Havre welcomes car enthusiasts

Saturday at 11 a.m., the Hi-Line Cruz'n Association's 32nd Annual Rod Run opened up their public event, Show 'N' Shine, to show their cars and interact with the Havre community.

This event was one of many, including a poker run, pitch fork fondue, awards and dancing, that lasted from Friday through Sunday morning.

Stan O'Connor from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, came down to the rod run with his friends, Dan Schneider, Stan Schreiber and Ken Boswell and their wives.

O'Connor, who brought up his 1968 Impala that includes the factory original 8-track that he keeps playing tunes throughout the event, has had his car for 48 years.

"It has been a 30-year restoration," he said, adding that he has been interested in cars for a very long time; he said he remembers first really being interested in a car when his brother had an old Ford that he really liked.

This is the first year he has been down to Havre for the rod run, O'Connor said, adding that he heard about it through the car club circuit.

O'Connor's friends Schneider and Boswell both brought their '57 Chevys to the rod run.

Schneider has had his candy apple red Chevy for about six years, while Boswell has had his black Chevy since 1988.

The drive to Havre took about two hours from Medicine Hat, Boswell said, adding that the rod run here is great; everyone is very friendly.

Schreiber, the fourth member of the group, brought down a Canadian-made car - a '55 Meteor Rideau.

"It is just one of 664 made," he added.

He said he has been a car enthusiast as long as he can remember.

"I still have the first car I drove to school, a 1947 Mercury Coupe," Schreiber said.

Montanans from near and far

Barry Wright along with his wife, Colleen, and dog Charli, brought their '48 GMC Suburban up from Billings. The suburban pulled a 1936 reproduction Mullins trailer, that was painted with the same design - gray with yellow flames.

"We travel a lot with it," Wright said. "It is all Corvette underneath."

He added that they have been to Havre a lot to see relatives and friends because his wife is originally from Havre.

The rod run also drew car lovers from right here in Havre.

Havreite Jacquelyn Hentschel and her husband registered their 1967 Wimbledon white Ford Mustang in the rod run.

"I used to come with my parents," she sad.

It is a great event that brings a lot of Canadians here; the car events are like bringing a family together, Hentschel said.

"I think the rod run is amazing," she added. "It brings community to Havre."