Published: June 07, 2008 11:54 pm         

It’s all about the ride at Wheat Capital exhibit

By Tippi Rasp

Staff Writer



It was easy to find J.R. Marks and his pair of 1932 Fords at Wheat Capital Car Show Saturday. Both the coupe and roadster had bright paint jobs and shiny chrome fixtures.

It was the sun’s reflection off the hood of the roadster that first caught one admirer’s attention, but it was the striking candy red paint job that held it. The man walked about 50 yards in soaring heat to express his admiration.

“I had to come over here and see,” the admirer told Marks and his wife, Pam, as he inspected the roadster. “That’s nice.”

Despite hot and windy conditions, car enthusiasts all afternoon admired customs, street rods, classics, antiques, mini-trucks, low-riders, pro-street, imports and one very girly, pink Nash Metropolitan on the Garfield County Fairgrounds during the Enid Civitan Club-sponsored event.

Saturday is the first time Marks has participated in Wheat Capital Car Show, but he has ties to the area. His sons live in Enid and he grew up in Canton and lived in Enid until the early 1980s. His wife is from the Jet/Nash area.

An engineer by trade, Marks buys the framework, body and engine from different companies, then puts them together to sell. He’s partial to Fords, particularly the 1932 models.

“I’m building seven of these right now,” Marks said about the ’32 models. “I like ’32s and ’34s. I like Fords.”

But his Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport was getting a lot of attention, too.

Marks said he first got into building and collecting cars so he would have a pastime after he retired. Although he hasn’t yet retired, he attends car shows about twice monthly.

Marks had planned to attend a show in Pomona, Calif., this summer, but canceled those plans because of high fuel prices.

“With gas prices so high, even if you sell one, your profit will be eaten up,” Marks said.

Marks also is a collector. He has a 1981 Chevrolet Corvette at his home in Wagner, and he has a 1923 Ford T-Bucket and a ’29 Ford two-door, among others.

Marks is accompanied to the shows by his wife. Although she isn’t quite the enthusiast her husband is she participates by picking the paint colors.

“I’m a supporter,” Pam Marks said.