The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher
La Harpe:Another
great year is planned for car show enthusiasts who will be visiting the 4th
Annual Fred Gibb Memorial Car Show. Co-chaired by La Harpe's Mayor Kenny
Brown and Rodeffer's FS mechanic Jerry Burford, the event is set for Saturday,
August 3rd, only a month away.
This year's "4th Annual Fred Gibb Memorial Car Show" shirt which will feature three cars. They are Kenny Barnhardt's orange #3 ZL-1 (the original car he bought from Fred Gibb); Carl Stuber' forest green #65 1969 ZL-1 "Thunder"; and Ray Morrison's 1968 dark blue Nova. The design is created by Nauvoo's Outlaw Tee's.
I bet you were wondering when you read in the Quill last week about the special never-been-seen-before Berger 2002 ZL-1 Camaros, what the heck is special heels.
It was suppose to read special "WHEELS" not heels.
In one of two central tents, Macomb Auto Parts is sponsoring the unveiling of the #1 and #3 2002 ZL-1 Camaros, plus a SS Camaro which Berger's had especially built for Hot Rod Magazine, a past feature in their magazine.
It is said that a representative from Hot Rod Magazine will be at the La Harpe show but there has been no official word. Of course, I have heard a lot of rumors in connection to the show that one only must attend, ask questions, and find out for yourself what will be happening.
I am wondering if Bill Porterfield, who owns the #1 Fred Gibb Camaro, and Ken Barnhardt, who owns the #3 ZL-1 Gibb Camaros will be taking delivery of the #1 and #3 2002 Berger ZL-1s.
And I am wondering how much the value of the 1969 #1 and #3 ZL-1s are worth today since their original sticker price at Gibb's Chevrolet of $7,800. I have heard $80 to $125,000 and even much more than that for the #1 of Porterfield's.
Chevy Rumble Magazine representative will be on the grounds and has already featured an article of the show in their May edition, Kenny Brown said.
The annual Memorial Car Show is only getting better and more exciting as it draws more into the exciting era of our younger days while saluting La Harpe and ZL-1's Racing's icon, Fred Gibb. The show salutes Gibb and his era of Chevrolet dealership from 1948 to 1984 when he retired and sold his business to DeWayne Woolverton.
The show will feature drawings, and an auction of a Gibb jacket, clock and model cars. One model car is "Little Hoss" which a representative from LANE who designed the car will be on grounds.
There will also be this year's Fred Gibb T-Shirt with the above logo and mugs for sale.
Dennis Hartwig of Springfield returns again with three 1968 Novas. He had one last year, a dark blue Nova. He caught the bug growing up around Gibb Chevrolet as his dad "Chuck" was a mechanic for Fred.
Radio stations from Carthage will be broadcasting as well as Macomb and Burlington, Iowa.
There is still time for anyone wanting to be a sponsor to donate $35 for trophies. It is a good way for businesses or individuals to support the event.
HISTORY OF MEMORIAL SHOW
Jerry Burford has always enjoyed antiques and working on cars. He was a young mechanic at Fred Gibb Chevrolet during the racing era of Gibb and he gained appreciation for what Fred had done for Chevrolet, for racing, and for many in and around La Harpe.
For Kenny Brown, it was his son, Brian who got him interested in car shows with Brian fixing up his truck and showing it. Then Kenny bought a 1969 Camaro blue coupe and for six years, he and his wife Anita started going to cruises and meeting people there.
"I had a Fred Gibb Jacket that I put in my car and it would draw a lot of interest. I realized there were a lot of others interested in the Fred Gibb era, a time when I was in the military. Then someone mentioned it was the 30th Anniversary of the original Fred Gibb Super 1969 ZL-1s."
So it was in 1999, Jerry Burford and Kenny Brown thought of having The Fred Gibb Memorial Car Show. They began planning for a small event around the La Harpe City Park. The response was overwhelming and they received 80 pre-registrations.
"We were told that with 30 pre-registrations we could count on 70-80 cars at the show," Brown said, "so we began moving things to the golf course.
Registration was true to the estimates and 160 owners registered their vehicles for the first show with requests for it to be an annual event so they could come back.
In 2000, 260 registered for the 2nd show, and last year 370 registered for the 3rd show.
If things keep going as the past, this year, over 450 entries should be featured at the 4th annual event.
The guys are planning on some fun with videos on display of old-time car commercials and classic cruises.
Along with other featured Gibb cars will be Kim Howie of Albie and his 1970 Camaro, a Gibb race car. Howie has been having the car refinished for three years with a deep candy apple red paint and lace in-lay on the sides trimmed in black. It was originally driven by Herb Fox, Gibb's number one salesman.
Fox drove most of Gibb's cars until the competition got tougher. Then he hired both mechanics and drivers. The race era for Gibb and his race cars was from 1967 to 1971.
Brown said he hoped that many enthusiasts of the car show will help give a donation to the Gerald Burford Benefit fund at the First State Bank of Western Illinois in La Harpe. Funds is a way of saying thanks to Jerry for his help in the car show and to aid him with medical expenses from severe burns he suffered from a fire.
Kenny and Jerry couldn't put this show on without the enthusiasm and support of so many, and their wives.
Jenny Little and Amy Brown over see a group of girls who help with registration, shirts, mugs, voting and with trophies.
Brian Brown and Tyler Carson oversee a group of young men who help with the parking of several hundred cars the day of the show. Last year they were parked clear to Fairway #1 and this year they are headed for #2.
Kenny said, "It has also been very helpful to have Jess and Doris Lionberger of C.C.S. donate their time to computerize the voting for us."
Not just as an organizer of the show, but as Mayor of La Harpe, Kenny is very proud of the citizens he serves.