Grenfell -
In roughly sixteen months, 18-year-old Stephen Steininger of Grenfell managed to turn a beat-up old Chevy into a prize-winning show piece.
Steininger took third place in the street truck category at the 43rd Annual Majestics Car Show in Regina with the '69 Chevy he restored.
The former highway truck sure sparkles now, but it was nothing much to look at when he first picked it up in Yorkton.
"It was in rough shape," Steininger said. "It was all rusted out and dented from hauling gravel on the highways and stuff like that."
He learned most of what he knows from his dad and grandpa growing up.
"Dad has a '67 Coronet, started working on that when I was thirteen. Then I got distracted by (the '69 Chevy).
Although it has still cost less than buying a new truck, Steininger admits that roughly $12,000 has gone into the project.
"It's a very expensive hobby," he said.
He has already begun his next undertaking, a 2008 Pontiac G5.
"I bought it from SGI - it was smashed up in a collision or something."
The Majestics Car Show took place on April 25 & 26 at Evraz Place in Regina and featured hundreds of entries.
According to Majestics Car Club member Dale Martens, roughly 10,000 spectators turned out for the event.
Martens feels the Majestics show is the perfect way for anyone who's spent the time and effort that Steininger has to get the recognition they deserve.
"Any car-lover likes people to appreciate what they've done. Driving down the street, someone will drive by and say 'nice car' or whatever, but when you take it into a car show people are paying to come and see what you've done.
"If they stop and look and ask a question, it definitely makes the owner of the car feel a whole bunch better."
He also feels the competition aspect is a big part of what keeps thousands of people coming back each year.
"If you happen to come out at the head of your class in anything, and more so when you're a car enthusiast, that's another feather in your cap."
Transforming a vehicle from a lemon into a show piece can cost car-lovers a whole lot of time and money, but Martens says that shows like Majestics make it seem like the cost and effort have finally paid off.
"When people walk by and they enjoy what you've done it's a nice boost. It kind of justifies the time and money that you've spent."
