The Jackson County Fairgrounds Exposition Park in Central Point, Oregon was a great place to be on February 7th and 8th, 2009 as Al Erickson, Show Coordinator, and the members of the Rogue Valley Street Rods (RVSR) presented the 32nd Annual Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show in a comfortable indoor venue.

Dan Pini, Facilities and Club Displays Chair, selected 105 cars from over 200 applicants. There was a variety of great rods for the viewing public along with several custom motorcycles. There were 8 club displays and even room for several Rat Rods.

On Friday, with clouds overhead and a light rain, members hurried to get the doors opened early to the participants for setup. Bill Andrews, filling in for Dan, who was rushed to the hospital with kidney stones, was busy making sure all participants’ vehicles and displays were set up as planned. Club members were hanging sponsor banners, directing traffic and helping vendors get set up. Local restaurant owner and one of the show’s sponsors, Greg Cordova, provided free meals to all show participants and club members. It was a nice touch and great to be sitting in a skybox eating and taking a break and to look down on a great display of rods.

The beneficiary of the show is the Child Development and Rehabilitation Center (CDRC) of Oregon Health & Science University. Over the years RVSR has generated $412,000 for the care of kids from Southern Oregon. This year the club was honored with the Eagle One Industries Golden Rule Award for outstanding community service programs. RVSR won the West Region Award and a $500 donation was made to CDRC in the club’s name. It is the second time the club has been recognized with The Eagle One Award.

With the poor economy and high unemployment there was some concern about how many spectators would attend. We needn’t have worried as Saturday dawned to a clear sky and warm sun and at 9:00 AM the parking lot was filled to overflow. The spectators were treated to one building full of great cars and two other buildings of vendors and product displays.

One of the ‘feature cars’ of the show was a 1940 Ford Pickup owned by Darrel and Sandy Chambers of Redding, California. This truck was a Detroit Autorama Riddler Finalist and was also named NAPA Trick Truck in the 16th All American Get Together. Stan and Sue Steward of Milwaukee, Oregon brought their Caddy Northstar powered red 1932 Ford roadster, another ‘feature car’. When the votes were in, the Peoples’ Choice Award went to Bill and Tete Enderson and their Viper powered 1941 Lincoln Zephyr. The Participants’ Choice Award went to Central Points’ Gary Carte and his 1956 Chevy Bel Air. Best Individual Display went to Doug and Carole Dunn of Medford and their 1937 Cord 812-c with trailer. The Best Club Display went to Rogue Mustangs and Vintage Fords from Medford, Oregon. Mayor’s Choice was the 1951 Chevrolet Suburban owned by Tod and Carol Hale of Central Point, Oregon and the CDRC Choice was Frank Steele’s 1943 military Jeep, from Merlin, Oregon.

In addition to the vehicles on display there were raffles for a 350 Chevy Motor, a Turbo 350, a quilt created by club member Alma Gates, $200 in chrome plating and two $500 gift certificates, one for tires and wheels and the other for groceries. For the kids there were coloring contests, valve cover races and a drawing for two BMX bikes. All in all there were plenty of things to check out for the more than 7,000 folks who came to the show.

As things were winding down Sunday and everyone was getting ready to load up and go home we could hear the beginnings of rain on the roof. In 30 minutes it was pouring. Those of us without trailers or wiper blades had a wet ride home. There were several roadsters that drove to the show and were now looking for a trailer ride back home.

Written and Submitted by: Ron Peil, Marketing Photographer:

Copyright Travis Scott Photography 2009
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