7th Annual Wings and Wheels is a Huge Success
Last Saturday was full of sunshine for the first time in quite a while, making for a great day of watching airplanes fly in special formations, and looking at row after row of carefully customized and restored cars, trucks and motorcycles. The seventh annual Wings and Wheels Car and Air Show brought crowds to Ingalls Field, and offered live music, lots of rides and climbing and bouncing fun for kids, and food and vendors of all kinds. But the heart of it all was the vehicles and watching the airplanes do their stunts.
Two classic old trucks, one bright shiny red, and the other sort of royal blue, were parked side by side. Ron Martin of Covington had a little to say about his two stars.
“The red Ford is a 65 with a 66 grill. The Chevrolet is a 51, five-window cab, all original.
When asked how long he’d been working on the two trucks, Mr. Martin replied
“The Ford I bought in Tennessee about 8 years ago.”
“Have you had many other trucks that you’ve either worked with or restored?”
“I had a ’51 Chevrolet that I subframed, put a V8 engine, an automatic transmission, and all those things too. I really enjoyed it.”
Mr. Martin volunteered that he drives the trucks wherever he wants to go, and he and his grandson drove the trucks to Ingalls Field from Covington on Saturday. When asked how that trip went he replied,
“Well this truck, I had to go to a lot of second gear, but other than that, it does good.”
And Wings and Wheels is the main place Ron takes these special trucks.
“I’ve been up here, for the last five years, I’ve been here every year.
“Have you seen some changes and progress in the show itself?”
“It seems to get bigger and better every year. I really love it.”
Down the next row of vehicles was a car on a trailer sitting on hubs, no glass in the windows, and the whole body the color of rust.
Owner Glenn Comer is optimistic about its future.
“It’s a 1929 Essex”
“It looks like it has a long way down the road ‘til it’s drivable again, or if that, how exactly does that work?”
“It won’t be very long. The right person get a hold of it, it wouldn’t take ‘em very long to fix it up.”
“Do you plan to put in all those hours towards bringing this old car back to life?”
“Naw, I hope we sell it.”
Later, after the bands had stopped playing, and the children were more in the snack lines than in the crowd listening to results, the announcer reflected on a day that was enjoyed by all.
“I tell you what, I had the privilege of walking around, taking a look at all of the cars. Everybody here is a winner. This is nice! I don’t get to do car shows and air shows at the same time. I think it’s a great combination. It’s about the machines, but it’s also about the people. And the people who have the dedication to fly like we saw here today, and the people like you who have the dedication to preserve these automobiles, just about every one, just like that MG brings back good memories to me, so thank you.”
For the specific names of winners, their classes and vehicles, please visit Allegheny MountainRadio.org .
Winners of Car Show Awards and Prizes
Kids’ Choice Winner: #11 Rick McLaughlin
People’s Choice Best Car: #86 Dicky Engleman
People’s Choice Best Truck: #40 Mike Bowen
People’s Choice Best Motorcycle: #87 Robert Neikirk
People’s Choice Best Tractor: #22 Lee Fry
People’s Choice “Best in Show”:
(The highest vote count in ANY category) is: Lee Fry
Best Paint: (Selected by 10 time winner of NRSA Top Builder Award, Fred Graefe)
#11 1968 Camaro Rick McLaughlin
Sponsors Wayne Anderson (Anderson Motorsports) and Fred Graefe (F&F Speed Shop from Whitehall Maryland) will hand out Pros’s Pick Winners.
- #64 1936 Panel Truck Red George Link
- #40 1963 Chevy Pick-Up Mike Bowen
- #86 1957 Chevy two-tone green Dicky Engleman
- #85 1937 Ford Coupe Larry West
- #105 1960 1960 MG Wes Mansin
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