Ardmore Man's '62 Catalina Takes Top Prize At Blue River Car Show Saturday

By Wilbert Wiggs

Staff Writer

Web posted September 23, 2007

Thunder struck with a blaze of color and craftsmanship Saturday with a near-record entry field decorating Ardmore's Main Street in the 4th Annual Blue River Car Show and Cruise.

Ardmore residents Eugene and Alice Riotte's 1962 Pontiac Catalina drove away as the top choice of 121 entrants who selected the Top 25.

That top choice list included 15 GM models, six from the Ford line, two Dodges and a Plymouth. Blue River president Clifford Thompson rated the show "the best yet," estimating the street value of the entry field at "easily $7 million."

"I was a little conservative last year," Thompson said in a $4 million value in his prediction for "a lot of high dollar cars" this year.

His estimate doesn't include dragsters checking in at Ardmore Raceway in Springer putting up $10 to enter burn-out competition for the entry jackpot an audience-judged event where the competitor drawing the loudest cheer took the cash.

Riotte said Saturday his Catalina is the first one produced of a total production run of only 162, "and it is a race car."

"I bought it in West Virginia in 1987, and it's been a 20-year restoration project," he said, adding he intends to keep it, take it to car shows and "just enjoy it.

"I know it's worth a lot but I'm keeping it."

Thompson was still helping close down Main Street in preparation for the Saturday evening classic car cruise as club members tallied entry fees to determine how much Blue River will donate to the Ardmore Police Department, one of two benefactors. Families in need will also benefit through donations to churches to provide Christmas holiday gift and food baskets.

"I'm sure we will be able to match or exceed the ($1,000) donation we've made the last four years," Thompson said. "This was our best show yet."

Off-street parking lots and side street parking was filled with vehicles arriving with local and area spectators.

Thompson said competition is more intense among those rebuilding classic vehicles into hot rods, street rods and custom creations with customized paint jogs and improved hydraulics.

"You see the person in the finished product," he added.

Top 25, in the order of placement with the vehicle's year, make and model:

Eugene and Alice Riotte's 1962 Pontiac Catalina

Tom and Marcie Tate, '40 Ford Steel Coupe

Sonny Charles, '34 Ford Coupe

Don Allison, '37 Chevy Coupe (5-window)

Bob and Linda Mackey, '69 Camaro

Bob and Elaine Gaines, '36 GMC pickup

Herman and Diane Caudle, '32 Ford Coupe

Tom and Sue Edmonds, '55 Chevy Bel Air

Brook Edmonds, '56 Chevy Bel Air

Rick Armstrong, '55 Chevy tow truck

Larry Holbrook, '31 Ford pickup

Steve and Jeanie Barnes, '70 Dodge Challenger

Lefty and Ginger Martin, '69 Dodge Swinger

James and Jean McClelland, '34 Ford (5-window coupe)

Kent Morris, '69 Plymouth Roadrunner

Jarred and Amber Swink, '70 Buick GS

Jeff Hunt, '72 Chevy Blazer

Mike and Beverly Reese '64 Ford Galaxie

Kip Reynolds, '58 Chevy Bel Air

Jim Gray, '57 Chevy Bel Air

Ron and Tina Lindsay, '56 Chevy truck

Mike and Debbie James, '67 Camaro

Bob and Pam Rickords, '68 Chevy Camaro Z28

Nathan Frazier, '68 Camaro

Wilbert Wiggs, 221-6526