Mustang and Corvette Show celebrates third year

<p class="p1">The third annual Andy's Auto Body Mustang and Corvette Show featured a total of 46 cars this year at Chester High School, including 21 Mustangs and 25 corvettes.

<p class="p1">The event which was originally scheduled to take place August 14, but was postponed to last Sunday due to inclement weather.

<p class="p1">Event co-coordinator Tom "The Lil' Governor" Moll said all proceeds from the event and the Sept. 3 Popeye Car Cruise will be donated to the veterans at Kaskaskia VFW Post 3553.

<p class="p1">"We really hope to be able to help the veterans this year," he said.

<p class="p1">As with last year's show, dash plates were given to the first 100 entries. Trophies were awarded to the top-three entries in each of 11 corvette classes and 12 Mustang classes.

<p class="p1">In addition, there were awards for Best Engine, Best Custom, Best paint, Best of Show and Club Participation in both divisions.

<p class="p1">This year there was a trophy for the "Mayor's Choice" and for the "Firemen's Choice," in addition to four special "Decanter Pumps" awards.

<p class="p1">Pastor Faye Edmiaston, of the First United Methodist Church in Chester, gave a special prayer for title sponsor Dan Geisen of Andy's Auto Body.

<p class="p1">Geisen had to miss this year's show due to hospitalization for medical issues he was experiencing.

<p class="p1">Following the prayer for Geisen, Edmiaston gave a blessing for the cars in the show, the drivers of those vehicles and for all drivers' safety.

<p class="p1">A Color Guard - made up of mostly VFW members and one American Legion member - then marched from one end of the car show route to the other, stopping in front of a huge American flag that was brought to the event and hoisted by a huge crane donated by Curt Schroeder of Red Dot Construction.

<p class="p1">Color Guard members included Mike Bierman, Larry McDonough, Shannon McDonough and Bud Stallman from the VFW and the Officer of the Day, Lee Hollaway, of the American Legion.

<p class="p1">Chester High School senior Jackie Hopkins sang the national anthem to kick off the official portion of the event.

<p class="p1">Mustang judges were Alan Brown, Mike Feaman and Aaron Isom. Corvette judges were Tom Dunker, Brad Crawford, Jacob Guetersloh and Zig Jones.

<p class="p1">Judging was based on a 10-point scale for paint and body work, wheels and tires, chrome and bright work, dash and instruments, interior, engine compartment, undercarriage, car trunk and truck bed, glass, and originality/workmanship/engineering.

<p class="p1">Farida Hollaway manned a booth that sold tickets for items to be given away to benefit the Marine Corp Reserve Detachment No. 575.

<p class="p1">Proceeds from this fundraiser benefits the annual Marine's Toys for Tots Christmas Campaign.

<p class="p1">Chester Mayor Tom Page presented the "Mayor's Choice Award" for his personal favorite car of the 46-car field.

<p class="p1">Page chose a 1984 Corvette owned by Chester's Ron Coleman, pastor at Grace Church in Chester.

<p class="p1">"I think we had a great, successful Mustang and Corvette Show this year," Moll said. "There were plenty of outstanding cars and they were showed at an outstanding facility.

<p class="p1">"We really need to thank the Chester school district and high school administration for allowing us to use the CHS property."

<p class="p1">Moll also thanked Page and the city for allowing use of Swanwick Street.

<p class="p1">Special Mustang awards:

<p class="p1">Best Engine - Joe Lampley of Christopher, 2011 Mustang GT

<p class="p1">Best Custom - Edward Brown of Jackson, Mo., 2012 Boss 302

<p class="p1">Best Paint - Jon Schoeneck of Morganfield of Ky., 2010 Shelby

<p class="p1">Best of Show (1964-1998) - Justin Wyatt of Metropolis, 1966 Fastback

<p class="p1">Best of Show (1999-present) - Cindy Bowen of Bloomsdale, Mo., 2015 Mustang 50^th Anniversary Edition.

<p class="p1">Mustang Class Top Awards

<p class="p1">Class L - 1. Clarence and Marcie Kloth, Walsh, 1966 Fastback

<p class="p1">Class M - 1. Brad Crawford, Chester, 1969 Mach I

<p class="p1">Class N - 1. Glen Long, Chester, 1990 LX; 2. Jackie Despain, Baldwin, 1977 Mustang

<p class="p1">Class O - 1. David Versman, Chester, Il., 1998 Cobra; 2. Natalie Guetersloh, Chester, 1998 Mustang

<p class="p1">Class P - 1. Amy Stellhorn, Ellis Grove, 2007 Mustang Roush; 2. Glen Long, Chester, 2007 Shelby GT 500

<p class="p1">Class Q - 1. Fred Franus, Belleville, 2012 Mustang; 2. Brandon Beals, Henderson, Ky., 2010 Mustang; 3. Hugh Gilbert, Percy, 2014 Mustang; 3. Les Sludek, Jackson, Mo., 2013 Mustang

<p class="p1">Class V - 1. Tim Elsey, Sturgis, Ky., 2008 Mustang Mafia; 2. Tim Herter, Festus, Mo., 2008 Mustang; 3. Leigh Elsey, Sturgis, Ky., 2007 Mustang Mafia. 3. Mike and Pam Pieper, Marion, 2007 Mustang

<p class="p1">Club participation trophies were presented to Looking Glass Corvette Club for the Corvette Division and Mustang Mafia for the Mustang Division.

<p class="p1">The Fireman's Choice Award was presented to Leigh Elsey for her 2007 Mustang convertible.

<p class="p1">Corvette Class Awards

<p class="p1">Best Paint - Jim Blythe of Perryville, Mo., 2012 Corvette

<p class="p1">Best Custom - Brody Prater of Ellis Grove, 1993 Corvette ZR 1; Ken Mees of Columbia, Il., 2005 Corvette

<p class="p1">Best of Show (1953-1983) - Gilbert McMath of Chester, 1966 Corvette

<p class="p1">Best of Show (1984-present) - Cheri Riebeling of Columbia, Ill.

<p class="p1">Corvette Class Top Awards

<p class="p1">Class B - 1. Rudy Hartman, Chester, 1965 Corvette

<p class="p1">Class C - 1. Jeff Kerkhover, Chester, 1969 Corvette

<p class="p1">Class E - 1. Darnelle Bruggeman, Red Bud, Il., 2004 Corvette; 2. Greg Jones, Chester, 2001 Corvette; 3. Mike Feaman, Ellis Grove, Il., 2000 Corvette.

<p class="p1">Class F - 1. Lawrence Ripley, Murphysboro, 2010 Corvette; 2. Don and Jerry Dougherty, Ellis Grove, Il., 2008 Corvette; 3. Rick Weltzin, O'Fallon, Il., 2009 Corvette Z06.

<p class="p1">Class G - 1. Mike Teague, O'Fallon, Il., 2012 Corvette; 2. Richard Galecki, Waterloo, Il., 2016 Corvette; 3. Terry and Peggy Benaud, Belleville, Il., 2014 Corvette Stingray

<p class="p1">Class H - 1. Gary Sanders, Pontoon Beach, Il., 1973 Corvette

<p class="p1">Class J - 1. Toni and James Batson, Belleville, Il., 1999 Corvette; 2. Scott Moffat, Sparta, 2006 Corvette.

<p class="p1">Contributing sponsors were Crump's Auto Sales in Sparta; Tequila's Mexican Restaurant in Chester; Gilbert Classic Mustang in Belleville; Red Dot Construction of Chester; Perryville Muffler and Auto; Weir GM and Weir Ford of Red Bud; Century 21 House of Realty of Chester; Salty Dawg of Chester; River City Auto Center in Chester; Midwest Auto Creations of Red Bud; Fischer Quarry & Hauling of St. Mary Missouri; Bening Ford in Perryville; and Iron Ford in Sparta.