Tractors, cars and Jeeps
Enjoying Dayton Old Engine Day in spite of the rain
DAYTON — Ray Dagit, of Paton, was taking a pragmatic approach to the rain that began falling and beading up on his 1963 Chevy Impala Super Sport Saturday at the sixth annual Dayton Old Engine Day.
He was just simply going to wait till it was done.
“We’ll leave when it dries,” he said.
On an older car, there’s a good reason for waiting. The undersides and frames were not as corrosion resistant as they are today.
“I’ve got to keep the underside dry,” he said. “The top side protects the bottom.”
The car show was just part of what visitors to Dayton could see. There was also a nice collection of antique tractors, a section devoted to Jeeps and even a single lawn tractor.
Sheryl and Larry McCabe, of Dayton, had vehicles in both shows.
“We brought four tractors and two El Caminos,” he said. “A ’78 and an ’84.”
While every tractor collector has their own favorite manufacturer, the ones in the McCabe collection are orange and red.
“We’re not a John Deere family,” she said.
This marks the second year they’ve had tractors at Old Engine Day and their spot gives them a prime view of the kiddie tractor pull a few yards away — an event that continued in the rain.
“I like to watch them do the kiddie pull,” she said. “It’s fun to set up and visit.”
Atlis Rivera, 1, of Clarion, was touring the tractor and car show in style. He was seated comfortably in a custom-built red wagon complete with faux fur seats and a detachable umbrella built by his grandfather, Doug “Flash” Gustafson, of Harcourt.
“It took me about two weeks,” Gustafson said.
He said it makes it much easier to transport his grandson around shows and it lets him ride in style and comfort.
This was his first time at Old Engine Day.
“It’s pretty neat,” he said. “I love the cars, I brought my old pickup.”
Nate Stevens, of Dayton, helps organize the annual event.
He said several new items were added this year including a People’s Choice award for the tractors and cars as well as a commemorative dash plaque for the participants.
“We’re testing them to see how they’re perceived,” he said.
He said the event has grown gradually since it was resurrected several years ago.
“We’re trying to grow it each year,” he said.
He credits part of that success to the younger participants who have fond memories of attending the original Engine Day as children.
“We’re following our parents’ example,” he said.
For Jerry Paullin and Rich Eslick, both of Dayton, the tractor show was an opportunity to talk tractors among the tractors and recall how things were once done.
Eslick is grateful for his own modern equipment.
“If we were still farming with these I’d find something else to do,” he said. “I like auto steer, air conditioning and heat.”
That last feature made Paullin shudder.
“I like the heat too. Fall plowing, what a cold job that was,” he said.
In addition, the Dayton Power and Light building, which now houses the Dayton Museum, was open to visitors. There were dozens of garage sales around town and the Micro Mini Tractor Pull provided additional entertainment.