Vroom, vroom

by April Taylor Record Editor
Published: June 19, 2008

By 10:00 am Saturday, the “vroom, vroom” of car engines had become a familiar sound within the parking lot of Spring Hill Baptist Church on Frays Mill Road.  A steady flow of shiny cars, big trucks - and a few motorcycles, too - were making their way to the church’s car show and chili cook-off, held on June 14. 
Many “hot rodders” and their families braved the June heat to come out and display their vehicles. A number of attendees were there with their dads, making it a fitting day-before-Father’s Day event.
David Harris of Ruckersville, one of several dozen volunteers at the event, was on hand with his dad, Bill.
So was nine-year old Andrea Corbett of Forest Lakes, who helped her father, Jim, keep their midnight blue Chrysler Imperial nice and shiny for the show.
In all, an estimated 85 car owners participated in the event, more than double that of last year. 
The event, held until about 2 pm, was sponsored by the Men’s Ministry of the church, which was started in March 2007, said ministry member Dan McClish.  Registration for the car show was free. Lots of food was on hand, including 50 pounds of pork loin, flavored popcorn, hamburgers and hot dogs.
Any money raised from food and beverage purchases was to support missions at Spring Hill.
Categories for the show were as follows: cars, trucks, motorcycles and best in show. The vehicles were graded on a 50-point scale system, judged on such features as interior, motor engine parts, paint, wheels and tires, said Harris.
Ruckersville’s Mike Erdner’s bright orange 1969 1/2 Plymouth Road Runner went away with “Best in Show” at the event. Erdner says he’s had the car since 1986.
“I don’t usually enter in shows,“ he said “I go for enjoyment.“
Jeff Colvin of Barboursville (Orange County) won first place in the car category for his 1985 Mustang GT, painted “medium canyon red”; Shawn Walker won second place in the same category for his 1966 Chevy Chevelle. 
As for motorcycles, Danny Meadows took first place; Butch Joachim took second.
Owner Wayne Dudley took first place in the truck category for his 1989 Isuzu pick-up.
Tony Morris of Barboursville (Greene County) won second place truck for his 1968 Ford Bronco.
“I’ve been working on it for a solid year,“ said Morris. “This is the first time out of the garage.“
Everyone who registered for the car show received a raffle ticket for door prizes and a dash plaque, plus there were first and second place trophies for the winners in each category.
The Chili Divas were crowned champs in the chili cook-off.
Saturday’s event drew a number of supporters.
Arthur Moran, 89, of Quinque came in his Cadillac and stayed to the end of the show.
Mark Harris, a physician from Charlottesville, was sporting his 1953 red MG, a car that he’s had since 1963. “It’s an old fiend,“ said Harris.
Cheri Shifflett of Stanardsville and her husband Jesse bought “Choosey,“ her navy 2001 Ford Cobra, to the show.
This is my first car show that I’ve actually entered a car in,“ she said.
Ricky and Nora Dean of Louisa were on hand with their 1929 Ford Sedan painted “Dodge Prowler orange.“
“The paint costs $1,000 a gallon,“ said Ricky Dean.  The Deans have had their sedan for about 3 years and have won several car shows
Speaking on the event, car show host Bill Fekishazy said,  “The support that we’ve receive has been phenomenal.“
He described the ever-growing show as more of a “community outreach” rather than a fundraiser.
“We’re trying to bring people to the church that normally would not come,“ he remarked.
Fekishazy, McClish, Harris, Tom Hogge and Mike Layman were among the organizers. Plus a number of members from Spring Hill Baptist Church worked behind the scenes before and during the car show to make it happen, said McClish.
He is already looking ahead to next year.
“We’re hoping that we can fill the upper parking lot in next year’s car show,“ said McClish.  “We want next year to be bigger and better and get individuals as well as car club owners to come out in greater numbers - and bring their families, too.“