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Times -Advocate, August 28, 1991
Zurich Bean Festival draws
If anyone had doubted that the Zurich Bean Festival would
continue its momentum past its 25th anniversary last year,
they were proved wrong on Saturday.
Thousands took advantage of the good weather to take in
one of Ontario's most famous small-town festivals, and there
was no shortage of things to see and do. There was also no
shortage of beans coming from the festival kitchens.
The car show is becoming a dominant event at the festival.
Organizer Ken Clarke confirmed he had 325 classic cars reg-
istered by Saturday afternoon.
"You name it, it's here," said Clarke of the complete cross-
section of North -American cars gathered at the event.
The entertainment on the main stage was virtually continu-
ous, and no one seemed to notice that the Bean Festival
Queen Contest had gone by the wayside. In fact, the bean eat-
ing contest proved to be a big hit with the crowds.
It would appear the biggest problem the festival committee
face in coming years is not how to bring in the crowds, but
where to park their cars.
Bean eating contest - The rules of the first ever bean -eating contest
were revealed Saturday afternoon: take one politician, one blind-
folded volunteer, and feed him as fast as you can. The catch is the
winner is chosen by audience for performance, not consumption.
From left Sonya Shantz stuffs Zurich reeve Bob Fisher, DeAnn Fore-
man shovels it to MPP Paul Klopp, and Heather Klopp feeds MP
Murray Cardiff. Behind are organizers Cam Steckle and Brad Lucas.
The winner was Klopp, who ended up with beans all over his face
and gldsses.
Photos by
Adrian Harte
Car show - Amy and Timmy Boshart of RR1 Gadshili north of Strat-
ford take a look at the past and what may be the the future of cars - •
electric power. This was the oldest entry at the Zurich Bean Festival
Car Show, a 1917 Rauch and Lang electric car.
Aerobatics - Despite the millions of dollars of classic cars around them, visitors to the car show took a
few moments to cast their eyes skyward to watch the aerobatics of Terry Stewart who has made a habit
of flying over the Bean Festival each year.
Entertainment - A favorite local act at the Bean Festival was Utopia Minor, the trio of Chris Cleave (left),
Steve Heywood and Dan Thiel. Below are 4 Shadow, a quartet who delighted the crowds at both the
main stage and the car show grounds with their a cappella renditions of familiar songs.
T -Bird quartet - Darcy Rathwell of Brucefield brought not one, but six cars to display at the car show,
four of them classic Thunderbirds. Rathwell brought his '62, '64, '65, and '66 T -Birds, his '59 Edsel
Ranger, and a '62 Pontiac to the show. He left his other cars at home.
Blow up - A battle between a Ford Maverick and this Chrysler Lebaron wagon made up this ear's en-
gine blow up at the car show. , Visitors paid a dollar to guess how long each car engine would last with-
out coolant or oil. The Maverick ran hand and fast for nearly two minutes, earning Ken McNaim the
prize. The LeBaron ran fitfully for over five minutes and refused to die, making Mark MacDonald the
winner.
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