News : Family history: For many, classic cars are part of bond between generations

Sarah Kreunter's birthday gift allowed her to bring this '76 Lincoln to the Cruise.

Larry Bearbower's '69 Dodge was at his wedding and brought all his babies home from the hospital.

Hanna Timmerman, left, showed friends the 64 VW rat rod she is learning to drive.

'Ruby' survived the 2011 storm and was restored in time for Colin and Maria Schild's 2012 wedding.

For many of the owners of the 350+ cars which filled Vinton for the annual Cruise on Saturday, the vehicles are a part of family history that is still in the making.

“I got married in this car. I brought home all of my children from the hospital in this car,” said Larry Bearbower of Vinton. The car he was referring to is his still-original 1969 Dodge Coronet.

For some people, their classic car was the ride at their wedding. For others, it becomes is a connection between generations.

For Moriah Schild, “Ruby,” a bright red 1952 Chevrolet step-side with white wheels, is both.

“My husband Colin already owned it when we met. He bought it from a couple in Dysart for $800,” says Moriah.

The truck sat in the shop for a few years, and survived the 2011 wind storm.

Moriah's grandfather, Dale McClain (who also owns an antique, a 1929 Coupe), restored and painted it just in time for the couple’s 2012 wedding.

“Our kids love her just as much as we do,” says Moriah.

Around the corner from Ruby and halfway between 1st and 2nd Avenue on 4th Street sat another step-side.
Fluffy, the 1965 Chevy step-side with a giant lift kit and a dump bed, will soon be something that Melissa and Clay McBride can share with the first grandchild the couple is expecting in a few days. Fluffy was a gift from Clay to Melissa, who introduced the truck to the Vinton Cruise in 2012. Next to Fluffy is Clay’s ride, covered with flames on the hood and fenders.

Making its first appearance at the Vinton Cruise this year was the 1916 Buick that Larry Beatty’s grandfather, Dana Stearns, brought brand new 99 years ago. Beatty inherited the Buick and had started to restore it 45 years ago, but after re-nickeling the silver on the bell and motor meter, he decided that the car would be better in its original condition.

The cruise is also a chance for young drivers to show off their favorite rides. For 16-year-old Sarah Kreutner, that means the 1976 Lincoln Town Car that’s been in her family for years. She and her sister proudly sat in it and discussed its history on Saturday.

Another teen driver had a chance to show off one of her favorites to her friends.

“Hey, there’s my dad’s car,” said Hanna Timmerman. She led three friends to Kevin’s 1964 VW ‘Rat Rod.”

Hanna’s already driving that car, says her mom, Jamie.

“Knowing how to drive a clutch in this house is just as important as learning how to bake,” says Jamie, the mother of two teenage daughters and an 11-year-old girl.

“Libbie and Hanna both are learning -- Kate not so much,” says Jamie, who clearly still remembers when she learned as a teen to drive a vehicle with a manual transmission.

“Kevin taught me to drive a clutch at age 16. He parked us on a hill and told me to get us home,” recalls Jamie. “I figured it was his transmission and clutch so I cried the whole time. Jamie recalls how the car stalled and rolled backwards as she struggled to find the right way to disengage the clutch.

“But I learned,” she said.

Sometimes, the owner of a vehicle makes sure that everyone who sees it knows the family connection. “WASMOMS” reads the license plate of a 50-year-old sedan from Crawford County.