Corvette club donates to area organizations following Gateway show

The 13th annual Gateway to the West Days car show saw a record number of vehicles — 149 — on June 12. The car show also attracted a large crowd of people who enjoyed seeing the classic cars, pickup trucks, motorcycles, tractors and Corvettes.

On Thursday, the Midwest Early Corvette Club (MECC), which hosts the event, donated proceeds to four area organizations:

• Blair Radio, $100

• Blair Police Department, $200

• Washington County Food Pantry, $500

• Washington County Chamber of Commerce, $600

MECC also provides financial support to the Nebraska Kidney Association, the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association of Nebraska.

The club also announced winners from the car show.

This year, 49 participants received cash awards and four participants won the Chamber of Commerce Awards and received Chamber Bucks.

Dan Swistak of Blair won the Best of Show with his 1968 Chevrolet Camaro and Bob Grinnell of Fort Calhoun won the Best of Show Corvette with his 1967 Corvette.

Tracie Conger of Blair won the $400 cash drawing.

Other results include:

Chamber of Commerce award winners

Ladies Choice — Shawn & Stacey Kimble, 1966 Corvette

Mayor’s Choice — Sherri Levers, 1965 Ford Mustang

Police Chief Choice — Bruce Lackey, 1968 Plymouth GTX

Chamber of Commerce Choice — Kirk Strassburge, 1968 Ford Torino

Corvette award winners

1^st Place C1 Corvette — John and Lisa Romano, 1957 Corvette

2^nd Place C1 Corvette — Darren and Amy Dietrich, 1961 Corvette

1^st Place C2 Corvette — Ron Gillis – 1965 Corvette

2^nd Place C2 Corvette — Terry and Phyllis Foster, 1966 Corvette

1^st Place C3 Corvette — Jim and Diane Ruffcorn, 1969 Corvette

2^nd Place C3 Corvette — Larry Proctor, 1976 Corvette

1^st Place C4 Corvette — Bill Englesman, 1993 Corvette

2^nd Place C4 Corvette – Scott Rasmussen, 1992 Corvette

1^st Place C5 Corvette — Bill and Kathy Cashell, 2003 Corvette

2^nd Place C5 Corvette — Don Nelson, 2003 Corvette

1^st Place C6 Corvette — Craig Johnson, 2013 Corvette

2^nd Place C6 Corvette — Mark Naslund, 2011 Corvette

1^st Place C7 Corvette — Terry Breen, 2016 Corvette

2^nd Place C7 Corvette — Harlen Kittrell, 2017 Corvette

1^st Place C8 Corvette — Steve Bronner, 2020 Corvette

2^nd Place C8 Corvette — Joseph Russell, 2021 Corvette

Best of Show Corvette — Bob Grinnell, 1967 Corvette

People’s Choice award winners

Jerry Timperley, 1957 Ford Thunderbird

Tim Hirschert, 1966 Chevrolet II

Bernie and Kim Kostrunek, 1966 Chevrolet Impala

Richard and Julie Kline, 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Clay Ivester, 1934 Ford 3 Window

Judi Olsen, 1956 Ford Thunderbird

Tom Sokoll, 1966 Chevrolet Malibu

Rod Gruenke, 1931 Ford Model A

Ken Small, 1941 Ford Business Coupe

Diana and Ed Osius, 1966 Pontiac GTO

Carl Lorenzen, 1931 Chevrolet Coupe

Everett Carlson, 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air

Gage Larson, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

Bill Hansen, 1997 GMC Sierra

Shannon Foster, 1964 Plymouth Savoy

Non Corvette award winners

Best Paint — Bob Grinnell, 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle

Best Interior —Robert 7 Kris Ashley, 1965 Chevrolet Nova

1^st Place Ford — Dave Cole, 1963 Ford Galaxy

2^nd Place Ford — Doug Hartmann, 1960 Edsel Ranger

1^st Place GM — Tim & Amee Snell, 1967 Chevrolet Nova

2^nd Place GM — Jeff Bryan 1966 Chevrolet Nova

1^st Place Mopar — Jack Andr3es, 1966 Dodge Charger

2^nd Place Mopar — Fred Sillik, 1931 DeSoto

1^st Place Truck — Rick Eckley, 1964 Chevrolet K10

2^nd Place Truck — Leo Oligmuller, 1947 Dodge Pick Up

1^st Place Foreign — Mike Remmick, 1971 VW Transporter

2^nd Place Foreign — Scott Hayes, 1960 Austin Westminster

1^st Place Other — Taffy Jones, 1949 Studebaker

2^nd Place Other — Jerry Shuck, 2014 Factory 5 GTM

1^st Place Harley Davidson — Gary Anderson, 1977 Harley Davidson

1^st Place Motorcycle — Devon Reeh, 1960 Cushman Eagle

Best of Show — Dan Swistak, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro