The camaraderie was perfect and the stories, well, you had to be there.
The car lovers showed off their cars during the monthly Shine & Show at Jack Kilby Square sponsored by Great Bend Carquest. The next Shine & Show is scheduled June 13 sponsored by Becker Tire.
Every car had a story and the stories surrounding the tireless work that restore antique cars.
Mike Hill’s 1965 Volkswagon V-12 El Lobo street buggy is an eye-catcher, something you’d see touring the California beaches. It’s equipped with a 1970 fiberglass body. He enjoys driving the dune buggy several thousand miles a year, even in cooler weather.
“They drove them on the sand dunes in California,” Hill said.
 He acquired the dune buggy four years ago from a Concordia owner for $3,800. He enjoys tinkering with the vehicle so much, he’s turned down multiple offers to sell it for thousands of dollars.
Great Bend’s Gerald Herman of Glass King did the fiberglass work. Phil Jackson helped with the engine. Jerry Ferguson also assisted.
“I was looking for something to do. The dash was all broke up. It was junk when I bought it,” said Hill, who invested six months to restore it. “We took it apart, every last bolt with hand tools. We did it by sight and we searched on the Internet if we had a question.”
His unique vehicle has been entered in Sportsman, Classic, European or Motorcycle car show categories.
“This is a pretty laid back show,” Hill said. “We’ve got a good group of friends who all have fun at these car shows. When it’s a judged show, people are always paying a lot more attention to their cars.”
Hill is part of the Vintage Wheels car club, whose members regularly attend car shows during the spring, summer and fall.  They are prepared for any type of weather.
“We’re known to come rain or shine,” Hill said. “We wear our hats and gloves when it’s cold. One guy from Russell wanted to give us an award for showing up one year when ice was on our carbureators.”   
Hill graduated from Dorrance High School in 1975, a decade before a fire destroyed the high school building.
“Growing up a farm, you learn to be a car mechanic,” Hill said.