Good weather brings out 110 car entries

One hundred and ten vehicles entered the 2019 Albany Classic Car Show hosted by members of Albany’s Shifters Car Club last Saturday, April 20, and the judges awarded prizes in 26 classes and also in several specialty categories.

“The car show was awesome,” said show coordinator Robert Snyder. “We had a good turnout with a lot of vehicles that we hadn’t seen before. The weather was nice, and we had plenty of good help.”

The event started on Friday evening with a hamburger supper, a downtown cruise, and the burnout.

“Our Albany people really enjoy the burnout,” said Snyder. “We also have some people from Graham and other area towns who drive over on Friday for the burnout and come back on Saturday for the car show.”

Steven Hendley of Albany won “Best Burnout” with a Dodge SRT pickup.

“People started arriving for the show on Saturday before we had the tent up or sign-up sheets set out, and cars just kept pouring in all morning,” said Snyder. “Door prizes and 100 goodie bags were furnished by J.D. Dukes at Eagle Auto Parts, and we ended up running out of goodie bags and dash plaques. It was a good problem to have.”

Snyder thanked everyone who helped.

“It took a little more work this year, since a group of us were doing a lot of the judging, and the entry numbers were up,” he said. “But we all worked together, and it was fantastic! I’m thankful for everyone who contributed in any way, whether it was financially or with time.”

Special Awards

Named “Best of Show” by the judges was a 1961 Chevrolet Impala owned by Rick Duffin of Burleson.

Chosen as the “People’s Choice” award by participant voting was the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro entered by Jerry Norvell from Brady.

Cody Rhodes of Clyde won “Best Paint” with his 1972 Chevy C10. 

“Best Interior” went to a 1950 Studebaker convertible owned by Thomas Rose from San Angelo, while Mike Owens of Abilene won honors for “Best Engine” with a 1931 Ford.

“Farthest Distance” went to Henry Harris, who came 184 miles from Kingsland with his Jeep Scrambler.

Harris, who won a $75 dollar gas card, and Norvell and Duffin, who won $100 and $200 cash, all donated their prize winnings back, allowing the car club to add those amounts to money they donated to a fundraiser for Tom Belcher, who is undergoing medical treatment for cancer.

The “Flying A Museum Pick” was garnered by Wade Haynes from Anson with his 1966 Pontiac GTO.

“First National Bank of Albany Pick” was awarded to a 1940 Ford coupe, painted red with flames and  owned by Al Underwood of Abilene.

Two “Sponsor Pick” awards were given. One went to Bobby Kernel of Possum Kingdom and his 1955 Chevy, and the other to the Toyota Land Cruiser entered by Bobby Anderson of Breckenridge.

Kenneth McCoy of Abilene, with a blue 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, was chosen as the recipient of the Wayne and Jane Award. 

“We were looking for a car that reminded us of Wayne Burrow,” said Snyder. “Years ago, Wayne worked with me to get the car show started. We were fortunate to have Wayne’s daughter Lavita Hamilton in town to pick out the winner and help present the award this year.”

Special award winners each were given a plaque.

Successful Day

Shifters members traditionally put their classic cars in an exhibition area for viewing and leave the car show awards to be won by the guest entries, parked in downtown Albany between the First National Bank and the Bank Park and around the corner on Jacobs Street.

Spectators had a large number of automobiles to admire, including additional vintage vehicles on display in the Flying A Car Museum. According to reports, there were a lot of visitors at the museum, as well as throughout Albany.  

Snyder is already planning future events, including a truck show on Aug. 17 and next year’s car show.

The car show was open to antique and classic cars and trucks, street rods, “muscle cars,” and all types of customized vehicles. 

Category Winners

Original Car pre-’49 – 1. Rollins M. Roth, Breckenridge, 1929 Model A Ford. 2. R.L. Dulin, Lubbock, 1948 Ford.

Original Truck pre-’49 – 1. Larry Cobb, Abilene, 1936 Ford pickup. 2. Ross Honea, Cisco, 1936 International.

Original Car ’49-up – 1. Rick Duffin, Burleson, 1961 Chevrolet Impala. 2. Alicia Depew, Abilene, 1975 AMC Gremlin.

Original Truck ’49-up – 1. Earl Clayton, Bryson, 1964 Chevy Chevelle. 2. Richard Armstrong, South Bend, 1968 Chevy pickup.

Classic Muscle Car – 1. Eric Brock, 1968 Pontiac Firebird. 2. Wade Haynes, Anson, 1966 Pontiac GTO.

Classic Mopar – 1. Belinda, Cisco, 1971 Plymouth Duster. 2. Charles Moore, Abilene, 1970 Challenger.

Classic Chevy – 1. Ben McGee, Haskell, 1932 Chevy. 2. Robbie Hicks, Merkel, 1970 Chevy Chevelle.

Classic Ford – 1. Bruce Davis, Abilene, 2004 Ford Thunderbird. 2. Jan Banner, 1964 Ford Falcon.

Tri-Five 55-57 Chevy – 1. Tracey Golf, Abilene, 1956 Chevy 210. 2. Kenneth McCoy, Abilene, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air.

Street Rod Car pre-’49 – 1. Jack and Brenda Godfrey, Comanche, 1932 Ford coupe. 2. Mike Owens, Abilene, 1934 Ford coupe.

Street Rod Truck pre-’49 – 1. Robert Miller, Clyde, 1939 Chevy Deluxe. 2. Richard Futch, Seymour, 1931 Ford pickup.

Custom Car pre-’68 – 1. Thomas Rose, San Angelo, 1950 Studebaker convertible.

Custom Car ’68-up – 1. Jerry Norvell, Brady, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro.

Classic Mustang – 1. Jill and Duane Allen, Clyde, 1968 Mustang. 2. Ian Shepard, Abilene, 1969 Mustang.

Street Machine – 1. Earl Bullock, Eastland, 1954 Chevy 2-door.

Modified Pickup ’49-’54 – 1. Jack Van Hauen, Keller, 1949 Dodge B1 pickup. 2. Mark and Sheila Harless, Ira, 1951 Chevy 5-window pickup.

Modified Pickup ’55-’59 – 1. Doug Terrell, Stamford, 1956 Chevy pickup. 2. Freddy Riggins, Graham, 1958 GMC pickup.

Modified Pickup ’60-’66 – 1. John Bogart, Abilene, 1965 Chevy El Camino. 2. Rick Pennycuff, Graham, 1962 Chevy Panel.

Modified Pickup ’67-’72 – 1. Cody Rhodes, Clyde, 1972 Chevy C10.

Modified Pickup ’73-’87 – 1. Jim Bob Lee, Eastland, 1978 F150. 2. Tommy Jordon, Tuscola, 1985 Chevy C10.

Modern Muscle – 1. Mike Reeves, Burleson, 1978 Cadillac Seville. 2. Rodney Goins, Abilene, 1992 Camaro.

Corvettes – 1. Kenny Lancaster, Abilene, 1962 Corvette. 2. Don Reeve, Graham, 1958 Corvette.

Rat Rod – 1. Don Cantrell, Merkel, 1932 Confederate. 2. Dan Marks, Richland Hills, 1947 Ford pickup.

Imports – 1. Lorna Diaz, 2018 VW Golf. 2. Marcos Nieves, 2012 Honda.

Unfinished – 1. Dale Winters, Clyde, 1938 Chevy Sedan. 2. Robert Pardue, San Angelo, 1952 Mercury Monterey.

Special Interest – 1. Ann Harwood, Fort Worth, 1942 Ford GPW Jeep. 2. Tom Carson, Merkel, 2005 Chevrolet SSR.