WHEATLAND – One of newest and most anticipated events of the year came and went last weekend with a rumble, a lot of ‘50s music, loud crashes and gallons of water.

The third annual Blue Mountain Car Show was going to make a run at its past success without television stars, primidone’s or famous cars. It not only lived up to its billing, but exceeded all expectations as the event witnessed more vehicles on display than ever before, more crowds filling the streets of Wheatland and more organizations participating.

The BMCS eve brought a tremendous hail storm to southern Platte County and passing storms to the north and as it passed, it left promises of record temperatures. Friday’s forecast was calling for sunny skies, a heat index over 100 and steamy temperatures.

People began to come into town Friday afternoon to view the town and to experience some of Wheatland’s eclectic downtown shopping and homemade cuisine. At 4:30 runners began to warm up and guzzle water as the 5K race that would take them from Bob Ruwart Motors to South Street Pharmacy would be run under extreme heat warnings.

As the racers began to come into view on South Street, Justin Herdt was cranking up the ‘50s tunes with his DJ service DJ Magik as classic cars began to fill the South Street Pharmacy parking lot in preparation for the traditional Friday night cruise. The town of Wheatland is no stranger to “cruising” as they have been doing it since the ‘50s and then resurrected it again in the late ‘70s when ‘50s music made a comeback.

At 7 p.m. cars began to exit the parking lot and more cars began to exit the interstate, coming to the little town of Wheatland to be a part of the cruise. Cars from every classic generation were represented, not to mention motorcycles and trucks and even trucks pulling horse trailers.

People were dancing in the parking lot, drinking adult beverages and being part of the cheer squad for the many classics that passed by. Up and down South Street the parade of classic cars thundered by – thrilling the crowd with drag racing, as the smell of burning rubber wafted through the air.

Comments from the older gallery commented that it brought back many memories as the cars sped up and down the make-shift drag strip, but instead of every car radio blasting the same local radio station, Herdt’s music blasted for blocks and on more than one occasion someone was heard reminiscing and wiping a tear left over from a past memory of their youth.

There is something magical about being part of a cruise. “It’s kind of like being in a parade,” a cruiser who came from Nebraska said, “Only better. I am rethinking a move to Wheatland.”

The weekend before brought three days of fireworks and loud explosions. This past weekend brought the rumbling of the souped-up engines and the colorful “cherry paint jobs” with the incredible “tuck and roll upholstery.”

Many walked to the Commodore at 10 in the balmy Florida-like night. The smart ones headed home for sleep as this year’s Blue Mountain Car Show would run longer and hotter than previous years. With the cherry on the Sundae being a demolition derby at the fairgrounds.

Downtown Wheatland was a flurry of activity as the sun started to come up. From vendors cooking in their trucks to cars pulling in to register and secure their spot along the downtown scenery.

It didn’t take very long to break a sweat as the temperature climbed to 90 before 10 a.m. and then rocketed to 102 degrees by 2 p.m. This year’s car show was more than a car show. It was more like a car show carnival.

It had everything and all the locals jumped aboard the chugging train. From the 15u/17u Lobos who had joined forces to set up a dunk tank with the Kiwanis Club to a Matchbox championship racecourse set near the intersection of Gilchrist and Ninth.

The Platte County Library had set up a type of obstacle fitness course on their sidewalk and had a game called “Chutes ‘N Ladders” along with providing food and a good book with the Book and a Bite program.

Food smells literally penetrated and hung in the downtown atmosphere that surprising sported no Wyoming wind. The crowd was trending with water bottles and sunblock and all complaining with smiles on their faces as to how hot it was and thoroughly enjoying the idea of being ablet to tell someone about it later that night. 

Wheatland, perhaps the safest place to live on earth as it has the headquarters of the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the Wheatland Police Department and the Platte County Sheriff’s office had all of the civil servants at the ready handing out water bottles, overseeing a driver impaired driving course with the drivers wearing “booze goggles” and water balloon baseball.

There were book signings, grand openings, more food than anyone could imagine, cars that were to die for and above it all, again, Herdt who is a tireless servant in Wheatland making sure there was a musical backdrop to the community canopy.

Old guys saying, “I remember having a car like that, wish I still had it, can’t believe I sold it for cheap…” and the old gals saying, “I remember dancing to that song at my High School dances…” It was a day for remembering. It was a day for admiring. It was a day for fathers and sons to bond over the great American unifier of the past – a car engine. It was a day for friends. For families. It was a day to enjoy the living past, looking at moveable living objects that were built long before many were even born.

To hear the roar of the engine as it starts up. To watch history drive past you only a few feet away and to know that there is a group that will keep the past close to our hearts.

Oh… and to hear the stories of the cars themselves who drove down these Wheatland streets long before even your parents were a glint in your grandparent’s eyes. Fully realizing that in the years to come, perhaps it will be you to educate that next generation with your stories of the road.

To realize it’s not just a show to look at cars.

Winners

2022 BMCS WinnersA-101949 & Older1941 Willys PickupTaylor SewaldB-121950-59 Original1958 Ford FairlaneCharles WalkerC-111950-59 Modified1950 Chevy 5-WindowKristy DelgadoD-91960-69 Original1961 Lotus EliteArt SivrelingE-31960-69 Modified1969 Chevy Camerp Z28Harold AlbrightF-21970-79 Original1970 Chevy ChevelleBob & Rhonda RuwartG-11970-79 Modified1972 Ford RancheroDennis DayH-51980-19961996 Ford MustangTaylor Huckfeldt I-41997-20042003 Ford MustangScott HuckfeldtJ-52005-2013 Original2012 Chevy Camero SS/RS Transformers EditionRon & Stephanie NelsonK-22005-2013 Modified2007 Ford MustangBrenda TreuthardtL-22014-2021 Original2020 Chevy CorvetteWillard WoodsN-32014-2021 Modified2017 Chevy Camero ZL1Matt MenaM-5MotorcycleBSA M-20Barry Christopherson    O-4Other1937 Chevy Coupe LegendLee's TowingR-2Rat Rod1924 Star F5William KellerS-1Big-Rig / SemiTrucks1961 International West RoastenMalachi HaroldsonU-10Under 211969 Chevy CameroLiam WagnerW-6Work in Progress1973 Buick ApolloOra Burton (Tony)X-2First Responder1954 Buick Highway Patrol CruiserWyoming Highway Patrol    B-6Capstone1954 Ford Skyliner GlasstopNewt WeberD-3Western Building Supply1964 Chevy Nova SS Convertible Bob & Rhonda RuwartI-3WyPlatteCo2002 Ford TbirdJoyce PetersonD-2Lee's Towing1969 Chevy Camero ConvertibleBob & Rhonda RuwartD-12Bob Ruwart Motors1961 Chevy Corvair WagonMike JohnsonF-10PH Consulting1979 Chevy Camero Z28Jenkin's Auto BodyL-7Roaming Buffalo Design Co.2021 Ford Shelby GT500 MustangMark EiseleB-15Sponsor's Choice / JL1955 Chevy NomadPhil NissenF-9People's Choice1970 Chevy CST C10Jenkin's Auto Body

Bottom Pictures: 

Car1: Downtown Wheatland was filled with over 160 vehicles and thousands of spectators that lined the streets for the third annual Blue Mountain Car Show that took place last Friday through Sunday.

Car2: The car show featured a lot of other local organizations such as the dunk tank which was more popular for those who were getting dunked in temperatures that went over 100 degrees Saturday afternoon. Hunter Knott and Riley Appleton who both play for the Lobos 15U team joined with the 17U team and the Kiwanis to raise funds for their organizations.

Car3: Kayla Wert was running the Matchbox races that took place on Ninth Street during the Blue Mountain Car Show. People could bring their own cars or buy a car at the race booth for $1.

Car4: The Platte County Sheriff’s Department, the Wyoming Highway Patrol and the local Wheatland Police were all involved in the event, offering help, security, water to combat the heat and an impaired driving course where drivers had to wear “booze goggles” which simulated the feeling of being impaired while driving. Wheatland resident and WHP trooper Jaime Wingard kneels next to her new cruiser and next to the vintage WHP cruiser.

Car5: The Kiwanis Club of Wheatland held a cornhole tournament and also cooked food at their book next to the Landmark Bar.

Car6: Mitch Blackburn of Blackburn’s Emporium had a popular spot during the car show heat and had his air conditioning cranked up and he was also showing off his new soda fountain that he installed in the emporium. Seen here, Blackburn shows of his unique vehicle at the car show.

Car7: Wheatland streets were filled with classic cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles and specialty vehicles for the Third annual Blue Mountain Car Show.

Cruise1: The Blue Mountain Car showed kicked off Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. at Bob Ruwart Motors where runners participating in the 5K would take off and head toward South Street Pharmacy where Justin Herdt had set up his sound machine, DJ Magik. Cars peeled out, burned rubber, raced and showcased their vehicles from  7-10 p.m.

Cruise2: A steady line of vehicles paraded up and down South Street as was the custom all the way back to the ‘50s when cruising on Friday nights was a huge part of Americana.