Page 8 - Dinuba Sentinel 6-14-18 E-edition

A8 | Thursday, June 14, 2018
Car ShowContinued from Page A1
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The Dinuba Sentinel
motorhome. The five were originally created as a prize for a contest by the soda maker.
“Fast forward to today, only four of them are left - one was totaled and burned," Dena said. “Two of them are up in Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, owned by one person. One of them is in a museum in New York. And then there’s one in Dinuba, owned by Ed Dena’s Auto Center.”
The vehicle is decked out with Coca-Cola themed exterior paint and awning, a lot of red interior and Coke memorabilia - like salt and pepper shakers that look like cans of Coke. There's even a bottle-cap shaped spare tire cover. Attendees at the Car Show were invited to walk in and look around.
As to how one of these rarities landed in his hands, Dena explained, “A local guy in Dinuba had bought it 12 years ago and put it in storage. He was telling us about it in Rotary one morning and said he was going to sell it. I said, 'I would have bought it.' He said, ‘I haven’t sold it yet.’ By the end of the Rotary meeting I had bought it. We’re having a lot of fun with it, taking it to car shows and slowly bringing it back to glory.”
Dena has received offers from interested buyers, but does not plan on letting it go anytime soon.
“We’re having too much fun with it,” Dena said. “Right now we’re just going to enjoy it and bring it to shows and let people enjoy it.”
On Saturday, the RV earned him a third-place trophy in Class 21 - Special Interest Vehicles, of the Dinuba Car Show. It was the first time Dena got to take home one of the 75-plus trophies that he announced annually.
Special Awards
Best of Show: Gino Caggiano, of Visalia — 1939 Mercury Convertible
People’s Choice: Jerad Bettancourt, of Visalia — 1972 Chevy CrewCab
Best Display: Matthew Case, of Visalia — 1968 Chevy Camaro
Most Unique Vehicle: Calvin
Richardson, of Lindsey — 1964 Studebaker Wagoneer
Best Engine Compartment: Ty and Lisa Nunez, of Tulare — 1970 Chevy C-10
Best Stock Interior: Garrett Worrell, of Visalia — 1978 AMC Javelin SST “Mark Donohue Edition”
Best Custom Interior: Dave Viswell, of Fresno — 1970 Chevy El Camino SS
Best Chrome: Art Jaime, of Dinuba — 1974 HD Shovelhead Best Undercarriage: Gino Caggiano, of Visalia — 1940
Ford Coupe
Best Special (Wild) Paint:
Joel Alvarado, of Selma — 1954 Chevy 210
Best Motorcycle: Cody Wilson, of Tulare — 1999 Harley Bobber
First Place winners
Class 1 - Street Rods, Cars, all T-Buckets, 1934 and earlier: Jan and Larry Van Scoy, of Bakersfield — 1934 Ford Cabriolet
Class 2 - Street Rods, Cars, 1935-1948: Gino Caggiano, of Visalia — 1939 Mercury
Class 3 - All Street Rods, Pickups, 1948 and earlier: Richard Ruminer, of Tulare — 1937 Chevy Pickup
Class 4 - All Stock, Restore Cars, 1935-1948: Adam Perez, of Lindsey — 1937 Packard 120
Class 5 - All Stock, Restored Cars, 1949 to present: Carlos Sevilla, of Fresno — 1964 Chevy Malibu
Class 6 - All Stock, Restored Pickups, 1935 to present: Ron McPhail, of Visalia — 1984 Chevy C-10
Class 7 - All Cars, Modified 1949 to Present: Allen Neilsen, of Visalia — 1954 Ford Falcon
Class 8 - All pickups, Modified, 1949 to present: Wendell Spray, of Visalia — 1951 Ford Pickup
Class 9 - All ‘55 to ‘57 Chevys: Danny Hall, of Porterville — 1957 Chevy Bel Air
Class 10 - All Mustangs and Cougars: Vincent Fragoso, of Hanford — 2017 Ford Shelby
Class 11 - All Mopar Muscle Cars: Richard Rodriguez, of Dinuba — 1972 Plymouth Duster
Class 12 - All Covettes, 1953 to present: Wayne Hotzakorgian, of
Fresno — 1961 Corvette
Class 13 - All Camaros and
Firebirds: Matthew Case, of Visalia — 1968 Chevy Camaro
Class 14 - All Rat Rods: Mike Weatherly, of Visalia — 1970 Volkswagon Bug
Class 15 - All Lo-Rider Cars and Pickups: Danny Duran, of Fowler — 1937 Chevy MasterDeluxe
Class 16 - All Stock Motorcycles: Joe Bueno, of Dinuba — 1998 Harley Davidson Fatboy
Class 17 - All Modified Motorcycles: Cody Wilson, of Tulare — 1999 Harley Bobber
Class 18 - All Full Customs: Esau Villarrial, of Visalia — 1952 Chevy Styleline
Class 19 - All Original Cars and Pickups (Not Restored): Ione Leland, of Tulare — 1956 Ford T-Bird
Class 20 - All Foreign, Sports Cars: Steven Floyd, of Lemoore — 1991 Nissan Laurel
Class 21 - Special Interest: Fred Hall, of Selma — 1965 Shelby Cobra 427
Class 22 - Tuner Cars: Fernando Escobar, of Fresno — 2015 Nissan 370Z
Photos by Jackson Moore | The Sentinel
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
Best of Show winner Gino Caggiano's 1939 Mercury Convertible makes its way to the stage at Rose Ann Vuich Park.
People's Choice winner Jerad Bettancourt poses with his trophy and royalty from the Miss Dinuba and Cinco de Mayo pageants. Behind them is Bettancourt's 1972 Chevy CrewCab.
Ed Dena's Coca Cola themed 1977 GMC GadAbout motorhome was displayed during the 26th annual Dinuba Car Show, held at Rose Ann Vuich Park.
Entertainment performs at the Downtown Dinuba Cruise Night, which was headlined by funk band "Lakeside," best known for their chart-topping hit "Fantastic Voyage.
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