News

OTHELLO — When Kennewick resident Bill Templeton was 16 years old, he purchased a 1940 Ford Standard Tudor Sedan for $60.

Now, at 66 years old, he owns a car that looks nearly the same. Templeton restored another 1940 Ford Standard after purchasing it for $701.

"I'm 66 going on 16," he said.

Templeton parked his classic car alongside dozens of others in Othello Saturday for the 12th Annual Othello Spud Run. Organizers estimated 75 to 80 classic cars turned up at Kiwanis Park. Music from the 1950s and 1960s played as visitors checked out the cars and judges ranked the best ones.

"This music and these cars, they just don't make it like this anymore," said Miles Douglass, who was in charge of the event's entertainment.

Judge and Spud Run President Jack Purdy said judging is difficult for him.

"These guys got a lot of pride in their cars, and you can tell," Purdy said.

Templeton started looking for the dream car of his youth 10 years ago. The car needs to be repainted and some body work needs to be done, but it looks similar to the same one he owned as a teenager, he said.

"The first car that I had, from '57 to '61, it was always my favorite car, period," he said.

Mechanic Rod Brownlee, who lives near Potholes Reservoir, said he restored at least 10 cars. The car he brought was a 1939 Hudson, which he purchased in 1999. He and another man found the car in the middle of a field in 1974.

"$4,500 later, this is what you get," Brownlee said.

He said it was his second year at Spud Run. He came to the event to get out of the shop and show off his car.

Proceeds from the event go toward helping the community, including supporting pageants, the animal shelter and providing seniors with assistance paying their electric bills, Douglass said. Classic cars fill Othello park

By Chrystal Doucette

Herald staff writer

OTHELLO — When Kennewick resident Bill Templeton was 16 years old, he purchased a 1940 Ford Standard Tudor Sedan for $60.

Now, at 66 years old, he owns a car that looks nearly the same. Templeton restored another 1940 Ford Standard after purchasing it for $701.

"I'm 66 going on 16," he said.

Templeton parked his classic car alongside dozens of others in Othello Saturday for the 12th Annual Othello Spud Run. Organizers estimated 75 to 80 classic cars turned up at Kiwanis Park. Music from the 1950s and 1960s played as visitors checked out the cars and judges ranked the best ones.

"This music and these cars, they just don't make it like this anymore," said Miles Douglass, who was in charge of the event's entertainment.

Judge and Spud Run President Jack Purdy said judging is difficult for him.

"These guys got a lot of pride in their cars, and you can tell," Purdy said.

Templeton started looking for the dream car of his youth 10 years ago. The car needs to be repainted and some body work needs to be done, but it looks similar to the same one he owned as a teenager, he said.

"The first car that I had, from '57 to '61, it was always my favorite car, period," he said.

Mechanic Rod Brownlee, who lives near Potholes Reservoir, said he restored at least 10 cars. The car he brought was a 1939 Hudson, which he purchased in 1999. He and another man found the car in the middle of a field in 1974.

"$4,500 later, this is what you get," Brownlee said.

He said it was his second year at Spud Run. He came to the event to get out of the shop and show off his car.

Proceeds from the event go toward helping the community, including supporting pageants, the animal shelter and providing seniors with assistance paying their electric bills, Douglass said.