July 27, 2008

XXX Drive-In Issaquah, WA

Another successful Prowl

We braved the weather, but it turned out nice in the end.

Celebrating 40 Years for the 1968's

Best of Show Cougar

1968 GT-E owner Brian Aust

Best of Show all others

1957 Ford - owner John Chadwick

Prowl 2008 Event Report

by Chris Farmer

Well July 27, 2008 marked another successful Prowl for the club.  Attendance was about the same as it has been the last couple years.  Weather was mostly cloudy although not really wet.  It rained over night Saturday and into the early hours of the day of the show, and although it never rained on us the threat seemed to loom for most of the day.  Ironically the sun showed itself just in time for the awards ceremony.

For once there was not a hard luck story on the day of the show.  The award was given to Charleen & Larry Proviance who lost two Cougars, including one that Charleen has owned since new, to a barn fire. 

The long distance award this year went to John and Mary Beddome.  They drove their modified 1970 Cougar convertible up from Phoenix Arizona.

The young owner’s class had one car this year.  It was Katrena Short's 1967 standard and it was here first time attending the show.  When she came up to receive the award she was asked what her plans were for the car.  Her reply was that she was going to school in Kansas in the fall to become an Auto Tech and planned on fixing it up her self.  I can only hope that my five year old daughter grows up with similar aspirations.

The showing of cars this year was wonderful.  There were several Cougar classes that had better than average participation.  The 1968 Standard class had seven cars headed up by Roman Benoit’s Calypso Coral Dan Gurney Special and the Specialty Cougar class had five cars (albeit two entered as display only). As it turns out one of these specialty cars, Brian Aust’s awesome black GT-E, took Best of Show.  There were two GT-E’s, two XR-7 G’s and an Eliminator to fill out this class.

Along with all the cars that participated, sixty-five  in all, there was also a very special situation.  This year we had four generations of the Sparhawk family in attendance.  Lonnie’s dad Ivan came up from Arizona, or course Lonnie was there with his car, and in addition Lonnie’s son Andy was there along with Lonnie’s grand children Jacob and Kaylee.  It’s great to see that they have continued to make car shows a family event!!!

At the close of the event Jim Hall presented the Chairman’s Award for 2008.  This year it was given to Neal Jacobson for all his hard work and dedication.  Neal has been the Director of Prowl for the last 2 years and without him it would not have been possible. 

Special thanks go out to the Fordnutz Car Club out of British Columbia for their continued support and participation in prowl.  Also huge thanks to all the volunteers that help the day of the show.  And of course my compliments to Neal Jacobson for organizing another great Prowl!!

I am looking forward to a sunny day and seeing more of you on July 26, 2009.  Start planning now to attend; it will be a great show!!