Princeton’s 41st Homestead Festival car show a revving good time

After taking a year off last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Homestead Festival car show was back again this past weekend.

Princeton’s historic downtown on Sunday, Sept. 12, was lined with hot rods ranging from antiques to today’s make and model for the 41st car show event.

The show invites nearly 30 classes of classic cars and motorcycles.

One fun story that came out of the car show event was shared by Princeton Mayor Joel Quriam on his Mayor of Princeton Facebook Page.

Quiram said he had the honor of choosing any vehicle for this year’s Mayor’s Choice award. Upon choosing, he came upon Bill Uher’s two-toned 1953 Chevy poultry and egg delivery wagon.

Quiram quickly learned that Uher was ready to bring his 1926 Ford Model T to the show, but it blew a gasket. So, instead, he decided to bring the poultry and egg delivery wagon.

Quiram got a kick out of the story, and ended up choosing Uher’s wagon for the Mayor’s Choice award.

“I suddenly had an affinity for chickens and farm fresh eggs ... so for chicken lovers everywhere, this year’s Mayor’s Trophy goes to ... Bill Uher,” stated Quiram on the Facebook page.

Below is a full list of results from the 41st annual Homestead Festival Car Show:

Antique Pre-1948 — William VanDierendonck of Princeton, 1940 Hupmobile, first; John and Becky Kehoe of Mendota, 1930 Model A Tudor, second; and John Noble of Mendota, 1930 Ford Model A, third.

Restored/Original 1949-1959 — Bill Duncan of Sterling, 1959 Chevy Impala, first; Chip Otto of Dahinda, 1957 Chevy Bel Air Convertible, second; and Alan and Linda Doubet or Peoria, 1957 Ford Skyliner, third.

Restored/Original 1960-1969 — Lori Roth of Colona, 1967 Chevy Chevelle, first; David Kinczewski of Granville, 1967 Pontiac GTO, second; and Steve Ewing of Lafayette, 1962, Pontiac Catalina, third.

Restored/Original 1970-1979 — Salsman family of Tiskilwa, 1970 Ford Mustang, first; Bruce and Bev Lamps of Peru, 1970 Chevy Chevelle, second; and Jeff Williams of Princeton, 1971 Pontiac GTO, third.

Restored/Original 1980-1989 — Teresa Haga of Galva, 1986 Chevy Monte Carlo, first; Doug and Julie Burcham of Spring Valley, 1987 Chevy Camaro Z28 IROC, second; and Char Crew of Magnolia, 1988 Ford Mustang, third.

Restored/Original 1990-2009 — Dawsyn Kinsley of Princeton, 1990 Jaguar, first; Brad Schumacher of LaMoille, 1999 Chevy Monte Carlo, second; and Steve and Pam Jensen of Machesney Park, 2006 Dodge Charger, third.

Restored/Original 2010-present — Ricky Smith of Marseilles, 2010 Dodge Challenger, first; Mike Legate of Abingdon, 2012 Chevy Camaro, second; and Don and Diane Evans of Princeton, 2017 Ford Mustang, third.

Trucks 2 Wheel All — Dennis Taylor of Buda, 1954 Chevy, first; Peter Estrada of Sterling, 1952 Chevy, second; and Harry Schreiner of Leaf River, 1952 Chevy 3100, third.

Trucks 4x4 All — Jack Losey of Phoenix, Ariz., 1964 Chevy, first; Darren Cole of LaSalle, 1974 Ford Bronco, second; and Eric Roebuck of Senica, 1992 Dodge, third.

Restored/Original Trucks - All — Craig Ziegler of Tiskilwa, 1947 International KB-1, first; Larry and Veronica Piper of Princeton, 1956 Chevy 3100, second; and Grinny of Peru, 1970 Dodge Little Red Express, third.

Street Machines Pre-1959 — Jesse Rodriguez of Sterling, 1933 Ford Coupe, first; Dave Uzella of Granville, 1957 Chevy Wagon, second; and Clyde Bass of Lakeview, Ariz., 1958 Ford Fairlane, third.

Street Machines 1960-1969 — Diz Demis of LaSalle, 1962 Chevy Impala, first; Rita Salsman of Tiskilwa, 1965 Mercury Cyclone, second; and Charles Tabor of Galt, 1962 Chevy Impala, third.

Street Machines 1970-1979 — Larry Dzierzynski of Peru, Ford Mustang, first; Chris and Katie Gomes of Lafayette, 1979 Chevy Chevelle, second; and Todd Obenhaus of Princeton, 1970 Plymouth Satellite, third.

Street Machines 1980-1989 — Bob Scott of Ottawa, 1984 Chevy Camaro, first; Tom Danhon of Sparland, 1984 Chevy Monte Carlo, second; and Wally Theobald of Varna, 1986 Chevy Silverado, third.

Street Machines 1990-2009 — Anthony Wissen of Streator, 2006 Pontiac GTO, first; Phil Conkling of Princeton, 2006 Ford Mustang, second; and Dan Jonas of Rock Falls, 2006 four-door Buick, third.

Street Machines 2010-present — Dana Glenn of Port Byron, 2011 Chevy Camaro, first; Justin Dumke of Ottawa, 2017 Ford Mustang, second; and Airik Guerrero of Ottawa, 2010 Cadillac CTA, third.

Special Interest — Karl Wollerman of Sheffield, 1976 Gran Torino, first; Kenny and Shirley Lewis of Dunlap, 1979 Chevy Suburban, second; and Shane Whittington of Hollowayville, 2000 Jeep Spider, third.

Street Rods — Kenny and Nancy Rollins of Victoria, 1938 Cadillac 60 Special, first; Edd Robinson of Princeton, 1940 Chevy Master Deluxe, second; and Bill Shermin of Peru, 1933 Ford Coupe, third.

Customs — Josh Martinez of DePue, 1940 Chevy Master Deluxe, first; Mike and Shanda Hilmes of New Bedford, 1978 Ford Mustang, second; and John Chapman of Earlville, 1940 Plymouth Sedan, third.

Corvette — Larry Evoskis of Spring Valley, 1966 Chevy Corvette, first; Keith Smith of LaMoille, 1961 Chevy Corvette, second; and Mark Hunter of LaSalle, 1970 Chevy Corvette, third.

Import — Lee Hewitt of LaMoille, 1972 VW Beetle, first; Doug Narczewski of Spring Valley, 1966 Volkswagen GHIA, second; and Daryl Peterson of Hennepin, 2010 BMW Z4, third.

Racecar/ProStreet — Walt Brandt of Sterling, 1967 Oldsmobile 442, first; Craig and Beth Newquist of Colona, 1935 Dodge Coupe, second; and John Peterson of Moline, 1941 Willys Coupe, third.

Unfinished — Randy Saal of Princeton, 1957 Chevy Bel Air, first; Mark Dixon of Wyanet, 1952 Willys pickup, second; and Ray and Julie Crew of Magnolia, 1975 Oldsmobile Cutlass, third.

Rat Rod — Kyle Jackson of Princeton, 1941 Chevy pickup, first; Jonathan Moore of LaRose, 1929 Ford Model A, second; and John Sprinkle of Lee, 2009 Nissan 370 Touring Z, third.

Motorcycles

Modified/Custom — Jason Lybarger of Monmouth, 2019 Harley Davidson, first; Mike Neahring of New Bedford, 2014 Harley Davidson, second; and Dean and Liz Sutton of Las Vegas, Nev., 2019 Honda Fury, third.

Touring Mixed — Rob and Lorrie Shaffer of Illinois City, 2006 Harley Davidson Street Guide, first; Dwayne Jackson of Princeton, 2005 Harley Davidson Fat Boy, second; and Shane Whittington of Hollowayville, 2010 Harley Davidson Road Glide, third.

Antique 85 and Older — Michael Corey of Kasbeer, 1959 Harley Davidson ST 165, first; Steve Gross of Princeton, 1955 Harley Davidson Servi-Car, second; and Dave Booth of Princeton, 1946 Indian Chief, third.

Sportster — Trevon Spenser of Princeton, 2013 Harley Davidson Sportster, first; Jason Lyberger of Monmouth, 1985 Harley Davidson Sportster, second; and Heather Whittington of Hollowayville, 2006 Harley Davidson Sportster, third.

Foreign — Kyle Jackson of Princeton, 1980 Kawasaki KZ 1000, first; and Kyle Jackson of Princeton, 2019 Kawasaki Z900, second.

Special Awards

Mayor’s Choice — Bill Uher of Tiskilwa, 1953 Sedan Delivery.

Bill Wirges Award — Walt Brandt of Sterling, 1967 Olds 442.

Homestead Steering Committee — Kenny and Shirley Lewis of Dunlap, 1979 Chevy Suburban.