1926 Model T Ford ‘fan favourite’ at Gravenhurst Car Show

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — It was a cooked deal.

Rolfe Redmann drove away with the Piston Cup as the top car Saturday at the Gravenhurst Chamber of Commerce Car Show.

The “fan favourite” went to his delicious 1926 Model T Ford.

So why, of the 570 antique and classic cars and trucks that jammed Gull Lake Rotary Park, did the hundreds who cast ballots for his hot rod make it the critics’ choice and winner of Wayne’s Tire Piston Cup?

Well, for starters, you couldn’t miss its brilliant orange colour just behind second base.

That’s praise enough, among acres of autos designed and brilliantly painted to stand out from outer space.

Not an easy pick, but ….

Redmann’s Ford was clearly outstanding in its field.

And the fact that it was a two-piece entry, that helped.

But the pièce de ré·sis·tance for the win had to be his trailer.

You’ve heard of people cooking road kill on their engine.

Well the Cambridge car owner was towing the coolest looking barbecue.

And, get this, cooking hotdogs to give away.

How cool is that?

Think that may have helped?

A little, maybe.

But his was one of the top three people voted for among the top 10 vote-getting winners announced at 3 p.m.

Even though, just a few feet away, there was an equally cool banana-coloured Camaro with matching trailer.

Lift the hood on Redmann’s mini Ford replica trailer, and voila, gas barbecue.

Behind the wheel he carries his golf clubs. He picked it up from California, as a complemet to his car.

But he had plenty of competition.

There were hundreds of cars and trucks, new and old that realistically could have won.

All shined up and rarin’ to go.

Glistening chrome, slick-sliding doors, powerful engines — some that purred, others that rumbled and roared.

In between were a couple thousand drivers, owners and CAR-azy car lovers.

Car #1, a 1965 Mustang Fastback owned by Ron Sibley, was one of the 10 runner-ups fans loved. He arrived a 6:30 a.m. and was the first to register.

Lise Costello, of Asterville up north near Calendar, took home the $1,475 as winner of the 50/50 draw.

There were admirers from near and far: Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, across Muskoka and beyond.

Gerald Said and Gary Kirwin, of Markham, drove up in their matching ’32 Ford Tudors, with their respective wives, Lynne and Linda.

The Kirwins in the teal one and the Saids in the one coloured like a robin’s egg.

They’re neighbours in the community northeast of Toronto.

Lynne Said calls the owners “the twins.”

That’s because they’re so close. They go to all these shows together, especially when they’re near their cottage.

Gerald was walking down the street and saw Gary’s car and thought he’d like to have a car like that.

So Gary told him to find a fixer-upper and he’d help him restore it.

Gerald found one in Ottawa and they restored it and had it on the road in 1995, a decade after Gary finished his. He also owns a ’32 Five Window Coupe Roadster.

They couples were among hundreds who enjoyed a hot day with hot rods that filled the park’s every square foot.

There was even a sighting of Silver Elvis.

Some of the vehicles will be in Bracebridge and Huntsville Sunday on their main streets for Father’s Day car shows.