At the Show 'N' Shine, rain or shine

Despite cold, windy, overcast, rainy conditions, car showers and car viewers still crowded the Great Northern Fairgrounds Saturday during an annual event - the Show 'N' Shine portion of the Hi-Line Cruz'n Association's 28th Annual Bear Paw Rod Run.

Steve and Schari Heather of Cardston, Alberta, said this was the first year they brought their car - a 1968 Beaumont, a Canadian cross between a Chevrolet Chevelle and a Pontiac - but plan to be back.

"We'll just hope for better weather," Schari Heather said with a smile.

The show ran from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, in the midst of the Rod Run events. That included cruising through Havre and the surrounding area in a poker run after the Show 'N' Shine.

Havreite Gary Glock said he comes to the Rod Run every year, and won awards for his red and silver 1967 Chevrolet Pickup when he used to enter it in the events.

Josh Workman of Great Falls, 17, said his family has come to the Havre event for a few years now, adding it to the list of shows where his family displays their multiple restored vehicles.

The family had half-a-dozen cars on display at the fairgrounds Saturday, including the 1982 Cadillac Eldorado belonging to his grandfather, Spencer Workman, which Josh drove to Havre and the 1964 Mercury Marauder belonging to his uncle, Jim Workman, in which he was sitting at the show.

But his favorite at the show, which belonged to someone else, was a 1971 Plymouth Barracuda - a top view for many perusing the vehicles.

Steve Heather gave a description of his vehicle, which he bought in 1972 when he was 18 and the car was 4 years old. The Beaumont started out as a sub-compact of the Canadian General Motors car company Acadia, mixing the Chevrolet Chevelle and parts from the Pontiac line including the GTO and Lemans and sold by Pontiac dealers.

In 1966, the Beaumont became its own line, still sold by Pontiac-Buick dealers, and was produced until 1969, when the Lemans took its place on the Canadian market. The Beaumont also was assembled in Africa and Chile and also sold in Puerto Rico.

Steve Heather said his Beaumont has been the family car for decades, after his children were out of the house and he and Schari had more time, they decided to restore the car and now haul it around on a trailer to car shows.

"So our kids have got to drive it and pretty soon our granddaughter will get to drive it," he added.