Mrs. Knowlton’s Model Car Contest

I went the Ontario Elementary School for K-1st, then 4th and 5th grades. It was 1965 – 1967 when I was in 4th and 5th grades. In those days, model cars were a popular pastime for young boys, and probably some girls as well. You could find model cars at the Western Auto or even Syron’s Pharmacy in the village. I had strted to build some models by fourth grade, as my brothers Tom and Alan were builders. I wasn’t that good at it yet.

Mrs. Knowlton was the librarian at OE at the time. At least in 1965-1967, she held a model car contest. Kids could bring in their models, and enter them into the contest. I’m sure there were a number of categories, I don’t recall what they were. As I mentioned, mine weren’t that great and I knew it. I may have entered more than 1, but the one I remember entering was a “custom” build. I used parts from various kits and even used some of the plastic parts trees that held parts together coming out of the mold.

I recall the anticipation of the day the winners were announced. They were all displayed among the library shelves, with the builders name and place/category of their entry on a small v-folded piece of paper just in front of it. I remember being impressed on the quality of the builds. Those 5th and 6th graders were much better skilled! Looking at them I was pretty sure I had no chance. But to my surprise, I saw my entry had won something. I’m not sure if it was first, second or honorable mention, but I was thrilled. I think the category was “most original”, which probably had fewer entries which helped my chances.

I don’t know how long this had been going on, or how long it lasted. After my 5th grade year, the 6th grade was moved to TCA Middle School, so it only lasted two years for me. But it was something I looked forward to and enjoyed. It was a nice event that allowed students to show their creative side. If anyone recalls these in earlier or later years, please comment!

By the time I was 13 or 14, I don’t think I built anymore model cars, at least for a while. When my children were young and we were homebound most of the time, I took up modeling again. I mostly built race cars. NASCAR being the dominant choice. In maybe a 10 year period, I built about 80. I still have them displayed in cases on my wall. I probably have another 20 still in unopened boxes in the basement. Maybe one day, I’ll get back to it.

Plastic modeling is still around, but mostly for adults now. People who were kids in the 50s-60s-70s. You can’t find them in the Ontario village anymore, but Dan’s Craft and Things, Performance Hobbies in the Webster Village, and Hobby Lobby has some as well.

Thanks Mrs. Knowlton!

Brian,

I was always attracted to Mrs. Knowlton’s library because it was about more than books. I do recall helping my Dad cut down and preserve a hornet’s nest still attached to a tree branch. After making sure the bee’s were gone we cut a cross section out of it to display the interior construction. We donated this to the library where it was on display, hanging in a corner, for quite some time. Unfortunately our fumigation efforts were not entirely adequate early on as I remember hornets buzzing around the library which must have hatched from dormant eggs shortly after installation.

The Model Car Contest was always a highlight for me, an event many looked forward to that had staying power. I built cars from kits by Revell, AMT, Aurora, and Monogram. Revell always had the best kits with the most attention to detail. While my build techniques were acceptable, my painting and gluing skills left a lot to be desired. Testor’s paint and glue was gloppy whether on my hands or on the model, and the glue would have to be peeled off my skin as if it was another layer of epidermis hours after it dried. I always wanted to build cars as good or better than Billy Dixon, but had no patience for the detail required for desired results. His entries set a high standard and I wanted instant gratification. Billy’s cars were always perfect with gleaming chrome, seamless paint jobs, free of streaks, paint drips, crooked decals, and glued fingerprints on the windshield like my 1967 Buick Riviera entry.

My interest in building models began to wane and soon led to the world of HO slot cars which became an obsessive activity during these years. Various Aurora Model Motoring track layouts always were configured on my Ping-Pong table in the basement.

These days one might be able to draw a correlation between then and now by considering how far Legos have come. My youngest son has a room in his house dedicated to his Lego creations. Beyond that we have moved into a much more virtual world. Model Car Contests have been replaced by App creation and gaming platforms.

Thanks for opening the door to a forgotten memory! Now I feel old!

One comment

Scott Stead

July 20, 2025 / 2:11 pm

Brian,

I was always attracted to Mrs. Knowlton’s library because it was about more than books. I do recall helping my Dad cut down and preserve a hornet’s nest still attached to a tree branch. After making sure the bee’s were gone we cut a cross section out of it to display the interior construction. We donated this to the library where it was on display, hanging in a corner, for quite some time. Unfortunately our fumigation efforts were not entirely adequate early on as I remember hornets buzzing around the library which must have hatched from dormant eggs shortly after installation.

The Model Car Contest was always a highlight for me, an event many looked forward to that had staying power. I built cars from kits by Revell, AMT, Aurora, and Monogram. Revell always had the best kits with the most attention to detail. While my build techniques were acceptable, my painting and gluing skills left a lot to be desired. Testor’s paint and glue was gloppy whether on my hands or on the model, and the glue would have to be peeled off my skin as if it was another layer of epidermis hours after it dried. I always wanted to build cars as good or better than Billy Dixon, but had no patience for the detail required for desired results. His entries set a high standard and I wanted instant gratification. Billy’s cars were always perfect with gleaming chrome, seamless paint jobs, free of streaks, paint drips, crooked decals, and glued fingerprints on the windshield like my 1967 Buick Riviera entry.

My interest in building models began to wane and soon led to the world of HO slot cars which became an obsessive activity during these years. Various Aurora Model Motoring track layouts always were configured on my Ping-Pong table in the basement.

These days one might be able to draw a correlation between then and now by considering how far Legos have come. My youngest son has a room in his house dedicated to his Lego creations. Beyond that we have moved into a much more virtual world. Model Car Contests have been replaced by App creation and gaming platforms.

Thanks for opening the door to a forgotten memory! Now I feel old!

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