Wheelin' to Medora

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A restored 1932 Packard Dietrich convertible is the special exhibit car for this year’s Medora Car Show.

“It’s being brought by a South Dakota collector, who has shown special cars in previous years,” show co-director Carl Larson said.

The convertible was purchased at the Earle C. Anthony dealership of Los Angeles as a Christmas present. After being restored, it won first place at a Pebble Beach, Calif., show, Larson said.

“It’s a regular car produced by Packard,” Larson said. “It has a dual V-split windshield, while the standard ones do not.”

More than 100 antique and classic cars will be displayed on the east end of Medora by the Badlands Motel. The show is 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, with a parade of cars at 4:30 p.m.

This could be the final show because motel construction is proposed for the show grounds, Larson said.

“If people are thinking about coming, this is the year they should come — beyond that, we don’t know,” he said.

First, second and third place trophies will be awarded for more than 20 categories based upon car and truck year, make and model, as well as oldest car and Pioneer Award. Exhibitors are coming from the Upper Midwest, along with Michigan and Oregon.

“We always have new vehicles that haven’t been shown before,” Larson said.

The show opens with activities on Friday, in the Medora Community Center.

Larson produced a slide show, featuring rare cars featured in the Medora Antique Classic Car Show since 1978. It starts at 7:30 p.m. This will be followed by a reception and music by the Friday Night Gang.

The Medora Car Show is unique in that it showcases a special exhibit car, while last year’s first-place winners are invited back for the Winners’ Circle, Larson said. He credits the longevity to the location.

“It’s located below the buttes, it’s the Musical, it’s everything that Medora has to offer,” Larson said. “People love to come to Medora — that’s the draw.”

The show is sponsored by the Dakota Western Auto Club, along with the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation and the Medora merchants. Volunteers fill more than 80-plus work slots during the show.

In addition, members of the Pioneer Auto Club from Bismarck/Mandan help with the parking. The club also will have a Model T assembly demonstration at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday.

This year, a category was reserved for the past “Best of Show” winners.

“So far, we have nine coming back,” Larson said.

To register a car, go to www.medora.com. For more information, call Larson at 701-225-8851 or co-chairman Mark Schields at 701-225-8149.

Tags: medora car show, lifestyle, medora, dickinson