Leader Publications

By JOHN EBY
Dowagiac Daily News

Ed Kazlauskas won Best of Show Saturday at the record 238-vehicle, 19th annual Rod and Roll in downtown Dowagiac with a 1926 International beer truck.

Kazlauskas, owner of Jim D’s Body Shop on M-51 South, organized the car show along with Scott Jurgenson of Jurgenson Construction, Curt Rohdy, owner of John and Curt’s Brake and Alignment and Tom Meiser.

Best antique
pre-1950s

Richard Engel of Berrien Springs (No. 32), a 1934 Plymouth PF.
Second: Deal on Wheels of Dowagiac (No. 94), a Dodge coupe.
Sponsor: Steinman’s Shell.

Best Ford
street rod

Bill Dinges of New Troy (No. 143), a 1934 Ford two-door. Also won in 2008.
Second: Mick Lannoo of Mishawaka, Ind. (No. 28), a 1932 Ford sedan.
Sponsor: Flint’s Auto Repair.

Best non-Ford
street rod

Dale Peters of Sturgis (No. 194), a 1934 Dodge pickup.
Second: Roger Van Arsdale of Granger, Ind. (No. 142), a 1939 DeSoto four-door sedan.
Sponsor: Division Tire and Decatur Towing.

Best ’50s/’60s classic

Dan Hart of Eau Claire (No. 63), a 1955 Cadillac coupe.
Second: Mike Ketelhut of Eau Claire (No. 130), a 1955 Chevy hot rod.
Sponsor: Sunray Restorations.

Best old truck
(1966 or older)

Hank Smith of Kalamazoo (No. 183), a 1951 Ford F-1 pickup.
Second: John Van Tuyle of Buchanan (No. 179), a 1955 Chevy El Camino.
Sponsor: John and Curt’s Brake and Alignment.

Best new truck
(1967 and newer)

Randy Merrill of Dowagiac (No. 146), a 2001 Ford F-250 4×4.
Second: James Rader of Marcellus (No. 162), a 1979 Ford F-150 4×4.
Sponsor: Beeson Street Bar and Grill, presented by Tom Burling.

Best Chevrolet

Steve Gagliano of Watervliet (No. 131), a 1967 Chevrolet Nova SS.
Second: Don and Bette Otto of South Haven (No. 156), a 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS.
Sponsor: Dominion Deals on Wheels.

Best Camaro/
Firebird

Dan Johnson of Elkhart, Ind. (No. 118), a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS.
Second: Dale Lynch of Paw Paw (No. 157), a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro.
Sponsor: Dowagiac Auto Service.

Best Mopar

Harry Case of Sodus (No. 152), a 1973 Plymouth Barracuda.
Second: Dave Kelley of Riverside (No. 164), a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda.
Sponsor: Heartland Chrysler.

Best Ford

Andy Badner of Cassopolis (No. 132), a 1967 Ford Fairlane GTA.
Second: Larry and Kay Salo of Allegan (No. 44), a 1957 Ford Skyliner, which won Best of Show at the 2008 Rod and Roll.
Sponsor: Creative Vinyl Signs.

Best Corvette

Randy Westbrook of Coloma (No. 150), a 1959 Chevrolet Corvette.
Second: owner Kenny Wilson, driven by Mark Reavis, of Dowagiac (No. 137), a 1958 Chevrolet Corvette.
Sponsor: Chet Nichols Auto Parts.

Best Mustang

Roger and Joyce Yerington of Benton Harbor (No. 158), a 1965 Ford Mustang.
Second Bruce Haefner of Dowagiac (No. 149), a 1965 Ford Mustang.
Sponsor: Butler Tree Farm and Campground, presented by Brenda Butler.

Best Pontiac/
Oldsmobile/
Buick

Paul Ignalzi of South Haven (No. 155), a 1969 Oldsmobile 442.
Second: Dan and Mary Myers of Granger, Ind. (No. 135), a 1951 Pontiac Catalina.
Sponsor: R&B Total Performance of Niles.

Best orphan/
miscellaneous
class

Rich Szotek of Paw Paw (No. 170), a 1957 Studebaker Champion.
Second: Chris Coplen of Dowagiac (No. 124), a 1981 DeLorean DMC-12.
Sponsor: Saylor’s Front Street Pizzeria, presented by Boyd Saylor.

Best race car

Bill Van Tuyle of Dowagiac (No. 193), a 1968 Chevy Corvair.
Second: Kenny Wilson of Dowagiac (No. 138), a 1970 Chevy Nova.

Best custom
motorcycle

Rick Kinzler of Benton Harbor (No. 69), a 2004 Harley Davidson Road King Custom.
Second: Ken Belew of Dowagiac (No. 82), a 2004 Harley Davidson V-Rod.
Sponsor: Choppers of Paw Paw

Best stock
motorcycle

Sam Butler of Dowagiac (No. 39), a 2009 Harley Davidson Heritage Softtail.
Second: Bruce Joanis of Niles (No. 114), a 1998 Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide.
Sponsor: Laurie Anne’s.

Organizers also thanked during the Parade of Winners Bob Hartline, Art Springsteen, Steve Bell, Rene Meiser, Patti Badner, Vicki Brossman,  Jackie Johnson, Miss Dowagiac Shelby Willis and First Runner-Up Elizabeth Kolden.

Dash plaques presented in goodie bags to the first 125 auto owners to register for the show were sponsored by dentists Dr. Charles Burling and Dr. Jon Gillesby, JAC Custom Pouches Inc. and True’s Towing and Recovery.

The 238 vehicles eclipsed 234 reported in 2008, which was up 30 from 2007.

Vintage vehicles filled side streets and parking lots the length of Front Street from Zeke’s and China Garden south past City Hall to Park Place and went seven deep up Main Street with hot, sunny weather and no threat of rain.

Collectors’ coffee mugs were sponsored by Imperial Furniture, Mahar Insurance, Ridge/NAPA Auto Parts and the Wounded Minnow Saloon.

Twenty-one businesses underwrote the cost for crew-neck T-shirts given to the first 125 auto owners registered for the show.

Corporate sponsors included Ausra Equipment and Supply Co., Beeson Street Bar and Grill, Burling’s TLC Experienced Auto Detailing, Butler Tree Farm and Campground, Dominion Deals on Wheels, Decatur Towing and Auto Center, Dowagiac Auto Service, Finishmaster Automotive and Industrial Paint, Fryman’s Construction, Hale’s Hardware, Harding’s Friendly Market, Jim D’s Body Shop, John and Curt’s Brake and Alignment, Jurgenson Construction, Keystone, Pizza Hut, Ridge/NAPA Auto Parts, Rohdy’s Heating and Cooling, Saylor’s Front Street Pizzeria, Wayne Browning with Snap-On Tools and Wolverine Mutual Insurance Co.