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Ron Perkerewicz and his 50’s era, hot rod Studebaker |
Ron Perkerewicz says he’s been a “car nut” since he was 4 years old. Ever since his father, a mechanic, built Ron’s first car, which was on the front page of his local paper in North Dakota, he’s been hooked.
“Every car I owned, I modified,” says Perkerewicz, who owns a home inspection business. “I can’t leave it alone.”
Perkerewicz built his first hot rod in the ‘60s, and since then has gone through multiple classic car restorations. He does most of the work himself in his garage, and has passed his passion on to his son.
“Some of us old school guys, we had to build absolutely everything. Today, you can pick up a catalog and order (any) parts,” he said.
The industry has caught on in recent years, with thousands of manufacturers offering all sorts of goodies that can be added to the vehicles once they are restored. Thousands of booths are displayed at industry shows, with some of the major expos like the Las Vegas-based Specialty Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (SEMA) annual show occupying literally more than a million square feet of display space. While some guys (and gals too) stick to the original factory specifications, restorods, also known as restomods, are growing in popularity among the hobbyists. These are classic cars restored to original body configuration but with modern mechanics.
“With the hot rods, there’s not rules,” says Van Vlist, who used to restore to original configurations but got frustrated after hearing people comment on things like him having used the wrong bolts.
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Van Vlist and his 40s-vintage Ford |
Vlist, who also works on his own cars himself, got his first one at age 13. His parents and brothers all own classic cars — about 30 total among the group. His father, Dick, who owns Port Orchard-based Dick Vlist Motors, was the first one who got involved.
“(Restoration) is therapy,” Van Vlist says. “I enjoy building them as much as I do driving.”
Locally, there are many businesses that cater to the tastes and wishes of “car nuts” like Perkerewicz and Vlist, as well as to those who don’t have the time or inclination to be hands-on with their projects. From powder coating to chrome plating and body work, services are available in Kitsap.
“We have seen a lot of growth, a lot of interest, and a lot of it is generated by the baby boomers,” says Lois Adkins, who with husband Lundy owns Port Orchard-based Quality Restoration and Hot Rods, where they have a metal fabrication shop, a body shop and a paint shop. The business gets customers even from out of state, and Adkins says the Internet has been amazing in helping find parts.
“You’re not just confined to the local wrecking yards,” she says. “Because of the interest in cars, all the information has evolved. You don’t have to spend years looking for parts.”
Well, some people still do. Perkerewicz says it took him six or seven years to find the right clock for his Galaxy. For him, the sound of the motor is music, and restoring the cars is a way of self-expression.
“In ‘old school,’ we made things because we didn’t have disposable income but workmanship and attention to detail are free,” he says. “Most car nuts are ‘attention to detail’ type folks.”
The hobby is geared around families — many car guys involve their wives, parents and children, taking them along to car shows. Car clubs are usually family-friendly as well, and it’s not uncommon for them to have multi-generation members. It usually starts with the guys; often times they see a car they’ve dreamed of owning as young people, or a car they drove in high school, and the nostalgia gets them into the mode for restoring or altering a car. Once there, they become addicted and keep adding to their collection of hot wheels.
“The people with disposable income are getting the things they couldn’t have when they were younger,” says Perkerewicz, who owns 10 completed cars and has a couple more in the works. One of them, a 1929 Model A Ford with the original license plate, has been in his family for three generations. Bought in Poulsbo and originally used to haul eggs from their farm (where Perkerewicz still lives) to Silverdale, the Model A was used by four generations to learn how to drive.
“Many cars are passed through two or three generations so they can stay in the family,” Adkins says. “The thing that attracts (many people) is they can share the hobby with their wife, kids or parents.”
Another aspect that makes the hobby unique is the camaraderie. A classic car is the great economic equalizer. “It’s a common interest for people with uncommon backgrounds,” Vlist says. “You have doctors and lawyers showing cars next to a sanitation worker, and everything in between.”
They also love to share their passion with the public. Perkerewicz and Vlist belong to a car club called Old Timers Northwest, which has a membership limited to 18 people. The club is involved with different community events, and sponsors an annual event held in Puyallup. The two men also helped start the Port Orchard Cruz car show, which is now run by the Saints Car Club.
Perkerewicz’s son has been attending car shows with his dad since age 6; Vlist too has taken all his three daughters along.
“They enjoy the same things I do — it’s the people,” Vlist says, adding that “brotherhood” is a good cliché when it comes to describing the hobby. |
