PENDLETON – Maybe it’s the way the sun glistens on the remarkable paint jobs, or the sultry contours of an American classic. Or maybe it’s the memories that can be associated with a ton of steel, aluminum and leather, or the chill that runs down your spine when you hear a throaty V8 roar to life.

Or maybe it’s just the primal surge of adrenaline that runs through you veins when imagining yourself behind the wheel of a true piece of art with enough testosterone to make a fraternity house look like a daycare, melting into the driver’s seat as your foot presses the gas pedal hard against the floorboard.

Whatever the reason, people always love a good car show.

This much was clear as car enthusiasts swarmed Pendleton’s Main Street Saturday for the annual Les Schwab June Cruizin, despite temperatures that topped out just under 100 degrees.

“We had a good turnout,” Les Schwab’s Brian Yeager said. “We had a lot of spectators as well as contestants.”

The show featured around 90 entrants, ranging from hot rods to early 20th century coupes to modern day beauties. There was even a drag-racing lawn mower on display, though it was not entered in any categories.

But each car represented more than just a place in the history of automobiles and America’s obsession with them. Every entry also represented a part of their owner’s lives, who had put in the knuckle-busting work restoring their dream cars and doted over the final touches like a proud parent.

One such vehicle is Pendleton native and Hermiston resident Mitch Meyers’ 1956 Ford PLU, which won multiple awards Saturday including: first place in the pre 1963 utility class, painted with perfection, envious engine, detail dominator and burning envy.

Car restoration has been a family affair for the Meyers. Mitch has been doing it since he was 10, learning from his father Bill Meyers.

“I just grew up around cars,” the self-described gear head said.

His father, who prefers two wheels to four, joked that he taught him, “everything I know and he still don’t know nothing.”

The younger Meyers passed the passion on to his son, who helped him restore the ’56 Ford starting 13 years ago.

“It’s basically his truck,” Meyers said of his son who was absent due to a family camping trip. “We built it for him starting when he was 14 years old. It was a labor of love, the family project.”

Meyers said the truck has shown well this year and was sure to point out that he’s only put 300 miles on it’s odometer.

Meyers, a retired world champion drag racer who now runs a family-owned plastics business, said it is rare when he isn’t at a car show on the weekends, which might put a strain on some men’s love life.

Meyers has that base covered though, as he’s gotten girlfriend Tina Orton, also a Pendleton native now living in Hermiston, involved.

“I’ve always liked cars and just being with him gave me the opportunity to enjoy them even more,” she said. “I clean (the cars) a lot.”

Orton is more than a shammy girl, though. She won the “wonderful world of paint” award for her work on a burgundy 1932 Ford sedan.

Walla Walla’s George Patterson won best of show for his 1961 Ford Thunderbird.

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FINAL RESULTS

100 class (pre 1940) – 1, Dan Bock, Milton-Freewater, 1934 Ford Coupe; 2, Ed Bearce, Washington, 1932 Ford five-window.

200 class (1940-1950) – 1, Andy and Donna Anderson, Hermiston, 1948 Chevy Coupe; 2, Nicole Eavenson, Pendleton, 1950 Mercury.

300 class (1951-1959) – 1, Randy and Dorthy Svetich, Pendleton, 1955 Chevy Bel-Air; 2, Jerry England, Washington, 1951 Mercury Monterey.

400 class (1960-1970) – 1, George Patterson, Washington, 1961 Ford Thunderbird; 2, Jack Owens, Pasco, 1963 1/2 Ford Gal.

500 class (pre 1959) – 1, Mike Monroe, Hermiston, 1957 Ford Retractable; 2, Steve Steer, Benton City (Wash.), 1957 Ford Thunderbird.

600 class (1959-1965) – 1, Mike Charlo, Milton-Freewater, 1965 Ford Mustang; 2, Butch Hays, Washington, 1963 Chrysler Chrylerport.

700 class (1966-1970) – 1, Steve and Glenna Rion, Pendleton, 1969 Chevy Camaro RS; 2, Larry Kidthan, Longview (Wash.), Chevy Chevelle Malibu.

800 class (1971 & up) – 1, Larry Bowton, Walla Walla, 2000 Plymouth Prowler; 2, Dave and Maggie Yount, 1974 Pontiac Firebird.

900 class (all years utility) – 1, Bob and Marcia Dashbofsky, Walla Walla, 1958 Chevy Yeoman SW; 2, Phil and Pattie Eagon, Walla Walla, 1978 Ford Ranchero GT.

1,000 class (pre 1963 utility) – 1, Mitch Meyers, Hermiston, 1956 Ford PLU; 2, Bruce Ginther, Pasco, 1957 Chevy PLU.

1.100 class (1963 & up utility) – 1, Brooker Jones, Pendleton, 1966 Chevy 4×4; 2, Willis Kicthay, Kennewick, 1993 Chevy PLU.

1,200 class (all years, race/hi performance/tuner) – 1, Keith Montee, Pendleton, 1974 Chevy Vega; 2, Anthony Creel, Milton-Freewater, 1969 Chevy C-10.

1,300 class (all years project) – 1, Rex Howard and Bev Doyle, Pendleton, 1964 Ford Falcon.

1,600 class (all years, sports car/two seater) – 1, Rick Tuttle, Walla Walla, 200 Mercedes Benz SLK 350; 2, Jess Springer, Hillsboro, 1971 Datsun 1200.

1,700 class (all years, sports car/two-seat British) – 1, Gene and Judy Teal, Walla Walla, 1965 Austin Healy MK III.

Painted with perfection – Mitch Meyers, Hermiston, 1956 Ford PLU.

Envious engine – Mitch Meyers, Hermiston, 1956 Ford PLU.

Best interior – Andy and Donna Anderson, Hermiston, 1948 Chevy Coupe.

Detail dominator – Mitch Meyers, Hermiston, 1956 Ford PLU.

Finest Ford – Jack Owens, Pasco, 1963 1/2 Ford Gal.

Classiest Chevy – Dave Yates, Pasco, 1931 Chevy Coupe.

Hard luck award – Dave Yates, Pasco, 1931 Chevy Coupe.

Daring to be different – George Patterson, Walla Walla, 1961 Ford Thunderbird.

Hot wheels – Pat Loughary, Pendleton, 1936 Chevy PLU.

Mighty mean muscle machine – Steve and Glenna Rion, Pendleton, 1969 Chevy Camaro RS.

Woderful world of color – Tina Orton, Hermiston, 1932 Ford Tuclor.

Burning envy – Mitch Meyers, Hermiston, 1956 Ford PLU.

The chrominator – Jerry England, Richland, 1951 Mercury Monterey.

Mightiest mopar – Cathy and Rex Baker, Pendleton, 1970 Plymouth Road Runner.

Best of show – George Patterson, Walla Walla, 1961 Ford Thunderbird.