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Blue skies, green grass and a field full of great vintage cars -- what could make gearheads happier? More than 160 cars and twice that many people turned out for a private "barn party" last weekend in west Wichita.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Dennis Gage, host of television's "My Classic Car" presents Don Bolain, host of the barn party, an award in the shape of the state of Kansas. Gage was the special guest at the event.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

One of the showcased cars was Don Bolain's immaculately restored bright yellow Corvair convertible.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Kevin Kaiser shows off his wicked '57 Chevy to Dennis Gage. The TV host was impressed with the unique hood treatment on the car.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

What began as a cool, overcast day turned into a near-perfect day for a car party, with bright sunshine and many of the best classic cars in the area on display.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Lynn Moore was one of those honored as a pioneer of the Wichita car community. Known as "the '32 Ford Guy," Moore rolled in at the wheel of his beautiful '32 Victoria.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Another of the honorees at DB's Barn Party was Frank LaForge, who brought his baby blue '56 Ford convertible. It was through this car that LaForge met Dennis Gage at a Gulf Coast car show last season and started the wheels rolling to bring Gage to Wichita.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Still in its trademark primer, Jim Saville's Plymouth coupe rounded out the cars of the three hot-rod pioneers honored at the show.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Dennis Gage regales Chuck Grauel with the unlimited rev potential of the Taurus SHO engine in Jerry Dietrich's slick '37 Ford coupe. Gage has both a first- and second-generation Taurus SHO in his collection and says they are "wickedly fast cars."

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

When one engine won't do, go for two. That was Gary Lefever's approach with his potent twin-engine Model T racer.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Tim Devlin's beautifully understated shop truck in subtle gray contrasted nicely with all the brightly colored hot rods that filled the parking areas.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Frank LaForge shoots video to document the Barn Party goings-on. Here, he's shooting the host's '40 Ford Tudor.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

One of the prettiest coupes on hand for the festivities was this stylish black '34 Chevy, owned by Jerry Park. Note the Halibrand wheels and wide whitewalls -- a classic combination.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

One of everybody's favorite "geezers," Roy Merritt began hosting his own private party event, the "Geezer Gathering," three years ago.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Gene and Karen Weaver brought not one but two standout cars to the party: Their chopped '54 Chevy hardtop and their recently finished glass-bodied '32 Ford highboy roadster.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Rick Nutt's beautifully crafted '38 Ford woody, complete with matching mini-trailer, wowed the folks who made it to the rear parking area of the event. The sheet metal glowed in a deep iridescent purple in contrast with the two-toned woodwork.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Dean Hurley's '36 Ford convertible looked right at home on a field of grass with a white fence in the background. The car would be the star of any late '30s movie remake.

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle

Dennis Gage was just as charming as he appears on "My Classic Car," happily signing autographs and chatting with fellow car lovers. Here, he poses for a shot with Kathy Berry, sometimes known as "Mrs. Wichita On Wheels."

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Mike Berry / The Wichita Eagle