This is a short story of a love affair with a car. It was the first car he bought (3rd owner) when in high school back in April 1969 from Mike in St Charles, MO. It wasn't totally original when he bought it and as most 17-year-old boys he loved to race. So, he made his way to Mid America Raceway outside of St Charles MO in the drag races. That became an expensive experience that required he learn how to build and rebuild engines, carburetors, transmissions & differentials. We had our first date to the prom in 1970 in this car. Many times, he would have to pull over to adjust the carburetor or linkage. He graduated high school in 1970 & then the draft happened. The car was parked up on blocks for 4 years until his time in the military was over. He was tempted to sell it, but I couldn't let him do that. Once he was out of the military, he started the restoration process as time and money allowed. He would dissemble the car, and we had boxes of parts and pieces under the beds, in closets and long pieces of chrome trim hidden behind the sofa. It went through many phases of an "off the frame" restoration and TLC over the years. We spent many Saturdays roaming the countryside looking for parts and pieces. It's been to many car shows, several class reunions and in family weddings. Our 2 kids remember standing up in the back seat as the car zoomed down the highway & backroads. Remember back then there were no car seats or seatbelts. By the grace of God there was never any harm to us or any accidents. After many years and moves from MO, ND, AK, MI, OH and VA it was time to retire in 2017. The list of "things to do" was completed and time allowed us to go to more car shows. In October 2020 he drove the 57 Chevy onto the Daytona Speedway for the Daytona Drive Experience. It was the unexpected highlight of his life that took a labor of love, hard physical & mental work of many hours, days & years on that car to restore it to make it road worthy to drive on the most famous racetrack in the world. He proudly walked away as the winner of "Best In Show". He became the spokesperson for the annual event. Then Thanksgiving 2020 life threw him a curveball-pancreatic cancer. He would not be returning to Daytona as he promised in the Daytona promotional video. But the car did return. In Aug 2021, we were invited back to Daytona to drive the track again in his memory. My brother-in-law, son, daughter & 6-year-old grandson were back on the most famous racetrack in the world. It was bittersweet but the perfect way to honor a great man, brother, husband, father and friend as we zoomed around the track in the 57 Chevy to spread his ashes. The thing people notice is the color of the car-Dusk Pearl with lacquer. It wasn't like all of the other cars at the shows. It stood out & on its own-just like the man that loved that car. I know there are people who can relate. He was happy to tell people his car stories and to humbly brag he had the car since high school & the girl. He'd say, "If you take care of things, it will last a long time". So now it's time for the story to continue. This car needs to be driven-not sit in a garage. If you want a beautiful classic car that will get attention & never go out of style-this is the one. This car could be yours.
