Car Show 98 strong

The 13th Annual Car Show sponsored by The First State Bank was a success with thousands in attendance at one point or another.

It was a day filled with sunshine, a few breezes and even a few sprinkles of rain.

Ninety-eight registered vehicles highlighted the event.

"I think it's going really well," said Terry Skones, Vice President of FSB Malta and Treasurer of Phillips County Motorsports at the mid-point of the event. "We've got sunshine and a lot of people walking around."

Bud Walsh of Malta has held onto his 1969 Plymouth GTX 440 for 45 years. His ride, though close to fifty years old proved that it is still relevant amongst all ages as it earned Walsh the People's Choice award.

"It feels good," Bud Walsh told the PCN. "Part of the enjoyment of getting a restoration done is the enjoyment that other people are going to get from being able to see that vehicle."

The year he bought his high performance vehicle, it cost him $4400. In today's world, the same vehicle could go for over $60,000.

"I'm glad that people liked it," Walsh said. "That's why I brought it and got it restored so other people can enjoy it as well as I do."

Though the car is now a collector's item, Walsh used his car for a few of the most precious moments in his life.

"I brought both of my sons home from the hospital, when they were born," Walsh said. "It's just lucky that I still have the car, I guess."

Walsh lived 40 miles south of Malta at the time and the nearest hospital was in Harlem.

"I didn't speed. Not with a pregnant wife," Walsh insisted.

It was only one year ago that Walsh started restoring his muscle car.

"It was a ten month restoration and it was quite an expensive thing to do, but the car had no value before it was fixed up," Walsh said.

He mentioned that all parts of the car's redone body and motor were factory built and nearly identical to the stock items.

The braking system of his GTX has been changed from drum brakes to disc brakes for safety purposes.

"This is really a good car show," Walsh said. "I was here last year but not with the car."

Bud would like to thank The First State Bank for hosting the Car Show and said that it was "really nice."

Other winners included Bryan Long, who won the Darryl Sealey Memorial Award for Best Truck and DJ Kuszmaul, who won the Longest Distance award for coming from Abilene, Texas. He had a 1969 Chevelle Malibu.

Winners chosen by car enthusiasts were Dale Enerson who had a 1978 Lincoln Diamond Jubilee, Walsh, Ryan Williams of Nashua, who had a 1969 Ford Mustang, Oliver Mickey of Alberta, who had a 1940 Ford, Mike Dean of Bozeman, who had a 1962 Chevy Impala Supersport and Kuszmaul.

There were over a dozen stores and vendors open for the event.

One highlight was a clearing of merchandise from the Valley Drug, which at one point became a fill-a-bag event in which customers were allowed to fill a bag for five dollars or an even larger bag for 10 dollars, allowing the store to redo it's inventory inside.

Another very popular spot was the Kiwanis bright blue colored concession stand in which several people served burgers, fries and other food and drink.

The Kiwanis also brought in Alida Wright of Columbia Falls, who is the club's Governor for the state of Montana.

Living about 500 miles away, she was called to help the Malta Kiwanis with the feed and was impressed with the Car Show.

"I think it's just absolutely excellent," Wright said. "And I love the way that the Kiwanians and Key Club members are working on their hamburger feed."

"They invited me to come and help with it and I'm so pleased to do that. It's just a kick and I just love those cars."

According to the club's motto, Kiwanis at the core is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to changing the world one child, one community at a time.