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                           Thursday, September 8, 2005

Vehicles and people pack the streets during annual Labor Day weekend shows

by Paul Olson

Good weather and a growing reputation as one of the best-run events of its kind spelled success for last Saturday’s Manistique Merchants Association Car and Antique-Vintage Snowmobile Show and Schoolcraft County Chamber of Commerce Motorcycle Show.

According to committee member Gerry Messenger, they once again set a new record for registered automobiles. A total of 133 cars officially entered the show, easily topping last year’s mark of 121.

Twenty-one bikes turned out for the motorcycle show, also a new record. That event drew 20 bikes in its inaugural year, 2003, and 19 last year. 

Snowmobile numbers were down this year, with only 33 sleds registered. 

Other activities included the seventh annual kids’ tractor pull and the car “blow up” contest, where spectators tried to guess how long an old vehicle would run without oil.

This year’s blow-up car, a battered old Toyota donated by Turek’s Used Car Parts, finally shuddered to a stop at seven minutes, 12 seconds. That was a minute-and-a-half behind last year’s time and far off the record of nearly 33 minutes set in 2002.

Lenore Heminger was the jackpot winner, having missed the official engine-quit time by just two seconds.

Also returning this year was the Outlaw SPL (sound pressure level) Contest, sponsored by Midwest Sound and Security.  The contest pitted audio enthusiasts against each other to see whose vehicle system could generate the biggest sound.

The day ended with the awarding of prizes. The following awards were presented:

CARS

Merchants’ Choice 

David Granquist

Iron Mountain

1956 Ford Thunderbird.

Mayor’s Choice

Walter Racine

Marquette

1956 Ford Fairlane.

Kewadin Casino Choice

Conrad Madej

Onaway

1912 C Cab delivery.

Creighton Ford Best Ford

John Heidtman

Marquette

1951 Ford pickup.

Curran Best GM

Greg and Dannette Viau
Rapid River
1970 Chevelle.

Ken’s Auto Best Mopar

Matt Nelson

Manistique

1969 Super Bee

Suzy’s Shadow Box Best Paint

Jeff Skewis

Negaunee

1973 Plymouth Duster.

People’s Choice

Dave MacGregor

Manistique

1975 Bricklin

Class A

First place, David Strasler, Manistique, 1922 Dodge; second place, Karl Bosk, Escanaba, 1937 Buick convertible.

Class B

First place, Jim Brown, Garden, 1933 Plymouth two-door; second place, Linda Woods, Green Bay, 1948 Willys Jeepster

Class C

First place, Frank Karl, Escanaba, 1959 Cadillac convertible; second place, T. and D. LaFayette, Marquette, 1949 Plymouth.

Class D

First place, Robert LaTourneau, Marquette, 1952 Chevy; second place, Bill Reed, Manistique, 1955 Chevy Bel Air.

Class E

First place, Doug Potvin, Cooks, 1967 Corvette; second place, John S. Vieht, Marquette, 1965 Chevy Corvair convertible.

Class G

First place, David and Tracy LaFoille, Manistique, 1967 Nova; second place, James Hunter, DeTour Village, 1967 Chevy Chevelle.

Class H

First place, Ken LaHuillier, Marquette, 1969 Chevy Camaro; second place, Dan Boucher, Wells, 1972 Chevy Monte Carlo.

Class JFirst place, Matt Nelson, Manistique, 1969 Super Bee; second place, Jack LaHoullier, Marquette, 1969 Chevy Camaro.

Class K

First place, Rick Gasco, Ma-nistique, 1979 Pontiac Trans  Am; second place, Don Kuehl, Gladstone, 1977 Mustang Cobra II.

Class M

Dave Menard, Escanaba, 1973 Chevelle SS; second place, Eric Sundling, Manistique, 1973 Plymouth Cuda.

Class N

First place, Darlene Shope, Rapid River, 1999 Prowler; second place, Mike Pepin, Rapid River, 1999 Corvette.

Class P

First place, Amy Rochefort, Manistique, 2005 Mustang GT.

Class Q

First place, Thomas Wells, Powers, 1949 Willys Jeep; second place, Tony LeSatz, Engadine, 1951 Chevy pickup.

Class T

First place, Jerry Baker, Manistique, 1954 Ford pickup; second place, Harland Deneau, Gladstone, 1956 Ford pickup.

Class V

First place, Stephen Jones Jr., Manistique, 1987 GMC Jimmy; second place, Rick Frisch, 1966 Chevy pickup.

Class W

First place, Darrell Dixson, Manistique, 1990 Chevy pick-up; second place, Dale and Victoria Kurian, McMillan, 1969 Chevy.

Class X

First place, Karl Krumrey, Manistique, 1998 BMW Roadster; second place, Josh Mongiate, Ishpeming, 1990 Honda Accord.

Class Z

First place, Paul Horvath, Cedarville, 1934 Ford Cabrolet; second place, David MacGregor, Manistique, 1975 Bricklin.

SNOWMOBILES

Merchants’ Choice

Mark Williams, 1973 Alouette Mini Brute

Mayor’s Choice

Chris Malloy, 1972 Chaparral.

Kewadin Casino Choice

Joe Francis, 1971 Rupp.

Fish and Hunt Shop Award

Alan Gould, 1971 Rupp 400 Mag.

People’s Choice

Dustin Williams, 1974 Polaris TC

Antique Class

First place, Alan Gould, 1968 Rupp Snow Sport; second place, Dan Malloy, 1966 Bolens Diablo; Third place, Dan and Tina Perry, 1966 Arctic Cat 100.

Vintage Class A

First place, Joe Francis, 1971 Rupp Mag 800; second place, Bob Lindquist, 1970 Ariens Arrow; third place, Chris Malloy, 1975 Arctic Cat Z340.

Vintage Class B

First place, Tim Boutilier, 1992 Arctic Cat EX7; second place, Mark Williams, 1979 Yamaha SRX.

Mini Sled

First place, Chris Malloy, 1972 Arctic Cat Kitty Cat;  second place, Mark Williams, 1972 Alouette Mini Brut; third place, Dustin Williams, 1974 Polaris TC.

MOTORCYCLES

People’s Choice

Daniel Drouin, 1991 Springer Softail.

Antique

Rick Frisch, 1966 Trailbreaker. Classic

First place, David Swagart, 1972 Sportster; second place, Dan Purcell, 1972 CB.

Stock

First place, Tom King, 2001 Sportster; second place, Donnie King, 2004 Harley-Davidson.

Custom

First place, Dan Purcell, 2003 Heritage Softail Classic; second place, Steve Nowland, 1999 Honda Valkyrie.

Farthest Distance Ridden

Kris Trull, Newport, Mich., 428 miles.

Kids Tractor pull results posted

The Manistique Merchants Association has announced the results of its seventh annual Kids’ Tractor Pull, which was held on Walnut Street Saturday, Sept. 3, during the MMA Car and Antique-Vintage Snowmobile Show.

During the event, 38 children from 5- to 11-years-old competed. That was just short of the record 40 who took part in 2003 – and far ahead of every other year.

For the first time in several years there was at least one person entered in every age and gender division.

As always, some of this year’s competitors pedaled the tractor and weight sled to “full pulls” of 45 1/2 feet.  When more than one person in an age group pulled the full distance, the division results were decided by having them pull again, sometimes several times, with increasing amounts of weight added to the sled.

There were also several “pull-offs” to determine second-place finishers in the various divisions.

Each year, the hottest competition seems to fall in a different division. This time around it was in the 7-year-old boys’ group, with six competitors, all of whom racked up at least one full pull.

The top pullers received MMA gift certificates donated by the Manistique Area Kiwanis Club.

                The final results, as reported by race officials:

                5-year-old girls: first place, Kristen Trachet (eight feet); second place, Abby Clement (seven feet; seven feet, six inches); third place, Steph LaFoille (seven feet; seven feet); fourth place, Ava Curran (seven feet; five feet).

                5-year-old boys: first place, Brett Boyd (full pull; 29 feet, three inches); second place, Kyle Seeley (full pull; seven feet); third place, D.J. Bowers (seven feet).

                6-year-old girls:  first place, Syrea McDonald (four feet, nine inches). 

                6-year-old boys: first place, Brett Koski (six feet, six inches).

7-year-old girls:  first place, Saige Hastings (full pull).

                7-year-old boys:  first place, Cody Kurian (three full pulls); second place, Tanner Gonzalez (two full pulls; 12 feet); third place, Travis DuFour (two full pulls; 10 feet); fourth place, Jon Seeley (two full pulls; nine feet);  fifth place, Collin Cavin (full pull; nine feet, six inches); sixth place, Trevor Ayotte (full pull; six feet, six inches).

                8-year-old girls: first place, Hailee Murphy (eight feet); second place, Ally Clement (seven feet).

                8-year-old boys: first place, Cole Gonzalez (27 feet); second place, Michael Trachet (three feet, six inches; full pull); third place, Nate Edwards (three feet, six inches; eight feet, six inches); fourth place, Dylan Stevenson (three feet, six inches; eight feet, three inches).

                9-year-old girls: first place, Taylor Edwards (five feet, six inches); second place, Makayla Tenuta (five feet, three inches); third place, Rachel Kurian (four feet, nine inches).

                9-year-old boys:  first place, Ryan Jenerou (two full pulls; nine feet, six inches); second place, D.K. Boyd (two full pulls; six feet, nine inches); third place, Michael Ward (full full; six feet); fourth place, Cameron Adams (23 feet); fifth place, Robert Ayotte (nine feet).

                10-year-old girls: first place, Niki Walters (full pull).

                10-year-old boys: first place, Ben Edwards (full pull); second place, Z.J. Gonzalez (six feet, nine inches).

                11-year-old girls: first place, Tiffany Butson (full pull); second place, Erika LaFoille (35 feet, three inches); third place, Kendra Thompson (seven feet, six inches).

                11-year-old boys: first place, Cody Davis (eight feet); second place, Mathew Gonzalez (five feet, six inches).