This yellow 1932 Ford Hi-Boy accented with green flames turned the heads of car enthusiasts who attended the Louisburg Lions Club’s 12th annual Cruise the ’Burg car show Sunday on Broadway Street. Gene and Esther Waight of Raymore, Mo., own the modified roadster. (Photo by Doug Carder)
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Rollin’ with the oldies
More than 1,000 car enthusiasts flock to downtown for Lions Club’s show
By Doug Carder, dcarder@miconews.com
Twenty dollars doesn’t go as far as it once did. But for Gene and Esther Waight, that double-sawbuck launched a restoration project that would garner the Raymore, Mo., couple a national street rod trophy.
The Waights loafed in deck chairs in front of First Option Bank Sunday as they watched passers-by swoon over their 1932 Ford Hi-Boy roadster during the Cruise the ’Burg car show on Broadway Street. More than 1,000 people wandered through the downtown business district, peeking in windows and looking under the hoods of 158 cars and trucks on display at the Louisburg Lions Club’s 12th-annual show.
The Waights have traveled to several states in their souped-up classic, turning heads in places like Texas, Missouri and Indiana. The bright yellow roadster, accented with green flames and shiny chrome, took five years to assemble.
“Basically, all we had to start with was the chassis. We were at a car show in Springfield (Mo.), and my husband decided to buy a $20 raffle ticket for a new 350 Chevy engine. And, you guessed it, we won,” Esther said, laughing. “A lot of people come up to me and ask why we have a Chevy engine in a ’32 Ford, so I tell them the story, and then I ask: ‘If you got a brand new engine for $20, where would you put it?’”
Since then, the couple has received several accolades, including winning the coveted American Thunder Award at the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association’s 2006 Lone Star Nationals at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. They plan to attend another large street rod show in Springfield later this month.
Across the street, Stan Krysztof was shining the chrome wheels of his blue 1941 Chevy. Like the Waights, he will show off his modified classic at the Springfield show.
“I had planned to restore the car to its original condition, but I didn’t like the way it was turning out, so I decided to turn it into a hot rod.” The 70-year-old Baldwin man stood up and tugged his overalls like a farmer surveying his field. “I laid awake a lot of hours thinking about it.”
Krysztof and his brother, Jerry, spent 40 hours wiring the ’41 Chevy. Krysztof uses a remote control gadget to open the doors and windows. Another panel of four buttons on the steering wheel operates the blinkers and raises the hood and trunk. The sleek hot rod is a marriage of several cars.
“It’s a 1941 Chevy with a ’53 Buick grill, ’98 Mercedes running lights and a 1940 Ford hood. There’s a two-foot spot on the roof that is original. Otherwise, it’s been completely redone,” said Krystof, looking at his wife, Barbara, who had settled into a chair with the Earlene Fowler mystery, “Kansas Troubles.”
Troubled Kansas skies were not in the forecast on this picture-perfect day as the show attracted three times as many entries as last year’s thunderstorm-dampened event. The lineup featured Model A Fords, De Sotos, ’57 Chevys, Triumphs, muscle cars and enough other classics to fill several showrooms.
“We were really pleased with the turnout. Everyone looked like they were having a good time,” Lions Club organizer Michele Hufferd said.
The club raised a show-record $7,000 to fund its charitable programs.
“All of that money will stay in Louisburg,” Hufferd said.
Delbert Naylor of Osawatomie was one of the first entrants to arrive early Sunday morning in his 1966 Impala. With only 85,000 miles, the car is in mint condition with the original aqua paint. Naylor said he likes coming to the Louisburg show.
The Auth family of Louisburg admired Naylor’s classic as they strolled down the street.
“I like the old trucks and the late ’60s model classics,” David Auth said. “We’re just out enjoying the day. It’s a great show.”
Nearby, two young boys posed for a photograph in front of the Waight’s ’32 Ford roadster.
The Waights are looking forward to driving the classic hot rod to several shows this summer.
“We drive it everywhere we go,” Esther said. As for the gas mileage, “It gets smiles to the gallon.”
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The Waights loafed in deck chairs in front of First Option Bank Sunday as they watched passers-by swoon over their 1932 Ford Hi-Boy roadster during the Cruise the ’Burg car show on Broadway Street. More than 1,000 people wandered through the downtown business district, peeking in windows and looking under the hoods of 158 cars and trucks on display at the Louisburg Lions Club’s 12th-annual show.
The Waights have traveled to several states in their souped-up classic, turning heads in places like Texas, Missouri and Indiana. The bright yellow roadster, accented with green flames and shiny chrome, took five years to assemble.
“Basically, all we had to start with was the chassis. We were at a car show in Springfield (Mo.), and my husband decided to buy a $20 raffle ticket for a new 350 Chevy engine. And, you guessed it, we won,” Esther said, laughing. “A lot of people come up to me and ask why we have a Chevy engine in a ’32 Ford, so I tell them the story, and then I ask: ‘If you got a brand new engine for $20, where would you put it?’”
Since then, the couple has received several accolades, including winning the coveted American Thunder Award at the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association’s 2006 Lone Star Nationals at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. They plan to attend another large street rod show in Springfield later this month.
Across the street, Stan Krysztof was shining the chrome wheels of his blue 1941 Chevy. Like the Waights, he will show off his modified classic at the Springfield show.
“I had planned to restore the car to its original condition, but I didn’t like the way it was turning out, so I decided to turn it into a hot rod.” The 70-year-old Baldwin man stood up and tugged his overalls like a farmer surveying his field. “I laid awake a lot of hours thinking about it.”
Krysztof and his brother, Jerry, spent 40 hours wiring the ’41 Chevy. Krysztof uses a remote control gadget to open the doors and windows. Another panel of four buttons on the steering wheel operates the blinkers and raises the hood and trunk. The sleek hot rod is a marriage of several cars.
“It’s a 1941 Chevy with a ’53 Buick grill, ’98 Mercedes running lights and a 1940 Ford hood. There’s a two-foot spot on the roof that is original. Otherwise, it’s been completely redone,” said Krystof, looking at his wife, Barbara, who had settled into a chair with the Earlene Fowler mystery, “Kansas Troubles.”
Troubled Kansas skies were not in the forecast on this picture-perfect day as the show attracted three times as many entries as last year’s thunderstorm-dampened event. The lineup featured Model A Fords, De Sotos, ’57 Chevys, Triumphs, muscle cars and enough other classics to fill several showrooms.
“We were really pleased with the turnout. Everyone looked like they were having a good time,” Lions Club organizer Michele Hufferd said.
The club raised a show-record $7,000 to fund its charitable programs.
“All of that money will stay in Louisburg,” Hufferd said.
Delbert Naylor of Osawatomie was one of the first entrants to arrive early Sunday morning in his 1966 Impala. With only 85,000 miles, the car is in mint condition with the original aqua paint. Naylor said he likes coming to the Louisburg show.
The Auth family of Louisburg admired Naylor’s classic as they strolled down the street.
“I like the old trucks and the late ’60s model classics,” David Auth said. “We’re just out enjoying the day. It’s a great show.”
Nearby, two young boys posed for a photograph in front of the Waight’s ’32 Ford roadster.
The Waights are looking forward to driving the classic hot rod to several shows this summer.
“We drive it everywhere we go,” Esther said. As for the gas mileage, “It gets smiles to the gallon.”