Dare to be Different

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending The Cruise to the Woods, the largest classic car cruise in the state of Iowa.

For the past 26 years the W.C. Cruisers car club has hosted this event. It is currently held at the Webster County Agricultural Center in Fort Dodge, Iowa the first Sunday in October. This year’s cruise brought in over 1,100 classic cars from Iowa and surrounding states.

One particular car, a project in progress caught my eye this year. This mixed media project introduced not only an agricultural aspect by using an Oliver tractor radiator shell, but the spider web in the grille-work and roof, bear a similarity to those found on, custom bike builder Paul Tuttle jr’s “Black Widow” bike.

Creativity can come in various forms, as this unfinished project shows. This builder displayed his creativity and skills. By not making it just like the factory produced it gave everyone something different to behold. We all aren’t made from the same mold; this is what makes us interesting. Many of us fail to try because we fear we will be judged by our skills not our efforts. Have you ever put off starting a project because you were afraid your skill level might not be as high, or creative factor may come under the scrutiny, of those who might critique it? Even if you can’t do a full-fledged restoration on that antique tractor you love, don’t be afraid to do it to the best of your ability. Do it for yourself. Friends and books are generally a good source of assistance and can help you grow your skill levels. If you’re a creative sort or lack funds or patience to locate missing parts, don’t be afraid to experiment, some will love it others will hate it, so what? Turning on your creative juices are a matter of taste, remember some of us love “liver and onions.”

Additional Pictures: