All week we’d planned, packed, and wrenched in readiness to leave for the Eugene Roadster Show, and
at one point, almost thought we just weren’t meant to go. Two nights of tinkering, timing and adjusting
had the ’40 Ford conv. starting, running, idling and sounding right. We’d hoped to get away Thursday
morning, leisurely cruise up I 5, arrive at our hotel for a nice evening meal and unwind a bit. That didn’t happen as it wasn’t til 7pm we got the car into the trailer after a hard time of keeping it running after I
put it in gear??? As we were already loaded, we headed north on dry roads, little traffic and drove straight to Eugene. Things went better here, able to use the large bus parking spot, we got our favorite room and at a reduced rate too!!! We watched an interesting episode of Overhaulin’ and crashed.
The Shilo breakfast fare was enough to satisfy our needs, filled my coffee pot and we were on our way to the Lane County Fairgrounds by 8:30am. Our hosts Kurt, Suzie and staff were all set up and after a few
hugs, we registered and were shown our space, a 3 open sided 20’X20’ area under a couple of large lights that will give good reflections for our Candy Apple paint. Being early, we were able to drive the truck and trailer along side for easy un-loading, laid the carpet and rolled the car onto it. We had a lot of help from their staff and had the gas and battery check done early.
We had the rig out to the secure trailer park area in less than a half hour, a record for me!!! Other than greeting a few car owners we knew, we were all set up, carpet vacuumed and waxing done by noon. For the next couple hours we mosied around and chatted with some old friends and met our space neighbors, a couple of nice kids with all new ‘street stock’ racers they plan to campaign on the local tracks this year.
We headed back to the hotel area and decided to have brunch at the IHOP across the street. They no longer have a café in our town and serve a couple dishes we miss. As most have done, an all new menu
sported some inviting entrée’s and they brought us more food than we could devour, but very tasty.
In our room, we checked out the goody bag, got a pen I needed and a tooth brush, how did they know I’d not packed one??? Charlotte set up the ‘puter and checked some info for her scrap-booking while I
made notes for my event report and then took a nap. As we were still full from lunch, we had a few snacks, watched the tube and called it a day.
Saturday I tried a couple of the nuked Jimmy Dean sausage muffins in the lobby, was surprised at the
quality, filled my coffee pot and headed for the show. Since we’d left, the floor was now full of about 100
nice vehicles and a lot of them were high-dollar rods and customs, the competition is going to be keen.
Kurt and Dennis have put together a really great array of new rides, several roadsters, ‘50s customs, a few impressive dragsters, a half dozen Rat Rods in a nice display, a couple of ‘Sprints’, a couple of bikes,
a Bonneville speedster, a Monster Truck and a good variety of vendors ringing the outer walls.
The nice clean cement floored building means almost no dust and a light wiping was all I had to do.
Spent a few hours yakking with other owners, making notes of the ones I wanted to invite to our 2011 show as spectators began filling the wide aisles. I was wearing my ‘Chantilly Lace’ jacket with the ‘40
embroidered on the back and several people stopped to ask me about the building of the car. Can’t
deny I love to meet the viewers and answer their questions as well as point out some of the mod’s they
miss. It’s also a pleasure to receive their compliments for our efforts.
I returned to the hotel to get Charlotte, at this event, they have all the judging done early in the AM to be ready for trophy presentations at 4pm. This plan has a couple of advantages, the sponsor’s awards
are on show for the afternoon Saturday and all day Sunday crowds, as well as letting the owners pack
up at the 5pm close. Dennis had given me a preview of the awards and I was intrigued with the new ‘Participant’s Trophy’. It is a 6” Adobe ceramic tile encased in a black hang or stand-up frame. The show
art is oven-fired on the tile and it is as clear and sharp as the original art…a real nice keepsake that is given to about 75 entrants.

Promptly at 4, we all assembled in a meeting room where Kurt, Suzie, Dennis and their staff were ready to begin the presentations. It was a full of laughs oration by Kurt who kept us amused with his anecdotes about some of the owners. He really broke us up when he related that Dave Andrews from Vanc. WA., ’36 Ford p/u, 1st time shown, who’d been at our show in Feb., after getting all set up, had to be moved a couple spaces. He took it well and was helped with the move. The same thing happened here on his 2nd time showing the sweet p/u…jinxed??? It’s good he’s a good sport. We had a good chat and we found we both have a lot in common, promised to stay in touch via email.
Our hosts present a beautiful 4” gold clock on an acrylic back, edged by 2 piano-finished cherry-wood columns with a brass etched plate all on a brass plate, trophy to the “Top 25” outstanding cars in the show. Kurt turned the festivities to Michael ‘Axel’ Fleming, the show DJ who called the entrants up to receive their awards and continued the comical patter.
The participants trophies were given out first and we weren’t called. We were sitting with John & Jo-Ann Marvel (1919 Center Door T also painted by Tommy Carr) and we both hoped we’d made the Top 25. Soon he was called up and after a few more, we also were also given one of these special awards. We were thrilled receive such a nice addition for our new trophy case. I talked to Jeff who made the tile trophies and a couple other vendors to invite them to our show in Medford. Charlotte bought a new
music disc of ‘Cruisin’ Oldies’ and a show T shirt.
We left at 7 and after dropping our treasures in the room, went next door to Elmer’s for dinner. They featured a medley of seafood dishes and we each selected one. Clam Chowder, cheese biscuits to start, then 2 huge platters of fish and fries filled the rest of the room we had so we passed on dessert!!!
Sunday, we both slept in til after 10 and didn’t get to the arena til almost noon. I wiped the car and then spent the next 2 hours talking with spectators. As the crowds thinned out later, we took photos of the
cars we’ll give to our show chairman for 2011 invitations. At 5pm, we gathered around the DJ, Axel’s stand who’d kept us entertained with good music and show info all weekend. Kurt and staff thanked us again for attending and after a drum roll, announced the ‘People’s Choice’ winner…John and Jo-Ann
were presented a heavy, 12” glass beveled pillar trophy and will also receive 2 custom Letterman’s Jackets. It was great to see them win and bring the awards back to So. Oregon.
For the next half hour, we said our good-byes to friends and our hosts while we waited for the majority
of car owners to clear the building as we dismantled our display. Inside with the trailer, and it was a bonus when their staff helped roll the carpet and haul the piping into the trailer for us. We loaded the car and this too, was one of the fastest time we’d ever got already to leave. One last round of “See you and thanks”, and we were back at the hotel and parked by 7pm. As we’d only snacked during the day, we went to Elmer’s again, I went for the prime rib with all the trimmings and Char had a soup ‘n sandwich special. The rest of the evening, I did up my notes while she watched a movie. Slept good this night too.
By 10am Monday morn, we were on the road and cruised down the highway with all the rest of the trucks under sunny skies and a dry road, to Canyonville where we stopped for brunch. Then it was straight home by 2pm.
Once again, we had a swell time with our car, came home with some hardware, spent a lot of time with good friends and made some new ones. Thanks again Kurt, Suzie, Dennis and staff for another great weekend and taking such care of us ‘Old Folks’.
Compiled by Bunny Jeboult.