The Ford Barn

B-O-B · 01-22-2012, 11:10 AM

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‘The Pink Lady’ pictured before it was put away for the season in 2011. The car is currently owned by Kenny Hamilton, and has been raced by his son Davey Hamilton, a professional IZOD IndyCar series racer whom has driven ‘The Pink Lady’ throughout the U.S. Ontario — It was a chance encounter at the TVCC Foundation fundraiser event “The Sting” that introduced Matt Stringer and Don Wilson.

Stringer is Executive Director at Four Rivers Cultural Center. Wilson is local a car enthusiast with a lot of heart. Wilson was polishing the chrome of a classic car he had obtained for the use of the TVCC Foundation’s annual fundraiser “The Sting,” when Stringer stepped up to talk to him.

Stringer had the vision to bring a classic car show to the Cultural Center, featuring local cars, to showcase the work of local enthusiasts and builders. Next weekend, the vision will become a reality.

The highlighted cars include the Pink Lady, owned by Kenny Hamilton, and the 1959 Chevrolet pickup that set the world land speed record (for the E/Production Pick-up Class) at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Aug. 14, 2011. The Chevy is owned by Larry Lancaster.

The car show will include more than 60 classic vehicles and a few motorcycles owned by local enthusiasts, not associated with any car clubs. Participants are people from local cities including Nyssa, Fruitland, Ontario, Payette, Weiser and Cambridge.

High dollar cars are coming in, and several motorcycles will be on exhibited as well.

These classic vehicles will be showcased at the Cultural Center from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday Jan. 28 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Jan. 29 at the Four Rivers Cultural Center 676 S.W. Fifth Ave., Ontario.

“It’s all local people. We could have tons of cars in out of the Boise area, but in the spirit of drawing local interest, we have all local cars,” Wilson said.

The cars will be pushed into the FRCC building by hand, then run down plywood strips. Plastic and butcher paper will be laid out the full length of the car in case of oil leaks. Several cars are in the process of being built, and those cars will be on display.

The Pink Lady one of the showpieces of the Cultural Center car show, was purchased in 1969, and raced in 1969. The Pink Lady was built in Indianapolis, Indiana by Grant King. King built sprint cars, Indy cars and modified midgets. King was a well known car builder.

Gene Bernard and Gene Strawn picked up the car, it was disassembled and unpainted. The men put the car into an econo line van, in Indiana and brought it back to Ontario.

“Everything was brand new, it started out as pipe,” Wilson said. The car was built in a month. The Pink Lady, was completed in spring of 1969 at Art Sugai’s home. Art and Midori Sugai owned Eastside Cafe, a well known eatery in Ontario. Art raced the Pink Lady.

Originally the Pink Lady was a sprint car. But racing rules in the Treasure Valley deemed The Pink Lady had to be modified to have a roll bar included in the assembly.
The roll bars snapped onto the frame, but it was determined that roll bars needed to be welded on to improve safety and stability. Today the roll bars are welded onto the frame.

Because of the modifications, the Pink Lady went from being a sprint car, to a modified.

“You had to have a roll bar on it around here,” Wilson said.

Kenny Hamilton is the current owner of the Pink Lady. Hamilton was a race car driver from Nampa. He raced the Pink Lady, and bought it from Sugai in the mid 1970s.

Hamilton has had it since. He occasionally races the car in the Northwest and Canada. Hamilton’s son, Davey Hamilton, is an Indy car driver and has raced the Pink Lady throughout the country.

The 1959 Chevrolet pickup the second show piece of the Cultural Center car show was purchased off of a farm in Vale. Larry Lancaster, Payette, bought it.

“He broke the track record, then he went back and broke his own record at the Salt Flats,” Wilson said.

This car show event is free and open to the community. Enthusiasts and car owners will be available throughout the weekend to discuss their vehicles. Wilson encourages people to stop by and support their fellow community members.

01-22-2012, 11:10 AM	#1
B-O-B Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ft Mohave,Az Posts: 1,987	pink lady in Ontario Oregon Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) ‘The Pink Lady’ pictured before it was put away for the season in 2011. The car is currently owned by Kenny Hamilton, and has been raced by his son Davey Hamilton, a professional IZOD IndyCar series racer whom has driven ‘The Pink Lady’ throughout the U.S. Ontario — It was a chance encounter at the TVCC Foundation fundraiser event “The Sting” that introduced Matt Stringer and Don Wilson. Stringer is Executive Director at Four Rivers Cultural Center. Wilson is local a car enthusiast with a lot of heart. Wilson was polishing the chrome of a classic car he had obtained for the use of the TVCC Foundation’s annual fundraiser “The Sting,” when Stringer stepped up to talk to him. Stringer had the vision to bring a classic car show to the Cultural Center, featuring local cars, to showcase the work of local enthusiasts and builders. Next weekend, the vision will become a reality. The highlighted cars include the Pink Lady, owned by Kenny Hamilton, and the 1959 Chevrolet pickup that set the world land speed record (for the E/Production Pick-up Class) at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Aug. 14, 2011. The Chevy is owned by Larry Lancaster. The car show will include more than 60 classic vehicles and a few motorcycles owned by local enthusiasts, not associated with any car clubs. Participants are people from local cities including Nyssa, Fruitland, Ontario, Payette, Weiser and Cambridge. ADVERTISEMENT High dollar cars are coming in, and several motorcycles will be on exhibited as well. These classic vehicles will be showcased at the Cultural Center from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday Jan. 28 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Jan. 29 at the Four Rivers Cultural Center 676 S.W. Fifth Ave., Ontario. “It’s all local people. We could have tons of cars in out of the Boise area, but in the spirit of drawing local interest, we have all local cars,” Wilson said. The cars will be pushed into the FRCC building by hand, then run down plywood strips. Plastic and butcher paper will be laid out the full length of the car in case of oil leaks. Several cars are in the process of being built, and those cars will be on display. The Pink Lady one of the showpieces of the Cultural Center car show, was purchased in 1969, and raced in 1969. The Pink Lady was built in Indianapolis, Indiana by Grant King. King built sprint cars, Indy cars and modified midgets. King was a well known car builder. Gene Bernard and Gene Strawn picked up the car, it was disassembled and unpainted. The men put the car into an econo line van, in Indiana and brought it back to Ontario. “Everything was brand new, it started out as pipe,” Wilson said. The car was built in a month. The Pink Lady, was completed in spring of 1969 at Art Sugai’s home. Art and Midori Sugai owned Eastside Cafe, a well known eatery in Ontario. Art raced the Pink Lady. Originally the Pink Lady was a sprint car. But racing rules in the Treasure Valley deemed The Pink Lady had to be modified to have a roll bar included in the assembly. The roll bars snapped onto the frame, but it was determined that roll bars needed to be welded on to improve safety and stability. Today the roll bars are welded onto the frame. Because of the modifications, the Pink Lady went from being a sprint car, to a modified. “You had to have a roll bar on it around here,” Wilson said. Kenny Hamilton is the current owner of the Pink Lady. Hamilton was a race car driver from Nampa. He raced the Pink Lady, and bought it from Sugai in the mid 1970s. Hamilton has had it since. He occasionally races the car in the Northwest and Canada. Hamilton’s son, Davey Hamilton, is an Indy car driver and has raced the Pink Lady throughout the country. The 1959 Chevrolet pickup the second show piece of the Cultural Center car show was purchased off of a farm in Vale. Larry Lancaster, Payette, bought it. “He broke the track record, then he went back and broke his own record at the Salt Flats,” Wilson said. This car show event is free and open to the community. Enthusiasts and car owners will be available throughout the weekend to discuss their vehicles. Wilson encourages people to stop by and support their fellow community members.