Classic car owners who live to show off their vehicles and spend
time with their families and friends tout the annual Taste of
Morgan Hill car show for its quiet, downtown setting plus the
number of shopping and entertainment options
– unrelated to automobiles – that the art and food festival
offers their spouses and children.
Classic car owners who live to show off their vehicles and spend time with their families and friends tout the annual Taste of Morgan Hill car show for its quiet, downtown setting plus the number of shopping and entertainment options – unrelated to automobiles – that the art and food festival offers their spouses and children.
Not to mention the show, which started with less than a half-dozen cars 21 years ago, hosts an impressive field of impeccably-maintained, rare and customized performance and show cars for a contest its size, according to judges and spectators.
Barry Bentley, a Morgan Hill resident, showed his blue 1970 Dodge Challenger at the Taste of Morgan Hill car show Saturday, and took home one of the sponsors’ “Best in Show” prizes. Bentley has owned the car for about 11 years, and has entered the Challenger or another vehicle from his collection of classic cars in the annual downtown show for the last “seven or eight years,” he said.
He said his car was probably chosen because it’s a rare make (Dodge only made 2,000 Challengers in 1970), and he has kept it well-maintained.
“Everything is original,” Bentley said. “The funnest part is driving it.”
Bentley’s wife Cheryl described her husband’s car fetish as a “part-time hobby.” Barry, who makes his living repairing kitchen appliances in Morgan Hill, added that the best part about the local vintage car showcase is the arts and crafts and food vendors the next block over – which allow his wife to spend the day there without becoming bored.
Randy Milo came down the hill from Jackson Oaks to take in the car show before the crowds showed up. By lunch time, he was sitting at a table eating a tri-tip sandwich, while his wife perused the arts and crafts vendors. During his meal, he struck up a conversation with Pam Sharp and her family – whose husband was showing his 1972 Pantera.
“People made a wonderful effort to bring their cars here,” Milo said.
About 170 cars entered the two-day show Saturday, and about 100 Sunday, according to car show committee member Lou Mirviss. Entries included Corvettes, Camaros, Mustangs, custom-made hot rods, Bel Airs, Impalas and even some foreign models.
The judging process is unique among other car shows, and is designed to involve the community.
Saturday’s judges were the show’s sponsors, who each picked their favorite entrant for “Best in Show.” On Sunday, local “dignitaries” took the sponsors’ place and selected their winners, Mirviss explained. Sunday’s judges included Mayor Steve Tate, and the winners of the Chamber’s Salute awards announced earlier each year.
There are no criteria for the “Best in Show” winners, as the judges may pick their favorites based on their own preferences, sentimental attachment, or even the best paint job.
Also each day is announced the coveted overall “Showcase Trophy” winner. Those were chosen by Mark Reuter, a Morgan Hill resident who owns a company that manufactures and sells auto and motorcycle parts. Reuter, who has been the car show’s showcase judge – with the aid of wife Cindy – since 2004, is “not an expert,” in his words. But he is a longtime classic-car enthusiast himself, and his shop MDR has won awards for its instrument panel designs.
Reuter’s 1932 Ford Roadster hot rod has won first place in its class in the Grand National Roadster show in Pomona, so it’s safe to say that both winners and losers in the Morgan Hill car show trust his insight.
“I like a nice, clean looking car,” Reuter said. “I like the same theme all the way through. The craftsmanship has to be good. I look at the paint, the wheels and see how it all fits together.”
Saturday’s showcase champion was a 1948 Buick sedan, which had been restored with “modern amenities, but you couldn’t tell,” Reuter said. Sunday’s winner was a 1937 Ford Coupe which was painted with flames, but was “subtle and clean.”
And Reuter echoed other participants who uttered the car show’s attributes of the small-town atmosphere and variety of non-auto-related options. He isn’t shy to admit that he also enjoys the quilt show every year at the Taste of Morgan Hill, and described the tapestries on display in that event as “basically street-rods made out of cloth.”
Another local classic-car buff is Morgan Hill Councilman Greg Sellers, who is in the process of restoring “a couple of 1962 T-birds.” Sellers helped organize the car show in its humble beginnings, when it began almost as an after-thought when the Morgan Hill Downtown Association organized the first Taste of Morgan Hill festival as a way to promote local businesses.
“Frankly, I love old cars and I wanted to figure how to include them (in the art and food festival),” said Sellers, who was executive director of the Downtown Association at the time. “There were maybe a half dozen (entries) at the first one.”
Sellers attended the car shows both days this past weekend, pointing out to his daughter some of the vehicles’ unique characteristics.
“It’s a great opportunity to see people spend that much time and energy restoring their vehicles,” Sellers said. “I just appreciate the way they used to do things. They’re beautiful – the styles they’ll never do again. And people are doing some innovative things (to their classic cars).”
Taste of Morgan Hill classic car show, 2010 winners
Saturday, Sept. 25
Showcase Trophy: Frank and Louise Ledesma, 1948 Buick.
Sponsors’ choice, Best in Show:
Auto Express: Barry Bentley, 1970 Plymouth.
Betsy’s Restaurant: Glen Whyock, 1965 Cobra.
Chapparral Signs: Donald Petrie, 1934 Chevy sedan.
Cyclone Fence & Iron: Richard Garcia, 1932 Ford.
D.R. Domenichini Construction: Ken Walvogel, 1969 Camaro SS.
Heritage Bank of Commerce: Dave and Debbie Evans, 1967 Malibu.
Honda of Morgan Hill: Kevin and Kathy Ferguson, 1932 Ford.
Kelso Communications: Ray Esparanza, 1965 Corvette.
Make It Mine: Randy Phillips, 1966 Ford Selby.
MDR Machine: Andy Forset, 1955 Buick.
Rosy’s at the Beach: Mike Hobbs, 1951 Lincoln.
See Grins RV’s and Farm: Lenard and Carolyn Sims, 1958 Impala.
The Ford Store Morgan Hill: Dale Matsui, 1957 Thunderbird.
Union Jack: Chad Hunt, 1955 Mercedes.
Sunday, Sept. 26
Showcase Trophy: Gary Thompson, 1937 Ford Coupe.
Dignitaries’ choice, Best in Show:
Mayor Steve Tate: Gloria Serros, 1958 Chevy Impala.
Chamber of Commerce CEO Chris Giusiana: Julie Moore, 1962 Plymouth.
Interim Morgan Hill police chief Dan Ortega: Fred Maulican, 1928 Ford pickup.
2010 Man of the Year Lynn Liebschutz: Chad and Barbara Hunt, 1915 Ford Speedster.
Woman of the Year Teri Larice: Frank Lulla, 1969 Chevelle SS.
Business of the Year Cherisse’s Hair Salon: Maureen Andrade, 1957 Chevy Bel-Air.
Volunteer of the Year Kiwanis Club: Richard Garcia, 1932 Ford Roadster.
Educator of the Year Ellen Yu Costa: Bob Vertuchelli, 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS.
Student of the Year Franchesca Kellett: Lester and Malgo Yoasaga, 1956 Chevy.
Chamber board of directors: Gary Lecehimi, 1955 Chevy Bel-Air.
