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Top Winners Take Home Cruise Trophies
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Trophies in multiple categories were presented at the recent Lions Club Autumn Cruise in Escalon, with decorative plates serving as this year’s take-home honors for the award winners. Marg Jackson/The Times

There were 72 total awards presented at the Sept. 8 Escalon Lions Club Autumn Cruise, with a handful of top honors given away and multiple sponsor trophies.

Coordinator Mike Powers reported a well-attended show, with 322 total vehicles registered for the downtown event.

“Everybody loves it,” Powers admitted of the show, which hopefully will continue on past this year, when it marked its silver anniversary.

Funds raised go toward Escalon High School scholarships and Powers said he does want the club to continue hosting the show but more people need to step up and serve on various committees to help pull off the major event.

One person sponsored four trophy plates in this year’s show, he added, and Miss Escalon and members of her court were pressed in to service, able to select some winners for sponsors of trophies that didn’t send a representative to the show.

“I was very impressed, they were looking at all the cars, really taking their time,” Powers said.

This year’s Lion’s Club President trophy went to Rick Walker of Oakdale with his 1956 Ford Parklane station wagon while the Sheriff’s Trophy went to Terrence Wyler of Escalon with a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner. The Fire Chief’s award went to Robert Lanini of Stockton, displaying a 1923 Ford tanker/pumper and the Police Chief’s trophy was presented to Allen Velthoen of Modesto, with a 1922 Packard touring car.

“The Best of Show and the Mayor’s Award were both presented to the same car,” Powers noted.

Earning that double recognition was Mark Johnstad of Escalon, who had his 1970 Ford Mustang on display.