The Bridgefest Classic Car and Motorcycle Show Saturday saw all types of vehicles and enthusiasts come to downtown Hancock to try and win one of four awards.  (Chelsea Bossert/Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — A person’s favorite car can be a window into their soul. At Saturday’s Bridgefest Classic Car and Motorcycle Show, enthusiasts from all over the Keweenaw came to the 400 block on Quincy Street in order to show off their prized possessions. 

The event was put on by Fresh Coast Classic Car Club, who puts on local classic car meetups throughout the area. Organizer Jessie Neece said Fresh Coast started a few years ago after locals came together to organize around their hobby. 

“We started our club a few years ago because we noticed a need for a reason to get people to bring their cars out,” she said. “It gets people to get their cars out of the garage, gives them a reason to drive them, show them off and then it also creates community.”

Drivers and event-goers could vote for their favorite cars and motorcycles. The city manager also voted for the best car in a separate award. Prizes included a trophy and a prize basket for each award category. 

1959 MGA Roadster owner Steve Pummill said his favorite thing about his vehicle is driving with the top down. 

“I acquired the car in 1968, from a high school friend, and it sat for a long time in a garage,” he said. “Flash forward to about 15 years ago, I moved to Lake Linden from downstate Michigan and began restoration on the car.”

Pummill said he’s grateful for the amount of care and respect people have for cars in the Keweenaw. 

“People are appreciative of the work that’s been done on it,” he said. “Anybody that’s a car person always appreciates, you know, what others have done.”

1963 Mercury Comet owner Greg LaBeau had a custom drawn sign next to his vehicle. He said his daughter drew the design and he made the frame. 

“This one’s kind of rare, they only made about 4,000 of them or so,” he said. “And this particular year is the first year they stuck a V8 into the Comet.”

LaBeau said he acquired this rare vehicle in Tampa. 

“It’s in good shape, it was born in Detroit and shipped to Florida and spent its life in Florida,” he said. “It’s a good car.”

Motorcycles were in the back of the show, over 15 were shown. There were many different makes of bike, including BMW, Yamaha and Harley Davidson. 

Motorcycle enthusiast John R. Sanchez said one of his bikes he brought to the Bridgefest show had previously won a Best in Show award at a previous event. 

“I throw a show for Church of the Valley down in Alston,” he said. “I grew up in Chicago, so, I lived here for almost 30 years now, and I love riding up here.”

The award winners for the show were: 

• Audience choice (Motorcycle), 1947 Indian Chief – Mike Crane

• Audience choice (Auto), 1970 Chevrolet Camaro – Roger Turpening

• Best in Show (Driver’s choice), 1962 Pontiac Catalina – Tom Teliin

• City Manager’s choice, 1967 Chevrolet Nova – Paul Sulisz