Rainy and chilly weather made it feel more like March than past the midpoint of May, but the 26th annual Wawasee Kiwanis Cruisin’ Cuse car show went on as planned in Syracuse Saturday. Because of the weather, the number of cars for the show was considerably below normal.
Classic rides were on display in the parking lot of the Syracuse Community Center beginning early in the morning until awards were presented about 40 minutes prior to the originally scheduled time of 2:30 p.m. The police escorted cruise around Syracuse Lake occurred after the awards presentation.
Awards were presented in several different categories. Winning the Best of Show was Harley Cordill with his 1965 Buick Sylark Grand Sport. Best Interior and also Best Engineered Hot Rod was given to Joe Maloni for his 1935 International. Best Paint was given to Dan Rex for his 1967 Chevy Nova II. Mauri and Marie Bordner were given Best Engine for their 1972 Gran Torino. Kiwanis Choice was given to Jim Hall for his 1969 Camaro. And John Crabtree won the Police Chief’s Choice for his 1963 Corvette.
Other winners included first place, 1935-1948 Street Rod, Marvin Galbreath, 1937 two-door Chevy (no runner-up). First place Custom Car and Low Rider, Richard Becker, 1951 Chevy Styleline, runner-up Mark Leamon, 1972 Chevelle SS. First place, Modified Truck, Gale Uhrick, 1955 Chevy truck, runner-up Philip Tenney, 1966 GMC PU. First place, Original Truck, Dave Warstler, 1952 Chevy pickup, runner-up Larry and Kay Bechler, 2000 Silverado. First place, Youth Car or Truck (21 and under), Tyler Hartwell, 1985 El Camino, runner-up Evan Porter, 1968 Z28.
First place, Modified Tri 5 Chevy 1955-1957, George Unrick, 1957 Belair, runner-up Mike and Diane Myers, 1957 Belair. First place, Classic Foreign Pre-1989, Jack Darr, 1974 VW Thing (no runner-up). First place, Foreign (1989 to present), Brice Kinyon, 2000 Audi A4, runner-up Ken Bennett, 2010 Mini Cooper. First place, Original Collector Pre-1955, Doug Niswonger, 1950 Ford Tudor (no runner-up). First place, Original Collector 1955-1958, Roger and Carol Kormendat, 1964 Chevy Impala, runner-up Bob Agostino, 1976 Monte Carlo.
First place, Late Model Original 1989 to present, Craig Price, 2008 Mustang Bullitt (no runner-up). First place, Muscle Car Original, Kenneth Elder, 1967 Chevelle, runner-up Bob Kauffman, 1970 Nova. First place, Muscle Car Modified, Dan Rex, 1967 Nova II, runner-up Mauri and Marie Bordner, 1972 Gran Torino. First place, Mustang, Kenneth Klerner, 2009 Mustang convertible, runner-up Josh and Mandy Vetor, 1995 Mustang GT. First place, Camaro 1967-1992, Dave Egolf, 1969 Camaro, runner-up Larry Lehman, 1969 Camaro.
First place, Corvette 1953-1967, John Harlan, 1959 Corvette, runner-up John Crabtree, 1963 Corvette. First place, Corvette 1968-1982, Lon Stine, 1970 Corvette (no runner-up). First place, Corvette 1984 to present, Phil Platt, 2014 Stingray, runner-up Rob Chalfant, 2004 Corvette. First place, AMC/Mopar Pre-1989 Original, Larry Case, 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, runner-up Robert Trosper, 1971 Dart.
First place, AMC/Mopar 1989 to present, Bill Meade, 2012 Challenger (no runner-up). First place, Street Machine (including pro street), Robert Trosper, 1971 Dart, runner-up Terry Egolf, 1968 Camaro. First place, Special Interest, Lark Ruch, 2008 Saturn Sky, runner-up Pat Neibert, 1927 Bugatti Replica. First place, Pontiac Pre-1989, Greg Miller, 1964 GTO, runner-up Dave Lewis, 1969 GTO. First place, Motorbike (Non-Harley), Troy Graham, 1998 Ducati Rambler, runner-up Ken Bennett, 1963 BSA Super Rocket. First place, Jeep Wrangler (Modified), Alan Plickerd, 1979 CJ7, runner-up JA Lemcke, 1992 Wrangler.
There were no entries in Harley or Pre-1935 Street Rod.