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My dad bought this car for $2000 when I was 16.We worked on it together for the last 2 years. My dad owns Competition Paint Co. in Sandy Oregon and has won awards for over 30 years for his use of paint and graphics in show cars, race cars, etc. We restored this car together and it also brought our relationship closer together too. Our love of cars is evident in this 71 Chevelle. I will never sell this car because it is a work of love and can never be replaced.
In 2002 I went to my first car show at the Sandy Cruise-In Fly-in and was disappointed because I didn't win a trophy. My class was very vague though and I learned that I had much more to do on my car and more research to find out how to make my car a winner. I went to cruise-ins and many more shows after that and won many trophys, especially in Youth categorys. I joined the Oregon Chevelle & El Camino Club and the team members were so wonderful giving me useful tips and helping me at the shows. I will always remember them for that.
My favorite win, however was at the NW Chevelle Regionals were I met Chuck Hanson and his wife. Chuck is on Horsepower TV and he looked at my car and listened to it's history and my story too. It was a huge thrill for me. His wife and I chatted for a time too and she was such a neat person. I also gave an interview to another club "Yesterday's Chevelle & El Camino Club", because I was a young girl and love my Chevelle so much. That was an honor for me. I won best youth trophy at that show and my mom cried. Then my mom wanted to leave because she had worked so hard at helping clean the car and driving and everything. We were asked not to leave and didn't know why. Then, the last award of the awards ceremony was the "Chuck's Choice" award given from Chuck Hanson to his favorite car. He announced me and my Chevelle as his choice and I nearly fainted. There were over 200 cars at that show and I couldn't beleive he picked us!! What an honor!! It is something I will never forget and I could hardly wait to tell my dad. He was so proud and I was so proud to say that he and I restored this Chevelle together.
That's just one of my stories in my beloved 71 Chevelle's short show life. The latest trophy we won was at the NW Performance & Custom Show. I didn't enter for various reasons...one being that I didn't think my car was good enough to compete. Then, the promotor was given my name and number by one of our club members Mike Kublich. I was honored again and very surprised and said yes! We cleaned the Chevelle up quick and went to the Expo Center on a wicked rainy day. My dad went with me and my mom reminded me that she and him went to the Expo Center in 1983 and won every category with over 15 entries....so this was probably a deja-vu experience for him. I ended up being the trophy hand-out girl and then they forgot to present my class. After everyone left from the awards, they realized that they had forgotten and then told me I had won the class I was entered in by just 7 points!! I got a beautiful trophy and it was my first indoor show.
My Christmas list this year consisted of everything Chevelle of course and I got new door panels and a great car cover which I badly needed. I have a very long wish list and I would also like to restore a 69 Chevelle some day.
So now my Chevelle was put away for the winter. Unfortunately it's my driver, so I have to start driving it to get to college in January, so everyone send good thoughts so no one hurts it while it's parked during the day.
I hope to see many of you at the shows this year.
Tiffany Link
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