2009 Bessemer Pumpkinfest Car Show Results

BESSEMER, MI - Monday, October 12, 2009 - Despite the less-than-ideal car show weather, twenty classic cars and trucks gathered for the 2009 Bessemer Pumpkinfest "Car Show in a Pumpkin Patch" on Saturday. Cars came from as far south as Wausau and as far north as Ontonagon. About 100 people cast their ballots for the "People's Choice" trophies. By one vote, first place went to a 1952 Ford Pickup Truck owned by Dennis Nielsen of Sayner, WI. Second place went to a 1938 Chevy Panel Truck owned by Rick Tippett of Ironwood.

Since there were twenty cars and there are twenty trophies awarded in this show, every car received a trophy this year. Best in Class and Outstanding in Class trophies were awarded in each of ten classes, with the voting on these being done by the show participants themselves. Winners for 2009 were as follows, with Best in Class listed first and Outstanding in Class listed second (some classes have two Outstanding awards and two have two Best awards):

Class A - Antiques to 1949 - No entries

Class B - Antiques, 1950-59 - Tom and Sharon Ravelli, Ironwood, 1954 Chevrolet 210; Willie Wisneski, Wausau, WI 1951 Ford 2-Door; Del Penton, Ironwood, 1953 Ford Mainline. Class C - Classic, 1960-69 - (Tie for Best) Dale Brookins, Ontonagon, MI 1964 Ford Thunderbird and George Slivinski, Eagle River, WI 1965 Chevrolet El Camino; Linda and Curt Gustafson, Ramsay, MI 1966 Pontiac StarChief Executive.

Class D - Classic, 1970-79 - Randy Albert, Junction City, WI 1972 Dodge Challenger; Jared Stone, Wakefield, 1978 Mercury Cougar.

Class E - Classic, 1980-present - Jimmy Jendrusina, Bessemer, 2001 Mustang; Marc Dean, Eagle River, WI 1989 Pontiac Firebird.

Class F - Tri-Chevy, 1955-56-57 - Gene and Joyce Ludtke, Eagle River, WI 1957 Chevrolet BelAir (only entry).

Class G - Street Rods to 1949 - (Tie for Best) Doug Stone, Merrill, WI 1938 Plymouth Sedan and Al Carcy, Junction City, WI, 1933 Plymouth Coupe; Bill Tippet, Ironwood, 1935 Ford 5-Window Coupe; John Kangas, Montreal, WI 1947 Plymouth Coupe.

Class H - Street Machines - No entries.

Class I - Trucks - Dennis Nielsen, Sayner, WI 1952 Ford Pickup; Mike and Paulette Benson, Merrill, WI 1940 Ford Pickup; Rick Tippett, Ironwood, 1979 Chevrolet Pickup.

Class J - Sports Car/Special Interest -Rick Tippett, Ironwood, 1938 Chevy Panel Truck; Marcus Bratu, Bessemer, 1969 Opel GT.

The annual Car Show in a Pumpkin Patch is co-sponsored by the Klassic Kruisers Car Club, PumpkinFest Committee, and Stempihar's BP Station and hosted by Bessemer Auto Super Center.