KELLY CARL, daughter Jordan, and son-in-law T.J. Shelters welcomed a big crowd to the first annual Loren “Squirrel” Carl Car Show on Friday, Aug. 21 at Falling Springs. All proceeds from the event were donated to the Food Pantry for Woodford County. (Photo submitted)
‘A SHARP DRESSED MAN’ had to drive up in this beauty, a 1953 Ford cab over engine COE, owned by John Walling of Versailles, which won the Best in Show award at the first annual Loren “Squirrel” Carl Car Show on Friday, Aug. 21 at Falling Springs. (Photo submitted)
By Scott White
Woodford Sun Staff
Report for America corps member
“My Squirrely was so happy; he was loving it!” said Kelly Carl about the first annual Loren “Squirrel” Carl Car Show held at Falling Springs Park last Friday evening, thinking about the joy her husband, who passed unexpectedly last year, must be experiencing in Heaven looking down on the festivities.
“To get over 100 cars and trucks our first year is really exciting and showed the legacy Squirrel left behind here in our county,” Kelly said. “Everyone here knew and loved him, and it really showed me how he touched people all over. Today has just been a blast of joy.”
According to Kelly, the event is on course to raise somewhere between $4,500 and $5,000, all of which will be donated to the Food Pantry for Woodford County.
Squirrel had only recently become the president of the food pantry before he passed, and Kelly, also a member of the Woodford County Fiscal Court, has continued in his place as a board member. Since the event was free for spectators and a way for the community to come together to remember Squirrel, the funds were raised by the entry fees for the vehicles competing, along with in-person and mail-in donations.
An estimated 500 folks turned out to ogle and dream over 103 vehicles entered in the competition. Plaques crafted by Lane Moore of Versailles’ Oak and Moore went to the top 10 cars.
Best in Show went to John Walling, a Versailles collector and restorer of vintage vehicles and co-owner of Kellwell Food Management and Wallings Hot Rods, with his immaculate red truck “Big Ugly.”
For anyone who has attended a judged car show, the experience is impressive, particularly when it comes to the vintage cars, which require patience in locating parts for a restoration, getting the right shine on the paint and making sure the engine purrs. According to several participants overheard talking shop, though the competition is fierce, it pales to the love and pride the owners have in their four-wheel museum pieces.
Kelly said she plans to build on this initial success by founding a nonprofit to be called the Loren “Squirrel” Carl Foundation. She will continue with the annual car show, but is not shy about staging other events to generate funds the foundation can distribute to other nonprofits in the community.
“I feel like I can do anything that needs doing to help other folks,” she said. “I mean, that is how Squirrel and I lived our lives together, and now I’m continuing that, honoring him and pushing forward.”