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Cars thunder into Cannon auto show

  • Published
  • By Greg Allen
  • 27th Special Operations Wing public affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  When a caveman held up the first 9/16" open-ended wrench, he might have thought to himself, "Self, this is good. Now all I have to do is wait for my brother-in-law to invent the Model -T (Rex), and then I can show it." 

Fast forward a couple of millennia and the descendents of that caveman gathered at Doc Stewart Park for the Third Annual Cannon Thunder Auto Show, proudly showing off the testosterone that made America the mightiest nation in the world. 

There were the Chevelle and 442 muscle cars from the 1960s and 70's, Ford Customlines and Chevy Belairs of the 50s and Model-As from the 20s on display. Despite leaden skies, each gleamed from hours of elbow grease, as they rumbled into place across the baked New Mexico ground. Classic Model-As parked in one corner, Corvettes in another, Each owner had his own story to tell about how and where he acquired his automotive mistress, but most were in agreement that a car enthusiast cannot be light of heart or faint of pocketbook when it comes to their passion. 

"If I need new spark plugs, they cost me six dollars each, "said Chuck Roberts owner of a candy apple red 1929 Model-A truck. But, he added, his truck has only four cylinders and still gets 25 miles per gallon. 

"I think it 's too fuel efficient to qualify for the 'Cash for Clunkers' program," he said with a smile. 

Mr, Roberts said he found and bought his classic Ford six months ago in Las Vegas, Nev., and has shown it at several other shows. 

"I can find any part I need or want on the Internet, and it'll be on my doorstep in two days, " he said, " but it does cost me." 

Across the field of 64 vehicles Mateo Bando gently placed a 1968 plastic model of an Oldsmobile 442 on the radiator of his full-sized brother. Both were lustrous black, and the full-sized model had a scant 56,000 original miles on it despite its 43-years off the production line. 

"Everything is original, except for the paint. It came off the line red," said Mr. Bando, pointing to color of the inside left front wheel well. He said wants to return it to its original color. 

He is quite aware of the value of certain vehicles, saying that a similar model sold for $126,000 at an auction in Phoenix. But, money aside, he said, "I'd rather be here, at a car show, showing others my 442, than almost anything else.

Last year 54 vehicles were on display at the car show. The increase to 64 was good news for Paul Hopkins, Cannon's Community Center manager, who coordinated the event. 

"It takes a couple of months to set this up and get the registration forms in," he said. "Cannon Thunder, along with the Kite Karnival,  are our two events that we invite everyone in Cannon and the community  to join us."

Car shows such as Cannon Thunder pay homage to that ancestor who, although cold and hungry,  forged that shiny wrench so that men could get together and savor the smell gasoline and the music of thousands of rumbling horsepower. Thank you oh great ancestor.

 

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