The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner
This weekend, the Annual Fred Gibb Car Show on Saturday is preceded on Friday by the Maple City Street Machines Cruise in Monmouth from 6-10 p.m. and will follow on Saturday evening with the Macomb Cruise Night around their Courthouse square. Many of the Fred Gibb cars and attendees will be traveling to all three events.
The Monmouth event is organized by Kenny Tatman of Tatman 1 Auto Sales and draws thousands to the cooler evening event that is headquartered on the square.
Cars on display begin parking as early as 5:30 a.m. and it is estimated that last year's crowd of 20,000 plus viewed between 2,000-2,500 vehicles. Although the Maple City Street Machines have been doing a car show for more than twenty years of some sort, in recent years the popularity of the Gibb car show has drawn people from coast to coast who take in the cruise nights at Monmouth and Macomb as well.
This "three stop event" continues to be very successful, even with high gas prices, soaring temperatures and a sluggish economy. The Maple City event is not highlighting any particular vehicle but there will be rare vehicles at the show. According to Tatman, each of the 2,000 plus expected will be a special feature in itself with a unique story to be told by its owner.
Besides being free admission, Maple City Cruise always has a lot of giveaways. There will be food vendors and The local Eternity Road band will be playing again.
Kenny Tatman agrees with Kenny Brown and Bob Lionberger of La Harpe that it is a fun family event the whole family will enjoy.
Macomb Park & Cruise Night
After Friday night's huge cruise event in the Maple City town of Monmouth, the 13th Annual Fred Gibb Memorial Car and Open Show will feature Fred Gibb's ZL-1 Camaro Muscle Cars along with hundreds of vehicles that will come in early that morning.
After the final awards are made at 3:30 p.m., then it is off to Macomb for the Park "N' Cruise event that bring comrades together to visit and relax and show off their cars, trucks, and motorcycles.
Macomb added Park "N' Cruise to the weekend 9 years ago and have jumped in with both feet to share their love for cars with neighbors.
Chuck Laird is the Park "N" Cruise chairman of the event and plans on seeing around 200 vehicles at the show and several hundred spectators or many who just enjoy the socializing and eating at local restaurants.
There are no trophys or special events, just time to kick back and enjoy the sights and sounds of the evening.
Jerry Burford, an original organizer of the Fred Gibb's first shows, said the beauty of your car, is no matter how bad things may get, you can get in your car and cruise or just sit and it can take you back to better days, and everything is good.
Ready For the 13th Fred Gibb Show Saturday
In La Harpe, after the 10 a.m. opening on Saturday, visit with Bob Lionberger and ask him about his special feature story that is in one of the popular August 2011 "muscle" car magazines.
See the fame #1 1969 ZL-1 Camaro that won Nationals, and the restored #2 Fred Gibb ZL-1 1969 Camaro arriving from Texas for the first time in its original dust blue color as it looked the day it arrived at the Fred Gibb Chevrolet dealership.
You will be delighted and amazed as you walk among the 44 classes of beauties on the grounds. The show is always full of surprises and lots of fun.
On behalf of the residents, La Harpe's Mayor and car enthusiast Ken Brown, invite each of you to attend their 13th Annual event.