The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publiser-Owner
For 23 years in La Harpe, Ken Brown has seen an amazing turn-out and lots of community support for the annual car show in La Harpe that he began with the help of other car enthusiasts in La Harpe to honor the Camaro Z-28 and the Fred Gibb Chevrolet racing legacy.
In all those years, never has La Harpe community been hit from storms that just a week before knocked out power, topped trees, damaged roofs and then followed with another wind and rain storm the morning of that flattened all the tents that had been set-up for the special show cars and for the handing out of awards.
When Darrell Kraft, Ken Brown, and Bob Lionberger arrived and saw all the big tents flat on the ground, they all knew there was no choice but to cancel the show. Tents were only rented for the day and spoken for weeks out by others, which didn't allow them the opportunity to move the show to the following week. La Harpe also had five inches of rain that morning which may have questioned the ability to drive vehicles on the golf course without damage.
Others had to make quick decisions. The library and the girl scouts had pop-up tents that were knocked down, some damaged or bent. And then, there was so much food prepared for such a large event to feed all those who were showing their classics as well as all the workers and attendees.
Dave Clover had over $1400 of meat and hot dogs buns to tend to. The scouts were selling their sandwiches of steamburgers, brats, hot dogs and Walking Tacos over Facebook.
Jerry Burford, President of the Lions Club bought the La Harpe Carneige Library's hot dogs with the intention of the Lions hosting a car show around the park, hopefully.
With the news that this was to be Ken Brown's last year with the show, it is sad to see so many disappointed in being able to gather to thank him. And there are disappointed people who returned to see old classmates and friends.
Reunions were going on, as it is the time Aumni like to plan their class gatherings to coincide with the car show. Hopefully, another community minded person will pick up the ball where Brown left off and continue this tradition of bringing people home and the classics' they admired as a teen or young adult. Around Stronghurst, rain of 4 1/2" with wind was reported.