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Automotive Antiques Spark Memories
Sitting in front of the cherry red fire engine parked at the marina with 106 other antique show vehicles, Mr. Gregg was quite proud of how the old engine looked. "It's in the best shape it's ever been," he said. He reminisced about his past experiences with the six-man firefighting crew for the Village of Homer. He remembers they were more than happy to receive the village's first motorized fire engine, although its small water tank was still a horse-hitch vehicle. "We had a two-wheeler (water tank) that maybe held 1,000 pounds," he said, pointing out that 1,000 pounds was not much water to put out a fire. "Whenever there was a fire, we would grab the first pair of horses that passed down the main street, hook them up to the two-wheeler, and go to the fire. If there were no horses, we took it by hand."
Sixty-five vehicles were part of the car show's annual rally Friday, June 22, in which vehicles traveled over the Mackinac Bridge from Mackinaw City and stopped at Long Term Care at Mackinac Straits Hospital in St. Ignace. This year, the procession was led by General Motors' Futurliner, a large 1950s caravan-like vehicle that was once used by the company to promote future technology. Cars were displayed for the public at the marina Saturday. Awards for Antiques on the Bay were handed out at St. Ignace Area Schools Saturday evening. Winning Best of Show was a 1928 Chevrolet owned by Vern Palmbos of Hudsonville.
The fire engine is equipped with an acid chemical pressure tank and nozzle that helped provide water pressure to hoses. The acid's reaction to water built up the pressure, which was quite a dangerous process, said Mr. Gregg's grandson, David Swope of St. Ignace, who owns the fire engine.
The fire engine, which reaches a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour, made its first appearance Saturday in Antiques on the Bay since suffering major damage in an accident almost three years ago, when it was rear-ended by another vehicle as Mr. Swope was driving it from Homer to attend the St. Ignace Antique Auto Show parade. "It was totaled," he said. Restoration of the fire engine was a two-and-a-half-year project. Ryan DeVries of Grand Rapids, who specializes in fire engine restoration, did the work on Mr. Swope's fire engine, including repainting it.
The engine received best of show in an antique auto show in Frankenmuth last year, the first show it was in since being restored. Mr. DeVries, who is now restoring a fire engine from California, has worked with fire engines since he was 14, when he owned his first fire engine. After restoring a fire engine for a friend, he decided to do it full time. "I just kind of fell into the job," he said. "After helping my friend, I quit my tool and dye job and started just restoring fire engines." Mr. DeVries attended Antiques on the Bay with his wife, Lynda, and his 1909 Cadillac Demi Model 30. It is his third year attending the event.
"I work with shiny things all the time," he explained. "I really liked that it was all original, too." The Cadillac includes an open body, a four-cylinder motor, a crank starter, gas lights, and no windshield. It was purchased from a private owner, who had it stored in a carriage house in New Jersey. His wife reupholstered the interior of the car. Other than that, only a few mechanical parts were upgraded, said Mr. DeVries. Mr. DeVries said he has no idea the mileage the Cadillac has racked up since "many of its parts are worn out," including the speedometer. Cadillac's 1909 model is rare, Mr. DeVries said; he believes there are fewer than 20 left in existence. The 1910 Cadillac, he said, was a more popular car even though it was basically the same car, with a little more horsepower.
Best of Show 1928 Chevrolet - Vern Palmbos of Hudsonville, winner of a two-night stay for two at Mackinac Island Grand Hotel Best Feature Vehicle (1932) 1932 Cadillac - Robert Niethammer, Saline Mayor's Choice, pre-World War II 1931 Ford - Frank Sorrels, St. Ignace Mayor's Choice, post-World War II 1969 Chevelle - Bill Marshall, Lapeer Nostalgia Productions Picks 1920 Chevrolet (Prospect Fire Engine) - David Swope, St. Ignace 1940 GMC Futurliner - Ed DeVries, Zeeland 1952 Hudson - Jack Miller, Ypsilanti 1937 Zepher - Nelson Hansen, Hudsonville 1957 Buick - Bill Harper, Linwood 1958 Oldsmobile - Jack Tokie, Traverse City Mackinac Ford Sales Pick 1954 Ford - Cathy Marx, Presque Ille 1936 Ford - Jerry Boomstra, Jenison Top 20 Displays 1963 Mercury - Jeff Aspinall, Augusta 1947 DeSoto - Roberta Youngblood, Eau Claire 1967 Shelby Mustang - Harold Mitchell, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 1969 Chevy Nova - Bob Collia, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 1964 Pontiac - Bill Styles, Goderich, Ontario 1946 Chevrolet - Chris Case, Munising 1934 Ford - Dick Lutey, Marquette 1969 Dodge - James Maiani, Hat Lake 1963 Chevrolet - Tom West, Fort Wayne, Indiana 1936 Ford - Dave Bosscher, Sparta 1929 Ford - Richard Chameers, Holland, Michigan 1950 Olds - Bill Ersam, Sylvania, Ohio 1926 Ford - William Oletzel, Levering 1959 Olds - Eugene Seldon, Bellaire 1955 Chevrolet - Gary Hough, Rudyard 1954 Pontiac - Tom Meyer, Flushing 1959 Ford - Elly Tupper, Traverse City 1955 Ford - Richard Newhouse, Gladstone 1960 Edsel - Terry Steckling, St. Helen 1932 Chevrolet - Wes Myrick, Belmont |
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