For the Love of Cars

SEELEY LAKE - Thirteen cars filled the Parts Plus parking lot in Seeley Lake Saturday, July 8 for the fourth annual Seeley Lake Show and Shine Car Show. The event was started by a group of friends from Great Falls that enjoy getting together and driving their vehicles. Three car-owners from the group brought their vehicles, the rest were from the area including Seeley Lake, Dutton and Lincoln.

Randy Shaw traveled from Lincoln with his old Pro Stock Centerline built by Willie Rells. In the 1980s, the car was purchased new from Ford. Owner Steve Davis had it acid dipped to lighten the body.

Davis raced it competitively in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) circuit. It was clocked at 170 miles per hour in 8.2 seconds.

During a race in Texas, Shaw said Davis was up against the track owner's daughter for the win. Even though he finished first, the daughter received the trophy. Davis left the NHRA and parted out the car and sold the motor and transmission.

When Shaw met Davis he found the car in pieces and covered in saddles and tents. They decided to rebuild it to racing specifications and get it back on the track. When Davis died suddenly of a heart attack, his wife gave the car to Shaw who finished restoring it. He has more than 200 passes in the car going 151 mph in 8.7 seconds.

Seeley Lake resident Ken Brochu brought over his 1967 Oldsmobile Cutless 442 Convertible for his first Show and Shine.

Brochu's grandfather worked for Oldsmobile for 39 years and his father worked for them for 31 years. Brochu paid his way through college working at the plant in Michigan.

Brochu built the convertible in Lansing, Mich. It has a 400 cubic inch V-8 engine and turbo 400 automatic. He repainted the car in 1983.

"I love [working] on it and driving it," said Brochu. The only problem Brochu has now after moving to Seeley Lake is that he has a black car and lives on a dirt road. "It's so hard to keep it clean."

All of the proceeds from the silent auction were donated to the Seeley-Swan Search and Rescue (SSSAR) again this year.

 

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