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The Queen City Chevelle Club |
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Written by Devin Durham
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Tuesday, 25 September 2007 |
Sunday, September 24, 2007 was a great day for a picnic. That day instead of relaxing in the grass I was busy replacing a transmission filter, but as I drove down South Campbell I looked over to my right and there in Fasnight Park sitting in the grass was a sight to make any gearhead's heart skip a beat: a collection of exceptionally nice chevelles with hoods open and paint jobs gleaming.
 Trey Hart's Black '69
And what fantastic examples these were! Interiors and paint jobs were perfect, and the engine compartments and undercarriages didn't show a sign of dirt, even in the cars that were freqently driven.
There's always a special energy that comes from being an enthusiast, and this energy lends itself to fantastic stories and facts. Among these are Scott George's 1971 SS, now sporting black stripes over Hugger Orange paint. When this car was purchased it was lime green metallic and was in such a condition of rust that the doors and rocker panels are the only original body parts remaining on the car!
Robert Killingsworth's Garnett Red 1969 SS is a fairly rare L78 edition, coming from the factory with 375 horses. This car was originally sold at Reliable Chevrolet, right in the same city where the current owner now resides, Springfield MO.
 Robert Killingsworth's 1969 Garnett Red SS
Probably the most interesting story of all was about Kim and Becky Keith's 1972 El Camino SS. This car was purchased in Ash Grove in November of 1971 for $3450.00 with the intention of driving it for the couple's honeymoon. Well it's 2007 and both the couple and the car are going strong. Kim says that this is a "driving car" and that it has the "original everything" still installed. The couple's son is getting married soon, and the plan is to loan to the car to the newlyweds so that they can take it on their honeymoon as well.
Why do cars inspire this kind of loyalty and enthusiasm? Why do some of us become so emotionally attached to a car that we see it as more than simple transportation, more than just some collection of moving parts, steel and plastic, but see it as a family member... to be protected, cherished, invested in and enjoyed? Why is it that a certain curve in a wheel well, or the way that a shifter fits into the hand, or even very subtle things like the sound that a power steering pump makes when you turn the wheels without the car moving... why does that provoke such a positive, deep and emotional response in people?
Ask the question to Randy Weimer as he is driving is Garnett Red 69 SS down the road. If you can keep up with him. Or ask Chuck Price with his convertible Flame Orange '72. But don't expect to get an answer. It's one of those kinds of things that if you have to ask, you probably wouldn't understand anyway.
If you would like more information on the Queen City Chevelle Club, you can hit their website at http://www.chevelles.net/queencity/
A large collection of photos of this event have been added to our gallery section, here. As always if anyone wants a digital copy of any photo here, just contact Devin.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 26 February 2008 )
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