Chad Lundquist/Nevada Appeal Dona Gomes of Stockton, Calif., sits in her car at the Run What Cha Brung Car Show on Sunday at Fuji Park. Gomes' 1941 Chevy Deluxe Coupe was selected from over 300 entries as the People's Choice Award winner.
From California. From all over Nevada. Even from Montana. They all brung it.
About 330 cars rolled into Fuji Park over the weekend for the 22nd annual Run What Cha Brung Car Show, put on by the Karson Kruzers car club. From classic trucks to modified muscle cars, the grass at Fuji Park was awash in glittery paint jobs and personalized license plates.
The entries competed in 62 categories, but what really got their motors running was the chance for their machine to be on the event's T-shirt, an award given to only three cars a year.
Two of the T-shirt spots are selected by Kruzers members. Women chose the pre-1949 selection, and men chose the post-1949 selection. The main spot on the shirt is reserved for the People's Choice Award winner.
This year, that honor went to Dona Gomes of Stockton, Calif., for her 1941 Chevy Deluxe coupe.
Dona's husband, Skeeter, built the car - license plate A BAD41 - and taught Dona how to drive and maintain it. They have come to the event off and on for a decade, and she continues to come, even after her husband's death two years ago.
This is her first People's Choice Award.
"We've been best in class a couple of times, but never this," Gomes said. "It's great. I have my friends here, and they are very supportive."
Dale Liebherr, of Minden, brought two entries, both among the smallest and most rare at the event: a 1949 Crosley station wagon and a 1951 Crosley Skorpion.
The station wagon has a top speed of 45 mph, but gets 40 miles per gallon. He bought it 23 years ago, and while driving it home, lost a rear wheel and damaged the back quarter panel. It took him eight months to restore.
The Skorpion was a kit car, of which the company only made 50. As far as Liebherr knows, there are only eight still in existence. He finished restoring the Skorpion just days before the event kicked off.
"They are so unique and just so darn ugly that they are cute," Liebherr said.
Glen Foor, of Carson City, just came to check out the entries, watching for his favorite to roll by.
"I like the garage-built cars. I like the cars where the driver knows every inch of the car because they restored it. I prefer those to 'Discovery Channel' cars that are built by someone else," Foor said.
Kruzers vice president Lorretta Marcin said it was another banner event for the club.
"It was another successful event, with the minor inconveniences that always happen," Marcin said.
She said the People's Choice Award is a hard one to pick because the attendees' personalities have a lot of influence on which vehicle is well-liked.
"We pick the cars we love, for our part, and we've never been disappointed in the choices that are made," Marcin said.
• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.
Special Award Winners
People's Choice Winner: 1941 Chevy Deluxe coupe owned by Dona Gomes of Stockton, Calif.
Pig's Pick: 1967 Chevy Camaro owned by Alan Weingand of Carson City
In the Weeds: 1936 Plymouth coupe owned by Bill Thomas of Minden
Group Participation: The Unorganized Group from Northern California
Club Men's Choice (Post 1949): 1955 Chevy pickup owned by Paul and Sherry Duke of Sparks
Club Women's Choice (Pre-1949): 1934 Ford two-door sedan, owned by Frank and Bonnie Pence of Stockton