Local car is Early Iron winner

ALAMOSA — Earning another win, this time in their own hometown, co-owners Johnny Martin and Greg and Judy Hrehovcsik of Alamosa received the top award in the 38th Early Iron Festival on Saturday with their ’57 Chevy “Imagine.”

The 1957 Chevrolet Custom, sponsored by Skyline Potato Co., won Rodders Choice on Saturday. The honor comes after a whirlwind of awards this year including the 2018 Don Ridler Award at the Detroit Autorama and the Legends Cup Award in Chicago to the Wasatch Cup Award in Salt Lake City and the Custom Rod of the Year Finalist in Des Moines. The vehicle will be inducted in the Hall of Fame at the Detroit Autorama.

This year’s Early Iron Festival, which drew 600 rodders to the area, was dedicated to long-time member and club president Jeff Woodward who died last month after battling cancer.

Ladies Choice went to Joaquin Gonzalez, Rancho de Taos, NM., with a 1968 Pontiac ambulance.

Also in the top 15 at the 38th Early Iron Festival were:

• 1969 Chevy Camero, Ron Vigil, Henderson, sponsored by Monte Vista Potato Growers COOP Assn.

• 1940 Ford Coupe, Jerry Worthington, Cañon City, sponsored by Cool Sunshine Realty-Mike Lee

• Unrestored 1931 Chrysler CM-6 , Tim Houlton, Los Alamos, NM, sponsored by L&M Auto Parts

• 1941 Willys Coupe, Richard Hamilton, Westminster, sponsored by Ivan’s Small Appliance Repair

• 1967 Chevy Nova, John Backes, Lakewood, sponsored by ION Graphic Design

• 1946 Chevy Fleetline, John Montano, Colorado Springs, sponsored by CIA-Leavitt

• 1963 Lincoln Continental, James McGraw, Monument, sponsored by Wenta Nip & Sanitizing, LLC

• 1945 Chevy Pickup, Greg Gonzales, Hudson, sponsored by Lynn Gutierrez

• 1941 Chevy Coupe, Louie & Laurie Fesmire, Pueblo, sponsored by SLV Federal Bank

• 1935 Ford 4 Door Sedan, Shane & Rae Deane Gebbink, Pueblo, sponsored by Rogers Family Mortuary

• 1937 Ford 2 Door Slantback, Rick Hattan, Morrison Co., sponsored by Farmers Insurance-Daren Bolt

• 1968 Chevrolet El Camino Custom Bubble Top, Darrell Yohn, Alamosa, sponsored by Valley Gun Service

• 1967 Chevelle, Billy Wollburg, Durango, sponsored by Jerry & Barb Smith

Special award winners were:

Davey Craig Award — 1937 Ford Woodie Wagon, James O’Neil, Delta, sponsored by Clarke Auto Service

• Boney Gallardo Award, 1957 Chevy Bel Air, Timothy Maypole, Thorton

• N.S.R.A. Safety Pick, 1956 Mercury Big Window Pick up, Mike Welch, Denver, sponsored by Amy McKinley for Alamosa Treasurer

Captions: The Early Iron ‘Rodder’s Choice’ winner, ‘Imagine’ attracts plenty of attention while on display on Saturday. The ’57 Chevy owned by Greg Hrehovcsik and Johnny Martin has been making the rounds lately picking up plenty of meaningful wins in noteworthy shows./Courier photos by Stephen Jiron

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Mike Welch of Denver accepts the ‘N.S.R.A. Safety Pick’ award.  Welch’s 1956 Mercury Big Window Pickup was sponsored Amy McKinley for Alamosa Treasurer.

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Anna Gallardo (right) presents Timothy Maypole of Thorton the ‘Boney Gallardo’ award for his 1957 Chevy Bel Air.

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Helen Craig (right) presents James O’Neil of Delta the ‘Davey Craig’ award. O’Neil’s 1937 Ford Woodie Wagon was sponsored by Clarke Auto Service.

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Joaquin Gonzalez of Rancho de Taos, NM. accepts the ‘Ladies’ Choice’ award for his 1968 Pontiac ambulance.