Car fancier finally makes the "A" list

Gil Kvam's dream car arrived Wednesday.

The restored 1931 Ford Model A Roadster was delivered to Kvam in Redmond. He bought it through a Christie's auction in New York City and trucked it to Washington.

"My son asked me what two things I regretted not having purchased. One was a diamond ring for my wife and the other was a Model A Roadster," said the former Kirkland pharmacist.

Although Kvam's wife had a diamond before she died a couple of years ago, the car had been an unfulfilled wish. Kvam was outbid on a car in California but won this one in June. The delivery lived up to Gil Kvam's expectations.

"It's just gorgeous," Kvam said. "It's green with black fenders and has a brown leather interior. It's really something."

Ironically, he purchased a similar car many years ago for his younger brother. Not that Kvam kept this one long. He gave it to his son, Craig. The younger Kvam put the roadster on a flatbed and drove it to his home in Poulsbo, Kitsap County.

Gil Kvam didn't intend to drive the dream car. These days he steers his walker. The 92-year-old lives at Cascade Plaza, a retirement facility.

Another car story

The SOVREN Guild, a group of Eastsiders who raise money for Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center, zoomed to a new record. SOVREN, an acronym for Society of Vintage Racing Enthusiasts, organized its annual car race June 30-July 1 at Pacific Raceways in Kent. The group made $728,000, up from last year's $707,000.

"We had a spectacular year," said Shirley Starr, treasurer of the group.

Hatfields and McCoys

Local folklore has it that the Perrigos and McRedmonds didn't get along back in the late 1800s when both families were founding Redmond.

Things haven't changed.

My Saturday story about a Perrigo family reunion prompted phone calls from dismayed McRedmond descendants. They want folks to know the town was properly named after another founding father, Luke McRedmond.

As an outsider, I'd say the score stands even.

McRedmond got his name on the town. A few years ago, his descendants sold about 10 acres of farmland to Redmond. Their land was incorporated into a new park — 26-acre Perrigo Community Park.

Stage jitters

The stage fright was a bonus. Henry Bischofberger of Kirkland purchased a chance to conduct the Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra at the BPO's recent auction.

The payoff came last week at the Bellevue Downtown Association's Fourth of July celebration in Downtown Park when the BPO played fabulous music during the fireworks.

Despite rehearsals, Bischofberger, who owns Henry Bischofberger Violins, was so nervous that he detoured on the way to the park to buy Tums.

You wouldn't have known there were any pre-show worries. Bischofberger looked calm, cool and professional. He even did a 180-degree turn on stage, pretending to conduct the audience, as he led the BPO in John Phillip Sousa's "Washington Post March."

Sherry Grindeland: 206-515-5633 or sgrindeland@seattletimes.com