Car show will help get veterans to clinic

Photo by Hubble Ray Smith ^[1].

Larry Imus (right), with his Vietnam Veteran hat, and Gary Marks of Desert Cruisers Car Club stand by a 1940 Hudson that will be entered in the Operation Veterans car, truck and bike show in the Walmart parking lot on Veterans Day. They also check out the 427-horsepower Hemi engine that Marks put in the car.

KINGMAN – Former Justice of the Peace Larry Imus once chased down a woman in the court hallway and tackled her after she tried to run from an impending jail sentence.

That's why his friend and fellow Praise Chapel worshiper Gary Marks refers to him as Judge Roy Bean.

Marks has the utmost respect for Imus, who served two tours with the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam, earning the Purple Heart medal during his second tour as a platoon sergeant in 1968-69.

"I was carrying my machine gun and reached back to stop the guy next to me and a booby trap went off," the ex-Marine said. "It blew up both legs, my left arm, the left side of my body. I've still got shrapnel in my legs."

He also put in 18 years with the Mohave County Sheriff's Office and Kingman Police Department before serving 12 years as Justice of the Peace.

So when Marks learned that Imus was taking military veterans to the VA hospital in Las Vegas "on his own dime," he volunteered to step up and help raise funds.

A member of the Desert Cruisers Car Club, Marks organized the Operation Veteran car, truck and bike show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Veteran's Day in the Walmart parking lot, 3396 Stockton Hill Road.

Entry fee is $15 for all vehicles and registration opens at 8 a.m.

Trophies will be awarded in 33 classes including street rods, rat rods, convertibles, foreign, classics and antiques. Trucks are divided into age categories (1900-59, 1960-72 and 1973-2017). Motorcycle awards are for custom, original, bagger, three-wheel and classic.

Marks will be entering his rare 1940 Hudson that he picked up 12 years ago at the junk yard on the side of U.S. 93 on the way to Las Vegas. It had one headlight, no glass, no parts.

He's into it for about $30,000, including a 427-horsepower Hemi engine and an elaborate air suspension system.

"It's kind of like the wife. If you can't play with it once in a while, what good is it?" Marks said as he parked the under-construction car in front of Walmart for a photograph.

There will be dash plaques, a 50-50 cash drawing and a chance to win a 50-inch TV donated by Walmart. Walmart manager Michael Longoria said the company is proud to support veterans for their service, bravery and sacrifices. All proceeds to go Operation Veteran.

Operation Veteran is an outreach program sponsored by Praise Chapel that gives veterans a place to share their experiences, needs, desires, problems and fears.

"We work with veterans, even noncombat veterans, who have hang-ups because of combat service," Imus said. "It could be PTSD, bi-polar. We just help them get along and help them heal.

"Vets … it's hard to explain, but we understand each other better than anyone else understands us and that's why this works so well."

A lot of veterans won't admit they have a problem and won't go for PTSD treatment, Imus said. They're afraid they won't get hired or won't get promoted if employers find out about their condition, he said.

"One of my vets has been everywhere in the world to get help, and he said this is the only program he's been where the guys will fight to be the first to help you," Imus added.

The car show is free to the public, and anyone can join the Desert Cruisers Car Club on the spot, Marks said. There are no dues and no officers. For more information, call Marks at (928) 530-5656.