325 Stone Parsons, Kansas 67357
The ninth annual Gas and Tractor Show started with a bang
literally. As things were just getting underway, a thunderstorm
moved through the show grounds with lightning and thunder. After
the storm passed, the show started as if nothing had happened.
This year we had 133 gas engines, 10 model engines, 24 display
tractors, two log saws, one motor scooter, and two motor bikes, all
displayed to a good sized crowd of spectators.
One of the displays was the ‘hot air balloon’ belonging
to Loren Erwin, Carthage, Missouri, along with his Johnson Motor
Wheel bicycle. See story in the October, 1997 GEM.
A new event this year was a skillet toss for the ladies this is
a distance event, and the winner was Nancy Harry with a toss of 45
feet 5 inches.
The slow race for tractors was won by Terry Hahn field and the
fast start race for tractors was won by Jack Winter.
We had 18 antique cars on display thanks to local car clubs.
This year we also added a fruit pie contest, which was won by
Kate Wilson. We had a hay press demonstration and stump
pulling.
One of our club members, Frank Grilz, Frontenac, Kansas, may be
starting a new era in engine exhibits. He had one of the nicest
looking engines at the show, a 5 HP Jaeger. Some other club members
dubbed it a show engine since it hasn’t fired once since Frank
finished restoring it. So, it was a show but no go engine. Sunday
morning Frank was busy polishing the engine even though it only had
dust on it no oil or gasoline to clean up.
Our 10th anniversary show will be held on June 27 and 28, 1998
at the Crawford County Historical Museum grounds, Pittsburgh,
Kansas. The club voted to honor the memory of Quentin Jensen, a
club founder, with a display of his engines, which were sold at
auction following his death in 1992. Anyone who owns one is invited
to bring it back to display and honor Quentin’s involvement in
our club, a hobby he loved.
Also, Frank Grilz’s idea came to an end a couple of weeks
after our show, when his Jaeger joined the rest of his engines. It
started and ran like new! I guess this was just an idea that was
ahead of its time.
