By Paula Scott
When registration closed at 2:00 p.m. at the 2023 Park-in-the-Park car, truck and bike show on June 10, there were 125 vehicles in the running for a variety of honors. The cars were beatifully displayed in War Memorial Park, which provided a green canopy of shade for attendees.
The VFW Auxillary served meals from an impressive new picnic shelter, while registration took place in the American flag decorated Farmers & Merchants shelter.
Additional attractions were the General Dynamics Abrams Mini-tank which you could hear coming as it was driven around the park and launched t-shirts to eager recipients. The Vienam Small Wall from Arcadia, Ohio was on display, providing a visible reminder of the show theme "We Will Never Forget" fallen U.S. military comrades.
The show also has the purpose of raising funds for War Memorial Park and the Hardin County Chapter of the Blue Star Mothers.
The Ream-McElroy VFW Post 9381 event awarded top honors to:
Best of Show Bike Dan Meek, Ada 1970’s Moped Trike
Best of Show Import Tom Brown, Findlay 1970 VW Bus
Best of Show Truck John Bilopavlovich, Lima 1972 GMC 4X4
Best of Show Car Brenda Miller, Findlay 1970 Chevelle SS
Best Paint Bob Miller, Findlay 1962 Chevy Corvette
While these award winners fit into one decade, the show included a wide range of vintages and types, from pre-1930s vehicles to a brand new electric vehicle. There was lavish custom paint work as well as "never been touched" vehicles with many decades of patina.
The 2023 “PARK–in–the–PARK” Car Show Top 25 were:
Jerry Boyer, Lima 1973 Plymouth Cuda
Chris Risser, Findlay 1972 Chevy C-10
Craig Risser, Bluffton 1972 GMC-15
Tom Brumley, Findlay 1956 Ford Sun Liner
Randy Wagner, Findlay 1971 Chevy Nova
Kim & Arden Robinette, 1961 Chevy Corvair
Dan Brown, Ada 1968 Chevy Camaro
Duane Roediger, Findlay 2017 Corvette Z06
Bill S, Lima 1969 Camaro SS
Denny Wilkins, Elida 1969 Chevy Camaro Z28
Carrie & Seth Belcher, KY 1966 Chevy Corvette
Jamie Park, Ada 1972 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Carson Meyer, Pandora 1972 Chevy Camaro
Doug Smith, Alger 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Kay Meyer, Pandora 1968 Chevy Chevelle
John Curtis, 1969 Dodge Dart
Bob Sibold, Lafayette 1966 Chevy C-10
Larry Fleming, Belle Center 1966 Pontiac GTO
Ron Casper, Dunkirk 1978 Pontiac Trans Am
Denny DeSalve, Findlay 1967 Chevy Camaro
Jeff Bovee, Findlay 1966 Chevy II
Ardie Good, Dola 1966 Chevy Chevelle
Kevin Hole, Lima 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Larry Kuk, Ada 1968 AMC AMX
Bill Steigerwalt, Bluffton 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7
2023 “PARK–in–the-PARK” CAR SHOW CLASS WINNERS LIST
1934 or older Dan Gregg, Sycamore 1930 Hudson Super 8
1935-1948 Phil Cramer, Ottawa 1939 Chevy 2 door
1949-1963 Carl Schwobel, Findlay 1957 Ford “T” Bird
1964-1972 Car Tom Harvey, Bluffton 1966 Plymouth Satellite
1964-1972 Truck Bob Sibold, Lafayette 1966 Chevy C-10
1973-1993 Car Todd Motter, Dunkirk 1985 Olds 442
1973-1993 Truck Clyde & Donna Prater, Bellefontaine 1984 Chevy El Camino
1994-Present Car Jason Szuch, Ada 2023 Ford Shelby GT 500
1994-Present Truck Dalton Cochrane, Ada 2019 Dodge Ram 2500
VFW Choice Car Scott Meyer, Pandora 1969 Chevy Camaro
VFW Choice Truck Maverick LaRue, Ada 1969 C-10
VFW Choice Bike Devin Mullett, Ada 1977 Harley FLH
Vintage Bike Kevin (Hillbilly) Kipker, Belle Center 1979 Harley FLH
Club Trophy Flag City Corvette, Findlay Corvettes
