First State Bank Car Show draws hundreds to Malta

The streets of Malta looked similar to the set of the movie American Graffiti on Saturday as almost 100 entrants came to the 11th Annual First State Bank Car Show this past Saturday. From the low and slow look of such American classics as Chevy's mid 50's Bel Air to the high-octane, street pounding roar of the IHRA dragsters, there was something for everyone.

All told there were nearly 90 cars, trucks, motorcycles and tractors at this year's show and event planner Terry Skones said she was happy with how many people showed up and with how the day went.

"The weather couldn't have been nicer and I think everybody had a good time," she said.

The longest distance award was given to Barry Bergos from Calgary, Alberta. Bergos said that he generally only travels to three car show per year and that Malta's is the furthest from his home.

"It is about 405 miles one way," Bergos said with a smile. Bergos son, Dylan, lives in Malta and races at the Hi-Line Drag Strip each season.

"We came to visit him, come to the show and participate in the Poker Run," added Bergos. "It's a great time and we love it here."

Sid Rice of Glasgow and his 1941 Half-ton Chevy Truck won the Darryl Seeley Memorial Award for the best truck in the show. Rice said that he is no stranger to the First State Bank Car Show.

"I've come to this show probably six times," he said. "I took the top trophy the first time I came. This was a great show here today and it always is. Of the four or five shows I go to each year, this is always my favorite."

The Judges Top Six were awarded to Sid Rice of Glasgow for his 1941 Chevy truck, Jack Schye of Glasgow for his 1960 Chevy Impala, Dan Holt of Havre, Barb Math of Fort Peck for her 1929 Model A Roadster, Terry Carlton of Swift Current, Saskatchewan Canada, for his 1968 Chevy Camaro RS and Ken Giesbercht of Wymark, Saskatchewan Canada for his 1949 Ford.

The People's Choice Award went to Dan Holt, of Havre, with his Chevy Bel Air who made his first-ever trip to the FSB Car Show.

"Pretty good result," Holt said as he held the biggest trophy of the day. "We usually do four shows a year and we are going to start coming here more often."

KMMR blasted the oldies from a perch in the middle of the show, the Malta Kiwanis, serving their cheeseburgers with smothered onions and world famous, home-cut French fries, had a line wrapping around the block and Malta State 4H had the ever popular Chicken Poop Bingo in full effect. It was a be-there, or be-square type of day and with the size of the crowd on hand for the day, there aren't many "squares" in Malta.