July 6, 2023 |
Photo – Platte Valley Knights Auto Club Car Show – by Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
The Platte Valley Knights Auto Club held its 21st annual Fourth of July Car Show.
On Sunday, July 2nd, car enthusiasts from across the region gathered in the Platte Valley Community Center parking lot for a car and motorcycle show. Vintage cars from the 1900’s joined more modern vehicles to compete for prize money.
Saratoga resident Carlene Sjoden brought her Tropical Turquoise 1956 Chevy Bel Air. Sjoden said her father bought the car new. She said the vehicle traveled around the area for decades before her husband purchased the car for her.
Sjoden said she had extensive restoration work done to the car in the early 2000’s, but her ‘56 Bel Air is stock. She said her classic car is not a trailer queen. Sjoden said her Bel Air has about 31,000 miles on the odometer.
Terry Campbell’s 1971 GMC ¾ Ton Pick-up Truck is also no trailer queen. Campbell said he purchased the truck at an estate sale in Colorado Springs in the late 80’s. He said the truck was nearly restored when he bought it. Campbell said he drives his ‘71 GMC often.
The show was not limited to vintage automobiles. Hanna resident Mark Kostovny said his yellow 2004 Chevy SSR will be a future classic. Kostovny said in 2019, he and his wife purchased the retro-styled truck car hybrid as a retirement present for each other. Kostovny said his SSR is fast in its stock form.
Jim Crowe’s 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Bigfoot99 helped sponsor the event and had a special trophy to present during the award ceremony. Reporter Matt Copeland chose Encampment resident Jim Crowe’s blue 1969 Mustang Mach One as his favorite car of the show. Crowe said he has owned the Mustang since the early 2010’s. Crowe said the vintage muscle car is mostly original.
Car Show Trophies
Crowe said he takes the car out on the road often.
Jim Crowe’s 1947 Mercury
Attendees of the car show were given the chance to vote for their favorite vehicle, with the winner receiving $100 and a lottery ticket. Johnny Vasquel, from Laramie, took home first place with his modified 1963 Chevy Impala SS.
