Ramsey takes Principal’s Choice award at Bonsall High School Car Show

The second annual Bonsall High School Car Show, held May 20, doubled in size over the inaugural event.

Principal Lee Fleming chose the winning car, a 1927 Ford Model T “Rat Rod” and said, “I picked a car that looked like it had the most interesting story.”

The “Rat Rod,” although being a Model T, is powered by a modern Chevy 350 engine backed by a TH350 automatic transmission. Owner Jim Ramsey said he was looking for something different when he decided to buy it as a project car. The previous owner had started the restoration but couldn’t finish it. The biggest challenge was finding the parts since it’s made up from so many different things from different years and eras, Ramsey said.

“Now that it’s complete I can ‘get in and go,’ it’s fun to have a weekend driver – something unique,” Ramsey said. “I think my wife Debbie likes it more than I do; she doesn’t ever want me to sell it.”

The show was the brainchild of Carter Arnold and Brendan Ohgi, both students at Bonsall High.

“I got started being interested in cars when I was 8 years old – my mom gave me a Volkswagen ‘Bug’ toy, and now I have a VW of my own,” Carter said.

While only 15 years old, Carter has already repainted his VW and keeps it in original condition. He and Brendan have dreams of starting their own auto repair shop and would like to see an automotive program added to the curriculum at school.

Fleming said that the boys wanted to start a car club and having a show was a great way to promote it.

A number of children and spectators got to go for a ride in Ramsey’s “Rat Rod” after the show. They commented on their experience in the old car and said it was “amazing, fast, loud and of course, fun!”