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- Brothers Jim Hansen of Stillwater and Norley Hanson (right) of Willmar take a closer look at a 1966 Chevy Impala Aug. 19. This was the first time the two attended the annual Pantowners Car Show.
by TaLeiza Calloway
news@thenewsleaders.com
The scene was a car-lover’s dream.
Rows of Model-T’s, Chevrolets and Cadillacs filled the Benton County Fairgrounds Aug. 19. Car enthusiasts from throughout Minnesota journeyed to St. Cloud to take part in the 37th annual Pantowners Auto Show and Swap Meet in St. Cloud. The event is hosted by the St. Cloud Antique Auto Club.
St. Joseph resident Lisa Dehn has be
[/media-credit]St. Joseph resident Andy Loso’s 1925 Model T-Ton Truck was one of hundreds of antique cars on display at the Pantowners 37th annual Car Show and Swap Meet Aug. 19.[/media-credit]Jewelry designer DJ Voth shows Xavier Ondich, 9, of Brooklyn Center, the bracelet he ordered for his sister Olivia Aug. 19. His grandmother Sherry Ondich and his father Dan Ondich took a closer look at the design as well.”][media-credit id=5 align=”alignleft” width=”300″]
en attending and volunteering at the event since she was a child. Her mother, Wendy Theisen, went into labor with Lisa two days before the annual show 30 years ago. They attended as a family. She is definitely what you would call a life member of the Pantowners Club. She was the registration chairwoman this year.
“The nice thing about working the show is the cars come to you,” Dehn said. “People are very creative. It’s neat to see their personalities come out in their cars.”
Those traits could be as simple as a metallic blue paint job, a lime-green design with flames on the hood or a yellow Thunderbird. Variety of style is in abundance at the annual event. That is what makes the show so much fun, Dehn said.
Club member Bruce Theisen said there were more than 600 cars at the show last year. That is about how many exhibitors the event draws per year, he said.
Kathy Heim of St. Joseph has been a member of the Pantowners Auto Club since 2007. Even though she doesn’t own a classic vehicle, she was moved by her interest in cars to join.
“I joined the club because I love old cars,” Heim said. “I’ve always liked them.”
Heim admired Andy Loso’s 1925 Model T ton truck during the event Aug. 19. Loso, also a St. Joseph resident, spent four years restoring the classic vehicle. He also helps others restore Model Ts. Though it might seem like a long time, he says it’s not long if one has the interest in it. He sells old and new parts to help car hobbyists.
“We stripped it down to bare metal,” Loso said. “It wasn’t hard. We completely rebuilt it.”
As attendees took their time perusing the large selection of cars, they also had the choice of tapping into their artistic side. The arts-and-crafts area buzzed with traffic throughout the day.
Jewelry designer DJ Voth of St. Cloud has been a vendor at the event for 15 years. She has had the same space in the craft show — the one next to her parents, who also make one-of-a-kind artwork and crafts. She was happy to join the more than 20 vendors (an increase from 2011) participating this year.
More than anything, Voth likes the chance to share her jewelry. For her, it’s not about the money. She does it for fun.
“It’s nice,” Voth said of the event. “The people who come here are dedicated. They pay to come through that gate and it’s worth it.”