Flora couple's '69 Camaro is Hog Jog Cruise-in best
Comet staff report

Best of Show Of 210 entries in the Hog Jog Cruise-in held last Saturday in Flora, Jerry and Lorraine Popejoy's 1969 Chevy Camaro was named best of show. The car was also awarded Best G.M. Jerry Popejoy said he purchased the car from his son in 1994 and completely restored it to stock condition in 1996. Then in 2000 he modified the engine and made other upgrades. Finally, in 2005 he installed a bigger engine and air-ride suspension. Regarding the cruise-in, Popejoy said the event, held in the shade, was pleasant and he and his wife were happy to win the awards. "It was an honor to win best of show," he said. "It's virtually impossible to pick a winning car out of so many good entries. We were just happy for the votes." Photo provided

The 19th annual Hog Jog Cruise-In & Car Show was a success with 210 entries. Jerry and Lorraine Popejoy's 1969 Chevy Camaro was judged best of show. The Flora couple's auto was also the Best GM.

Other specialty class winners were Joe Hoover, Zionsville, who had the Best Ford with his 1956 Parklane Station Wagon and Mike Bowman, Lafayette, who had the Best Mopar with his 1969 Road Runner.

Yesteryear revisited This 1957 Ford Thunderbird, owned by Tom Ford of Avon, offers memories of fun summer nights on the town. The car was on display at the Hog Jog Cruise-in last Saturday at the park in Flora. In addition to perusing more than 200 cars on display at the annual event, visitors were treated to food, entertainment and plenty of shade. Comet photo by Kevin Schnepp

The club participation award went to the Shifters of Kokomo.

Drawing winners included Ron Sibert of Lebanon, Larry Williams of Marion, Ed Spitznagle of Lafayette, Bob Klinkhammer of Brookston, and Chris Henry of Galveston.

Class winners were: Pre-1950 Stock - 1st, Jim Wildrick, Monticello, 1949 Hudson Convertible; 2nd, George Gilbert, Kirklin, 1948 Plymouth Deluxe; 3rd, Jason and Monica Sharkley, Lebanon, 1942 Plymouth Special Deluxe.

Class B, 1950-1959 Stock - 1st, Bill and Ruth Herr, Lowell, 1956 Mercury; 2nd, Roger Brown, Tipton, 1950 Ford; 3rd, Charles Grimes, Tipton, 1951 Plymouth.

1960-1965 Stock - 1st, Ed Call, New Palestine, 1960 Ford Sunliner; 2nd, Jerry and Janet Arvin, Lafayatte, 1960 Chevrolet Impala; 3rd, Ed Spitznagle, Lafayette, 1963 Chevrolet Impala.

1966-1969 Stock - 1st, Morris Egelhoff, Frankfort, 1966 Mustang GT; 2nd, Mike Lornell, Lafayette, 1968 Camaro; 3rd, Kenny Parish, Lafayette, 1969 Dodge Superbee.

1970-Present Stock - 1st, Lee Holloway, Fairmont, 1972 Monte Carlo; 2nd, Steve Wildom, Greenwood, 1970 Plymouth Road Runner; 3rd, Gar Langley, Atlanta, 1970 Chevrolet Nova.

1955, 1956, 1957 (all makes) - 1st, Joe Hoover, Zionsville, 1956 Ford Parklane; 2nd, Jane and Alysha Scott, Kokomo, 1957 Buick; 3rd, Keegan Helmerick, Monticello, 1956 Chevrolet.

Corvette (1953-1982) - 1st, Buddy Hodgdon, Lebanon, 1959; 2nd, John Adair, Logansport, 1961; 3rd, Jim and Janet Proffitt, Flora, 1967.

Corvette (1984-Present) - 1st, Glenn Nulty, Brownsburg, 2004; 2nd, Sally Schmidt, Flora, 2000; 3rd, no placing.

Thunderbird - 1st, Kathleen House, Indianapolis, 1956; 2nd, Tom Ford, Avon, 1957; 3rd, Bobby Carroll, Sharpsville, 1957.

Pro-Street - 1st, Shane Waymire, Tipton, 1969 Camaro; 2nd, John and Vickie Shard, Kokomo, 1955 Chevrolet; 3rd, Tom Wright, Frankfort, 1940, Dodge.

Street Machine - 1st, Jerry and Lorraine Popejoy, Flora, 1969 Camaro; 2nd, Bill Nelson, Kokomo, 1968 Mustang; 3rd, Sog Sondegrath, West Lafayette, 1974 Pontiac GTO.

Street Rod (pre-1949 open top) - 1st, Phil Hess, Kokomo, 1948 Buick Convertible; 2nd, Steve MacPherson, Lebanon, 1932 Ford; 3rd, Don Bitner, Tipton, 1932 Ford.

Street Rods (pre-1949 hard top) - 1st, Steve and Brenda Stafford, Kokomo, 1935 Ford Woody; 2nd, Joe and Lisa Ingram, Indianapolis, 1935 Ford 5 Window Coupe; 3rd, Ray and Janice Flanigan, DeMotte, 1936 Ford Pick-up.

Custom (Car or Truck) - 1st, Dick Rice, Russiaville, 1946 Olds Convertible; 2nd, Marcia and Jim Siefert, Dayton, 1952 Chevy Truck; 3rd, Paul Young, Frankfort, 1951 Chevy.

Full Size Truck - 1st, Fred and Peg Lermert, Plymouth, 1953 Chevy Pick-up; 2nd, Mike and Deb Ward, Medaryville, 1938 Ford; 3rd, Jack Miller, Flora, 1986 Dodge.

Mini Truck - 1st, Josh Gavin, Larwill, 2002 GMC Sonoma; 2nd, Chastity Morris, Galveston, 1992 Chevy S-10; 3rd, Shawn Bishop, Columbia City, 2001 Sonoma.

Motorcycle - 1st, Dan Peterson, West Point, 2005 Honda Goldwing w/2007 Corvette Trailer; 2nd, Phil Hodson, Flora, 1998 Harley- Davidson; 3rd, R.J. Frye, Wabash, 2002 Honda 1800VTX.

Unfinished - 1st, Tom Heflin, Walton, 1956 Chevy DelRay; 2nd, Bob Nonemachor, Tipton, 1948 Chevy Suburban; 3rd, Larry Carter, Tipton, 1937 Ford.

Teenager - 1st, Brandon Trent, Flora, 1968 Ford Mustang; 2nd, Patrick Hodge, Lafayette, 1966 Chevy Caprice; 3rd, Aurora Shands, Flora, 1995 Ford.

Special Interest - 1st, Bob Peterson, Burnettsville, International Scout; 2nd, Chris Henry, Galveston, 1923 Ford T-Bucket; 3rd, Fred Roland, Logansport, 1923 Ford TBucket.

Sports Compact - 1st, Bob Hall, Kokomo, 1965 Shelby Cobra; 2nd, Ken Rice, Russiaville, 1948 Morris Minor; 3rd, Dean Bousum, Kokomo, 1997 BMW Roadster.

The annual event is sponsored by Idlers car club of Flora.