Last year while visiting a local car show, The Vintage Rod Run in Carthage, MO, I found a car that I just couldn’t get out of my mind.  It sat next to one of my other favorite cars, ’59 Caddy, and as I looked over it, it just blew me away.  In a day and time where cars can sometimes look a like I ran across a car with personality and a uniqueness only found when you are the one in charge of the build, this beautiful ’51 Merc.

As I walked around car I stumbled upon one of its greatest features, the mural on the deck lid.  Faintly painted in the bright orange paint are three items, the 66-Drive In Theatre, a ’67 El Camino and the ’59 Caddy sitting next to it.

With it’s “get out of the way or i’ll eat you grill” and its classic lines it screams throw-back.  After scouring the internet for pics of it and coming up empty I was finally able to track down the beautiful ride through a local car club and was able to take some pics at my favorite place, the “66-Drive In”.  I hope you enjoy what I discovered about the car.

It’s time again for the 2013 Rendezvous66 Benefit Car Show and below are a few details to know before you register.  The classes for the 2013 Rendezvous66 Benefit Car Show in Carthage, MO are largely the same as in 2012 with the exception of the Jeep class that was added for 2013.  In an effort to facilitate all cars being properly placed in the correct classes, we have added a few restrictions and changed the trophy structure for the car show.

In an effort to award larger trophies we have changed the number of trophies awarded at the car show.  In previous years we awarded top 5 but we now will award the top three cars in each class. Additional trophies awarded are best paint, best interior, best engine, and preacher’s choice.

As always we are excited to host the 2013 Rendezvous66 Benefit Car Show near Joplin in Carthage, MO and we look forward to meeting you.  This year we are expanding the Rallye in the Park with many more inflatables, kids booths in addition to free lunch, the pool, and our 9:15 service in the park.  This is truly much more than a benefit car show but a family event.

Below are the classes we have established for 2013 and their descriptions:

Before you register for the following classes please read the descriptions closely.  It is very important that each car be placed in the correct class so that everyone has equal opportunity to earn a trophy. 

*ALL KIT CARS AND FIBERGLASS or STEEL REPRODUCTIONS MUST BE PLACED IN THE CUSTOM CLASS.

100 Camaro/Firebird:
All years and generations of Camaro/Firebird. This class will only compete against the Camaro/Firebird Model of car and is intended to meet the Stock criteria of car. This class would also include all specialty factory or dealer sanctioned models such as SLP Performance (Firehawk or Camaro SS), or Yenko, etc…

200 Corvette:
All years and generations of Corvette. This class will only compete against the Corvette Model of car and is intended to meet the Stock criteria of car. This class would also include all specialty factory or dealer sanctioned models.

300 Mustang:
All years and generations of Mustang. This class will only compete against the Mustang Model of car and is intended to meet the Stock criteria of car. This would include all specialty factory or dealer sanctioned models such as the Boss Series, Shelby Series, SVT Series in addition to Roush Stages, Saleen, etc…

400 Mopar:
All years and generations of muscle Mopar years ’64 to Present.  This class will only compete against the Mopar make of car and is intended to meet the Stock criteria of car. This class would also include all specialty factory or dealer sanctioned models.

500 Stock:
This class represents those cars that are original to how they left the factory whether restored or unrestored. Very minor changes such as window tinting, different tires, non-factory radios would be accepted into this class.

600 Modified:
This class represents those cars that have been modified from how the manufactuer originally intended.  Cars in this class would have one of the following: a non-factory paint color, different wheels, engine changes, major engine modifications or dress-kits, or interior changes.

700 Custom:
This class represents those cars that have been changed significantly from their original design.  A car in this class would haveseveral of the following: a non-factory paint color, different wheels, engine changes, major engine modifications or dress-kits, or interior changes.  ALL cars built from a kit or cars which use a fiberglass body which is not factory must enter the custom class.

800 Jeep:All years and models and brand owners (Willys, Kaiser, AMC or Chrysler). As a first year class, jeep owners could choose to enter their Jeep into the Jeep, Stock, Modified or Custom class.

It’s time again for the 2012 Rendezvous66 Benefit Car Show and below are a few details to know before you register.  The classes for the 2012 Rendezvous66 Benefit Car Show in Carthage, MO are largely the same as in 2011.  In an effort to facilitate all cars being properly placed in the correct classes we have added a few restrictions and changed the trophy structure for the car show.

In an effort to award larger trophies we have changed the number of trophies awarded at the car show.  In previous years we awarded top 5 but we now will award the top three cars in each class. Additional trophies awarded are best paint, best interior, best engine, and preacher’s choice.

As always we are excited to host the 2012 Rendezvous66 Benefit Car Show near Joplin in Carthage, MO and we look forward to meeting you.  This year we are expanding the Rallye in the Park with many more inflatables, kids booths in addition to free lunch, the pool, and our 9:15 service in the park.  This is truly much more than a benefit car show but a family even

100 Camaro/Firebird (all years)
200 Corvette (all years)
300 Mustang (all years)
400 MOPAR (intended to meet years ’64 & newer)

Before you register for the following classes please read the descriptions closely.  It is very important that each car be placed in the correct class so that everyone has equal opportunity to earn a trophy.  *ALL KIT CARS AND FIBERGLASS REPRODUCTIONS MUST BE PLACED IN THE CUSTOM CLASS.

500 Stock This class represents those cars that are original to how they left the factory whether restored or unrestored. Very minor changes such as window tinting, different tires, non-factory radios would be accepted into this class.
600 Modified This class represents those cars that have been modified from how the manufactuer originally intended.  Cars in this class would have one of the following: a non-factory paint color, different wheels, engine changes, major engine modifications or dress-kits, or interior changes.
700 Custom This class represents those cars that have been changed significantly from their original design.  A car in this class would have several of the following: a non-factory paint color, different wheels, engine changes, major engine modifications or dress-kits, or interior changes.

Occasionally when I am in between projects or just need some window time I will take the short drive to Cook’s Body Shop in Joplin, MO.  Over the year’s Jody, the owner, and I have become friends and he usually has a variety of very cool cars at different stages of being completed.

On one one such occasion I dropped in and saw a very rare MOPAR, a 1969 Dodge SuperBee.  Of course I had missed it’s original condition and caught itafter most of the hard work had already been finished.  If you have ever restored a car or been a part of a restoration you know some of the hardest work is repairing the so called work others have done to a car that is 43 years old. I went to Cook’s website and found a few pictures that were taken of the restoration.  When you see this car in it’s finished state now it’s almost unbelievable that it ever looked like this.

Occasionally over the winter I would pop back in and see how this car and the other cars had progressed over the months.  This seemed to be one of those projects that went pretty quickly, although I’m sure not quick enough for the owner.  By late spring the body and chassis work was done and the car was re-united and sent out.  Unfortunately, I didn’t see the finished project until recently.

A few months ago I visited Jody’s shop again and was talking with him about wanting to shoot a MOPAR for the artwork on the 2012 Rendezvous Benefit Car Show and he mentioned getting in touch with the cars owner because the car had recently been completed.  So I gave it’s owner a call and he was gracious enough to allow us to do a photoshoot.

The day of the shoot I was able to get to know the owner and a little of the car’s history.  It turns out he found this car in an outdoor lot that a bank in Joplin owned and the car had been sitting outside in the lot since it’s repossession several years earlier.  Upon researching the car the current owner purchased the car from the bank and began the process of restoration.  That was the first near miss for this classic.

Last year, May 22 2011, the owner and his family was in Tulsa for a family sporting event when they learned of the terrible tornado that destroyed so much of Joplin.  For quite a while they didn’t know if their home was in the path of destruction as they received both reports that it was and that it wasn’t.  Coming home they realized they were very fortunate in that their home was spared, even though they had a lot of damage all around them, and so was the near complete SuperBee.  The second near miss.

I am excited to feature this car at this year’s Rendezvous66 Benefit Car Show.  The owners are amazing people who have graciously allow us to show-off this stellar survivor.   We’d love for you to come and see this beautiful car and hang out with us in Central Park, Carthage MO for the afternoon.  With great cars, free food and tons of stuff for kids to do it’s sure to be an amazing day for everyone.  See you there.

Well it’s been a while since I have written anything new.  We can all agree that the last year has been a real struggle for our community.  Even though we are located in Carthage, MO, the depth of struggle for Joplin, MO has greatly affected us all.  After the tornado struck Joplin, our attention rightly turned to helping all our neighbors, friends and family affected and rightly our focus never really returned to car shows and cruises in 2011.  Though 2011 witnessed great sorrow in it’s aftermath great joy has also emerged.  The response our nation has had and continues to have for Joplin testifies of a great God who is moving people in great ways to help and assist one another.  Joplin stands to testify that God is alive and He is working through His people to show compassion and love and restoration.  The tragedy in Joplin has served to restore my faith in those I rub shoulders with everyday and the kindness of a stranger.

I am also excited that in many ways life is getting back into a rhythm.  It is awesome to see that many of the cruises and shows we have come to know and love are in place again for 2012.  Thank you to all of those who have labored very hard to put these great events on and provide us opportunities to meet the great people of the four-state area.  I look forward to seeing you at a show or cruise very soon.

Looking for something to do and help some folks at the same time? Then I have just the thing for you. Sunday July 31 from noon-3:30pm we will be holding the Rendezvous66 Benefit Car Show in Carthage, MO. Carthage is just a few miles from Joplin, MO and under an hour from Springfield MO and worth the drive for a free lunch, free inflatables for kids of all sizes, and a car show to boot.

As with previous years we are excited about helping the Carthage Crisis Center help those who need it. Whether you are bringing a car, or just coming to enjoy a day in Central Park, your support for the Carthage Crisis Center is greatly appreciated.  The folks at the Carthage Crisis Center do an amazing work in helping those who life has beaten up or who have made mistakes to get back on their feet by equipping them with the skills they need to succeed and the support they need to stay encouraged.

This is an opportunity to help an amazing organization that is right here in the four state area.  So please come out and support the Rendezvous66 Benefit Car Show.