GRAVETTE -- A car show was held Saturday, Sept. 16, in the parking lot at Gravette's Lion Stadium. Ninety-one vehicles were entered, and trophies were given in several categories. Proceeds will benefit the Gravette Bright Futures organization and the automotive service program at Gravette's Western Benton County Career Center.
Jenny and Shane Hargrave, founders of the Gravette Cruise and Car Meet, were organizers of the event. Hargrave said the funds included donations from car owners who did not have a vehicle ready for the show.
The weather cooperated beautifully, with the high temperature only reaching 80 degrees. The show began at 9 a.m., and vehicles began arriving early. Judging began at noon, with over 20 students from the automotive service program as judges. Robert Willaby, instructor for the program, said the class includes students from Bentonville, Bentonville West, Decatur, Gentry, and Siloam Springs high schools, as well as Gravette.
Shelby Helser sang the national anthem at noon, and Dixon Aviation Decatur Flight School pilots held a fly-by. Lance Dixon was the lead pilot, and Ken Mason from Siloam Springs was the second pilot. Both were flying Piper Arrow 180s.
Attendance was good throughout the day, and DJ Virgil Boggs entertained visitors with music during the show and announced the winners at the awards presentation. Smith and Betts food truck, which was on-site, sold out of food and drinks, but the Ice Ice Shavey vendor provided refreshing shaved ice until the end of the day.
The coveted Best of Show trophy went to Bob White of Bentonville, who had the most points during the show with his 1955 Chevy Bel-Air. This year's Best of Show trophy was in honor of Detective Paul Newell, who lost his life in a tragic accident. Newell's widow, Charlene, attended to present the trophy.
Other winners in the car show included:
Custom mild -- first place, Jim Kastelic, 1955 Chevy 210; second place, Ron Gracy, 1954 Chevy sedan; third place, Kristina Bertschy, 2018 Chevy Camaro RS, and Richard Crouch, 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport
Custom wild -- first place, Kenneth Blossom, 2005 Ford Mustang; second place, Fernando Villalpando, 1973 Datsun 2402
4 x 4 -- first place, Heather Hankins, 1998 Dodge Ram 1500; second place, Richard Crouch, 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport; third place, Matt Burnett, 2019 Jeep T-Rock and Diane Miller, 1976 International Scout II
Ultimate 4 x 4 -- first place, Scott Cargile, 1983 Toyota Crawler
Import -- first place, Frani Pilgrim, 1970 Datsun 280 ZX
Low rider car -- first place, Ricardo Delgado, 1964 Chevy Impala; second place, Jeremy Bratcher, 1988 Chevy Impala; third place, Remi Escobar, 1964 Chevy Impala
Low rider truck -- first place, Richardo Bahena, 1987 Chevy Silverado
Classic muscle car -- first place, Tiffany Devore, 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner; second place, Steve Kapp, 1967 Chevy SS 350 Camaro, and Mike Bryan, 1971 Dodge Challenger; third place, Dale Jones, 1969 Chevy Camaro
Modern muscle car -- first place, Ted Lasher, 2008 Corvette Z51; second place, Mike Honey, 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 Cobra; third place, Kim Bain, 2010 Chevy Grand Sport
2020 to present muscle car -- first place, Brandon Sprealera, 2022 Dodge 1320 Challenger; second place, Matt Burnett, 2023 Mach 1 Mustang; third place, Gary Stith, 2023 Chevy Corvette HTC
Classic truck -- first place, Roger King, 1975 Chevy C10; second place, Donald Cockrell, 1934 Ford F100; third place, John Lewis, 1968 Chevy C10
Modern truck -- first place, Lucas Guzman, 2014 Chevy Silverado; second place, Quinn Engel, 2019 Ford 150
Convertible -- first place, Don Whittredge, 1967 Chevy Impala; second place, Kim Bain, 2015 Chevy Corvette 206 and Tracy Hole, Hot Wheel edition Camaro SS; third place, Joe Murfin, 1970 Chevy Corvette
Pre-1950s -- first place, Tim Corder, 1933 Ford A; second place, Adam Cooper, 1940 Ford; third place, Bill Royse, 1927 Ford Coupe
Daily driver -- first place, Brian Phillips, 2001 Chevy Corvette; second place, Becky and Mike Ackerman, 2007 Dodge Charger Super Bee; third place, Doug Bul, 1986 Chevy Camaro
Classic car -- first place, Chris Skinner, 1971 Chevy Corvette; second place, Don and Vita Hugdon, 1957 Chevy Bel-Air; Bob White, 1955 Chevy Bel-Air, and Woodie Blakeley, 1973 Pontiac Ventura; third place, Steve Fader, 1956 Chevy 210
VW -- first place, Bill and Marcy Gregory, 1955 VW Type 1; second place, Chop Fredrick, 1961 VW Single Cab; third place, Mark Miller, 1974 Volkswagon Thing
Under construction -- first place, Brian Phillips, 1980 Chevy Corvette; second place, Garry Sizemore, 1963 Ford F100; third place, Terry Meade, 1995 Ford F150 XLT, and Hannah Bryson, 1971 Chevy Chevelle
Hot rod -- first place, Dave Getter, 1939 Ford 5 Window Coupe
Motorcycle -- first place, Richard Summers, 2008 Big Dog K-9; second place, Kerry Vantrease, 2007 American Iron Horse Lone Star Chopper; third place, Michael Wright, 2020 Polaris Slingshot R
Special interest -- first place, Jason Willcutt, 2015 Dodge Challenger
Race car -- first place, Ricky Walden, 1974 Chevy Vega; second place, Brenda and Steve Snow, 1964 Chevy Impala
Oldest vehicle -- Bill Royse, 1927 Ford Coupe
Farthest distance traveled -- Mike Honey, 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 Cobra
Mayor's choice -- Mark Miller, 1973 Volkswagon Thing
Fire chief's choice -- Mark Cunningham, 2006 Chevy Corvette
Police chief's choice -- Brian Phillips, 1980 Chevy Corvette
People's choice -- Doug Bull, 1986 Chevy Camaro
Bright Future's choice -- Matt Burnett, 2023 Mach 1 Mustang
Gravette Automotive Service Program's choice -- Roger King, 1975 Chevy C10
Susan Holland/Westside Eagle Observer
Richard Crouch, of Joplin, Mo., displays the second place trophy he won in the 4x4 division with his 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport. The vehicle also tied for third place in the custom mild division of the show. Crouch is president of the Quad State Jeep Club.
Susan Holland/Westside Eagle Observer
Steve Fader, of Bella Vista, sits behind his 1956 Chevy 210 with its "Mom's Van" tag on the front. His vehicle won third place in the classic car division. Fader says he gets a lot of fun teasing spectators about the pup "doing his business" on the front tire.
Susan Holland/Westside Eagle Observer
Displaying the high and the low of it are Jeremy Bratcher's 1968 Chevy Impala, in the foreground, and Ricardo Delgado's 1964 Chevy Impala in the background. Delgado's vehicle won first place and Bratcher took second place in the low rider car division.
Susan Holland/Westside Eagle Observer
A 2013 Hot Wheel edition Camaro SS, owned by Tracy Hole, of Anderson, Mo., contains several items of Tigger memorabilia. Tracy tied for second place in the convertible division of the show while her daughter, Emma, took first place in the Power Wheels division with her 2016 Chevy Camaro driven by Winnie the Pooh.
Susan Holland/Westside Eagle Observer Joe Murfin (left) of Pea Ridge visits with admirers of the 1970 Corvette Stingray he calls Mello 70 because of its mellow yellow color. The vehicle won third place in the convertible division at Saturdays benefit car show in Gravette.
Susan Holland/Westside Eagle Observer
This bright red 1966 Ford Mustang, owned by Micah and Kim Weaver, was a popular entry in the classic muscle car division of Saturday's benefit car show. However, it was a 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner, owned by Tiffany Devore, which won the division.
Susan Holland/Westside Eagle Observer
Jeremy Bratcher displays the second place trophy he won in the low rider car division of Saturday's benefit car show with his 1968 Chevy Impala. 1964 Impalas owned by Ricardo Delgado and Remi Escobar took first and third place in the division.
Susan Holland/Westside Eagle Observer
A hot pink 1971 Dodge Challenger, owned by Mike Bryan, holds a family of pink panthers as passengers. The vehicle tied for second place in the classic muscle car division of Saturday's benefit car show at Gravette.
Susan Holland/Westside Eagle Observer
Bob White, of Bentonville, accepts the Best of Show trophy at Saturday's benefit car show for his 1955 Chevy Bel-Air, which took second place in the classic car division. The trophy, in honor of Detective Paul Newell, is being presented by his widow, Charlene Newell.
Susan Holland/Westside Eagle Observer
Just what every car collector's wife wants to hear: "Just one more car part, I promise." A car show fan who gave his name only as John, from Springdale, was enjoying Saturday's benefit show and drawing much attention with the slogan on his shirt.