Seventh annual Rumble in the Bay car show gears up for Sunday

In the summer you might see a bright yellow 1958 Chevy pickup truck cruising around Bigfork.

That’s Jerry Bell behind the wheel. And the classic car is his daily driver.

On Sunday in Bigfork, Bell will show off his ride at the seventh annual Rumble in the Bay car show in downtown Bigfork.

Bell was the first person to register for this year’s show. Working on cars is a longtime passion for him.

“It’s just been a hobby of mine always,” he said. As a youth it started small, with bikes and scooters. “I’d go to the dump and get bicycle parts and build a bicycle. When I was old enough to drive I started on cars. When I turned 16 I believe I had four cars.”

In high school he and his friends would gather and show off their cars, but when he actually started participating in organized car shows Bell can’t remember.

Bell spends his summers in Bigfork and winters in Nevada. He hasn’t missed a Rumble in the Bay since it started in 2007.

“It’s just fun meeting people, seeing their cars, and talking about them,” he said. “And showing your car off.”

The Rumble in the Bay has been sponsored by the Bigfork Veterans of Foreign Wars Post for the last three years. Organizer Jesse Gonzales said they hope to raise some money with the event that they can then give back to Bigfork.

Last year he said they were able to give out a $2,000 scholarship from the funds they raised.

“This is a nonprofit thing,” he said. “All of the money is for next year’s show and we’re turning it back into the community.”

Last year there were about 230 cars in the show, and Gonzales hopes there will be at least as many this year, but a lot depends on weather.

Registration for Rumble in the Bay continues until the day of the event, with a pre-registration event Saturday from 5-9 p.m. at the V8 Ford Museum in Bigfork.

Rumble in the Bay opens at 8 a.m. on Sunday, and there will be judging for best car, truck, motorcycle and more. Awards will be given out between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., before the event ends at 4 p.m.

The event is free to the public.