Classic, modern cars presented at Kicks on 66 preview Thursday

The City of Edwardsville considers the Kicks on 66 show as one of its five, key annual events, organizers say.

Parked under the late summer sun beneath lots of puffy cumulus clouds, classic Volkswagen Beetles rubbed shoulders with modern Ford Mustangs. There were Corvettes galore from several of the vehicle’s eight generations. The car notches its 70th anniversary next year and is Chevrolet’s second longest-running nameplate after the Suburban, which debuted in 1935. Classic Camaros were present, along with Malaise Era compact coupes, a Pontiac Ventura GTO and a Dodge Aspen R/T. A few Ferraris and BMWs also dotted the course. 

For Donald Holtmann of Glen Carbon, who camped out in a deck chair under a big tree for shade, his pride and joy was just a few feet away, his 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS396 Coupe. Built at GM’s former Norwood, Ohio factory and finished in Fathom Green with white racing stripes, he said he bought the car in 2002.

“I always wanted one since they were new but I couldn’t afford the insurance on one,” he said. He said he previously owned a 1970 Ford Torino, a mid-sized car then, packed with a 429 CID Cobra-Jet V-8 and while that was enough for a while, he retained his desire for a first-generation F-body Camaro.

Holtmann said he missed last year’s show due to family circumstances but he intends to return to the golf course next month, Camaro in tow.

Parked just a few feet away in his own chair enjoying the shade was Pat Garvey of Collinsville. Garvey owns a 1956 Chevrolet Bel-Air Coupe, dressed in white over green. Other than the Corvette from 1953 to 1959, Chevrolet only made one size car that decade, what came to later be called full-size. Compacts, mid-sizers, subcompacts and such all came later. Chevrolet’s coupe and sedan came in three flavors: the workaday 150, the mid-level 210 and the top-of-the-line Bel-Air. The rare, two-door Nomad Station Wagon is a chapter unto itself. The 1955-1957 models are collectively known as Tri-Fives and are highly prized.

Garvey said he’s owned the Bel-Air for 22 years. He changed out the original V-8 engine for a 350 CID unit backed by a four-speed manual transmission. The car also has power steering and power brakes. Garvey said it’s more of a cruiser than a racer but is “fun to drive.” A pair of fuzzy dice dangled from the rearview mirror. 

“It’s a labor of love so to speak in memory of Randy Gori, a great friend to the huge car culture of motordom scene in STL,” said Ryan O’Day, president. “Hope to see all 41 car clubs of STL and beyond represented, including Need 4 Speed Exotics club, Edwardsville Racing Association and many more. We continue to cross-market with other events organizers in the area like Cruisin’ on Lindbergh. Car people love connecting and that’s what we provide. A great atmosphere to connect, share ideas, stories and more.”

For its inaugural year, the event had 300 cars and motorcycles on the show field and an estimated 1,500 people attended. Now, for the third year, between 650 and 750 vehicles and 2,500 people are expected to come. Organizers say that as of Aug. 19, 284 cars, motorcycles and trucks will be on display next month: antiques, classics, pre-war, post-war, hot rods, restomods, sports cars, exotics, 4x4s, muscle cars, dune buggies and more. Entries come from both sides of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area plus Quincy, Centralia and Columbia, Missouri. 

Jeff Kennedy, the show’s treasurer and field chair, said he receives more entries daily and he’s working a Corvair Club and a Mini Club to get them in.

Admission will be free. The show partners for charity with Backstoppers (nationally) and Partners for Pets (locally). For more information, visit Kicks on 66.