25th Annual Coulterville Coyote Howl & Car Show
25th Annual Coulterville Coyote Howl & Car Show
A Great Day In The Park!
The silver anniversary edition of the Coyote Howl lived up to the goals set by the event’s founders 25 years ago…is was a howlin’ good time! The parade, the music, the merchandise and food, the variety of great cars in the car show, the talented kids and adults who vied for “top dog”…or, rather, “top coyote”… and even the weather all contributed to making this year’s event a fun and memorable day.
The parade boasted a variety of entries including several floats, most of the vintage vehicles participating in the car show, clowns, a variety of livestock…ranging from equines down to some smaller 4H project poultry and rabbit entries … and some innovatively costumed walking groups.
The park was filled with an assortment of vendors including some great food booths, all sorts of merchandise ranging from jewelry (some just for kids), custom aprons, biker gear, walking sticks, books and much more.
A popular local band, Snake Oil, which was sponsored by the Coulterville Community Club, belted out lively country and pop music all day long, with a few special guest singers filling in when they took a break.
Twenty-three entries in the car show, ranging from an ultra sleek ‘2000 Prowler to a ‘31 Hillbilly model A, better known as “Bubba”, vied for People’s Choice. This coveted award was won by Dave and Linda Stevens of Standard for their red 1957 Chevrolet Belair 2 door hard top. Dave had rebuilt the car as a gift to his wife and wanted her to accept the award by herself, but she would not hear of it and insisted they both won it!
About 50 youngsters officially competed in the Coyote Howl…9 as individuals and the others in “pup-paks” that ranged in size from 2 to as many as 7. Tyler Post, who traveled all the way from Merced, won the Individual Kid’s Division and a local Coulterville “pak”, comprised of Monea Ventura, Samanda Beeman and Wyatt Goodson won the Group Howl. Thanks to sponsors Bill and Earleen Bailey, who contributed the prize money for both children’s contests, Tyler was awarded $100 in cash and the Pak got to split another $100 between them.
There were not as many adults brave enough to get up and howl in public, but the three, all women by the way, who did were all terrific! In fact the judges, Jerry Lyman, Bill Davis and Bill Lane, needed a “Howl Off” before deciding that Charlotte Theis’ rendition was the most impressive. Charlotte also won $100 in cash, which was half the registration pot. Both her name and Tyler’s will be added to the Howl of Fame! All participants were sent Coyote Howl certificates immediately following the event.
The Dinner Dance at the Coulter Café was a perfect way to end a perfect event. The sizzlin hot dinner music of the Blue Box Bayou Band was once again sponsored by John & Annette Shimer, the Coulterville Fire Brigade & Yosemite Bank.
Thanks to all Contributors
The event went off without a glitch thanks to the many, many volunteers involved. Committee Chairperson, Gail Tyler, says “thank you” to all of them for their support. This includes the set-up crew headed up by John Shimer along with Annette Shimer, Jennifer & Shae Shimer, Shawn Shimer and Donna Shimer. The parade started on time and flowed evenly thanks to Bobbie Coleman. The NMCHC booth, which sold T shirts, raffle tickets and cold drinks was staffed by Mary Lou Davis, Bob Higgs, Chris Laursen, Barbara Lyman, Bonnie Mead, Shawn Shimer & Gail Tyler. Dale Silverman designed the posters distributed throughout the area and handled the various aspects of PR. Bill Lane organized the car show.
Gail also wanted to thank the various businesses and private individuals who donated raffle prizes including Allied Auto Store, Big 5, Black Oak Casino, Funworks, Greeley Hill Market, Groveland Pharmacy, Happy Burger Diner, Miner's Mart in Big Oak Flat, 2-Guys Pizza, Another Stop Thrift Shop, Down to Earth in Big Oak Flat, the Tire Shop in Groveland and Metal by Mark as well as individuals: Barbara Lyman, Paul Martin and Dale & David Silverman. Bischoff Custom Shirts once again covered the cost of printing the sponsors on the great looking Coyote Howl T shirts.
A big thank you is also extended to Mary Sherlock, one of the original founders of the Coyote Howl for traveling to Coulterville from Southern California to serve as this year’s Grand Marshall. Janelle Daniel, owner of the Coulterville Café & Grocery, contributed the preparation and serving of the great Coyote Howl Dinner. This year’s car show was once again sponsored by AC Delco and Allied Auto Store in Fremont as well as Lyle Turpin, Mariposa Supervisor District 1 . And this year all T-shirt sponsorships spots were taken thanks to Penon Blanco Lookout B&B, the Shimer Family, SJ&S Landscape Maintenance, Greeley Hill Market, The Radiator Doctor, "In Memory of Brother Bob", the Haigh Ranch and Tuolumne Supervisor John Gray!
John Shimer, president of the Northern Mariposa County History Center thanked the Coyote Howl committee, the many volunteers who helped organize the event and the sponsors who help made the 25thAnnual Coyote Howl both fun for all and a howlin’ successful fund raiser for the Northern Mariposa County History Center. Additional photos may be seen at the museum’s new website: www.coultervillemuseum.org.
By Dale Silverman
Part One - The Parade Part Two - The Howl
