, not too light and not too dark. The upholstery is pale grey leather with a hint of lavender that had to be ordered from the Porsche factory.
Of all the cars, he likes to drive the Bel Air with its 550 horses. Also he fancies a ’74 red and black SS with a 450 engine and a '67 Shelby Eleanor, “a high dollar Mustang” with a high horse power engine.
Bonnie is okay with the cars. She said if it makes Sherm happy, she’s happy.
Bonnie is “a good wife who puts up with my obsession,” Sherm noted.
He also feels good about the cars because about 60,000 people per year pass through the museum, Sherm said, so they can enjoy the cars, too.
Jackie Brown, who heads up Cruisen by the Bay, hopes people enjoy the car show, too.
“Everything has gone really, really well,” Brown noted.
The numbers of exhibitors are down just a little, Brown said, and there are not many car clubs. Many of the exhibitors are new to the show, Brown added.
To choose best of show awards, Brown explained that all the exhibitors cast a ballot and the trophies were within a couple of points of each other.
Best of show awards were:
Best of show: ‘56 Chevy Nomad, John and Sheila Emacio, Chatterroy, Wash.
Best motorcycle: 2004 Harley Davidson Softail, Tami Dolezal Cotton, Ronan
Top 10 (in no particular order)
’57 Chevy two-door hardtop, Rick and Barb Coulson, Ronan
’37 Chevy pickup, Dennis Black, Arlee
’37 Chevy coupe, Tim and Sue Arneson, Polson
’32 Ford coupe, Joe Baumgardner, Missoula
’32 Plymouth coupe, Robin and Laurie Ellenwood, Polson
’70 Dodge Challenger, Jim and Jeremy Sohm, Polson
’64 Pontiac Catalina, Sig and Linda Skarland, Missoula
’55 Chevy Bel Air, Tim and Sue Arneson, Polson
’69 Mustang Boss 302, James Keller, Kalispell
’68 Pontiac Firebird, Donny Jacobson, Kalispell
The following awards were chosen by and awarded by the sponsor:
Best engine, sponsored by Jeff Andrews Insurance, ‘70 Chevy pickup C10, George Tomlanovich, Polson
Best graphics sponsored by KwaTaqNuk Resort, ‘32 Plymouth coupe, Robin and Laurie Ellenwood, Polson
Best import, sponsored by Stageline Pizza, Polson and Ronan, ’57 Porsche Speedster, Tina Sunderland, Missoula
Best Interior, sponsored by Ron Couture, 2000 Ford F250, Mark Pollack, Missoula
Best paint sponsored by Two Rivers Auto, ’37 Plymouth Coupe, Larry Mankins, Butte
Best work in progress sponsored by D & M Repair, ’59 Renault
