Washington Evening Journal
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Bikes, trikes popular at car show
By Winona Whitaker, Hometown Current
Jul. 8, 2024 9:54 am
MARENGO — Not every vehicle at the Marengo July 3 Car Show has four wheels. Several motorcycles and trikes were on display.
Bill and Kelsey McKuster of Ladora showed two of their bikes in front of the Iowa Valley Elementary School Wednesday morning.
“This one I built myself,” said Bill of the motorcycle he was shining.
“That one, her late father built it,” he said pointing to a custom chopper with a firefighter theme.
Chuck Camp, of Cedar Rapids, passed away suddenly a couple of years ago, said Bill. “This was his favorite show to come to.”
Now McKuster and his wife carry on the tradition.
Camp built the bike in 2018, said his daughter. “He just wanted to do a tribute.”
On display with the chopper were a firefighter’s helmet, boots and box and a thank you to firefighters and their families.
Camp showed the bike eight or 10 times a year, said Kelsy. “It won a lot of top of show,” she said.
“His always beat me,” said McKuster. “Still does.”
Camp didn’t have motorcycles when Kelsey was growing up, she said. It wasn’t until she left for college that he got his first Harley trike and custom painted it.
“This was his second build,” Kelsey said. “When I would go to his house… I would help with it.
“Him and his girlfriend, Becky, they rode all the time,” Kelsey said. They didn’t ride the firefighter bike though.
“He wanted to keep it clean,” Bill said.
As do Bill and Kelsey. They use a trailer transport their bikes to shows. They live on a gravel road, and the bikes wouldn’t stay clean.
“Bill will take his for a ride after today,” said Kelsey, because they were on paved roads.
Bill and Kelsey have been participating in the Marengo Car Show since 2017 when they stated dating, Kelsey said.
Bill and Kelsey celebrated their second wedding anniversary the day before the Marengo Car Show.
Bill’s son, Mason, travels to car shows with the couple. “We like to put one of them in his name,” said Kelsey. The firefighter bike was registered in Mason’s name during this year’s Marengo July 3 Car Show.
Next to the McKusters, Mason Bean shined up his grandfather’s 2020 Harley Tri Glide Trike. “You see a lot more on the road now, especially us old people,” said Jerry Bean, of Cedar Rapids.
“I had an older Honda,” said Bean, but recently he rides trikes. “They’re easier to handle when you get older.
“We try to make it to as many shows in the summer as we can,” Bean said. He planned to take the trike to Belle Plaine’s car show after the Marengo show ended Wednesday afternoon.
Belle Plaines’ pre-July 4 car show began at 4 p.m. Wednesday night.