Classic cars and show cars take over the streets of Bonners Ferry

June 8, 2016

On a very hot day last Saturday, the streets of downtown Bonners Ferry were lined with a lot of very hot cars. One hundred eighty-seven automobiles showed up for the annual Borders Three Jamboree, sponsored by Boundary County's local club, the Idaho Rod Benders. "It was about all that the town can hold," said Don James, an officer in the local Rod Benders club. Hundreds of people strolled through the closed-off streets of Bonners Ferry, enjoying the cars, trucks, motorcycles, rat rods—automobiles of all types—that came from all over the Northwest, including many cars from neighboring Canada. Some were works in progress, some were high dollar fully restored or modified show pieces, some were regular "Daily Driver" cars. A 1964 Oldsmobile Cutlass, brought to the show by Larry and Sheila McCray traveled the farthest to participate in the event, coming 450 miles from Auburn, Washington. Many cars from Bonners Ferry were entered in the show, with three of those local entries winning awards. Award winning automobiles at the Jamboree were: BEST OF SHOW 1937 Ford Coupe, Keith and Lois Detling, Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada TOP 12 ENTRIES • 1958 Cadillac, Don Root, Creston, British Columbia, Canada • 1952 Buick Special Riviera, Gerry Christie, Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada • 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air, Ton and Donn Smith, Hayden, Idaho • 1935 International Truck, Rick Blomdahl, Troy, Montana • 1968 Shelby GT500, Sam Picicci, Spokane, Washington • 1936 Ford Phaeton, Tom and Connie Broderick, Bonners Ferry, Idaho • 1940 Cadillac, Wayne Barnes, Spokane, Washington • 1964 Pontiac Bonneville, Mike Boes, Post Falls, Idaho • 1958 Chevrolet Impala, Al Cherowka, Creston, British Columbia, Canada • 1966 Chevrolet Nova SS, LaRoy and Vicky Dowd, Rathdrum, Idaho • 1949 Oldsmobile, Dave and Merna Wildenberg, Spokane, Washington • 1967 Chevrolet Camaro, Bob and Dana Hobs, Bonners Ferry, Idaho LONG DISTANCE AWARD 1964 Oldsmobile Cutlass, Larry and Sheila McCray, Auburn, Washington HARD LUCK AWARD 1966 Ford Mustang, Joe Eberly RAT ROD 1931 Ford Model A, Chance Eberly IN PROGRESS AUTOMOBILE 1956 Ford F-100, Gerry Bliss, Bonners Ferry, Idaho As the awards were announced, plaques were given to the cars' owners by Bonners Ferry's Distinguished Young Women.