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Blast From The Past Show Brings Classics To Town
O tbird
Oakdale resident Holley Coppetti was all smiles, displayed her 1957 Ford T-Bird at Wood Park during Saturday’s Blast from the Past car show, put on cooperatively by the Pharoahs International and Throttlers car clubs, both out of Modesto. Marg Jackson/The Leader

Dozens of entries rolled in to Oakdale on Saturday morning, Sept. 17 as the Pharoahs International and Throttlers Modesto car clubs joined forces for a Blast From The Past classic car show.

With the cars displayed in Wood Park, at the intersection of F and Yosemite, the heart of town, there was something for all auto enthusiasts to enjoy. Along with the cars and trucks, there was music, food, prize drawings, a benefit Poker Walk and the chance to take home a unique category trophy.

Not to mention, plenty of time to talk shop.

“This is mine,” said Holley Coppetti of Oakdale, smiling as she looked over her classic 1957 Ford Thunderbird. “I bought her last year in June, a retirement gift to myself.”

‘She’ was purchased in Arizona and then brought back to California.

It isn’t necessarily an everyday vehicle, but it also isn’t relegated to storage status in between shows.

“I drive it,” Coppetti said, “but we don’t drive far.”

The car has been in several parades since Coppetti has owned it and she said the car is named Christine, after the Stephen King novel/movie. That, Coppetti explained, is because the radio did seem a bit possessed; they couldn’t change the volume, couldn’t change the station, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t.

The original radio has since been replaced but ‘Christine’ stuck. Coppetti said her husband Tim serves as the mechanic for the car.

“I’ve been wanting a T-bird since American Graffiti came out and I finally got her,” Coppetti added.

Tony Iriqui, a former Oakdale resident now living in Modesto, didn’t have a vehicle on display but enjoyed the cooler weather and sunshine, along with the chance to visit with fellow classic car enthusiasts.

“I had a ’56 Chevy when I was in high school,” he said.

Later, he purchased a 1954 Chevy station wagon that he did take to shows, buying it in 1970 for $150.

Friend Ben Twisselman of Ceres, also previously from Oakdale, had his 1935 Ford pick-up – Littlest Outlaw – shined up and on display, with plenty of photos and detailed information about the truck and its history.

“I go to almost all of them,” he said of local car shows. “I just enjoy the people.”

Taking time to look over the hand-crafted, unique trophies was Dan McDonald of Oakdale, admiring the craftsmanship and creativity for the awards that would be presented at the end of the show.

He said a 1969 Camaro he has will hopefully be ready to put in the car show next year.

Michael Johnson, who serves as a captain in the Pharoahs and is also treasurer for the Throttlers, said organizers were pleased with the event overall, which drew in several dozen classics.

“It has been excellent,” Johnson said. “Everybody’s having a great time.”

o trophies
Unique trophies were highly coveted at Saturday’s car show, with Dan McDonald taking a look at the various offerings. Though he didn’t have a vehicle on display this year, the Oakdale resident said he hopes to have his ’69 Camaro show-ready next year. Marg Jackson/The Leader
O Outlaw
With a truck named “Littlest Outlaw,” former Oakdale resident Ben Twisselman was happy to put his 1935 Ford pick-up in the Sept. 17 show in downtown Oakdale, ready to visit with classic car enthusiasts. Marg Jackson/The Leader