Chili cook-off was a cool event

CAMERON PARK — It was a hot time at Burke Junction as cooks prepared their chili for the 2012 Chili Cook-off and Classic Car Show on Saturday, Sept, 8.

The day was warm, the music by Out of the Blue was definitely hot, the classic cars were smoking’ and the chili heated met expectations.

The annual event sponsored by Mother Lode Rehabilitation Enterprises Inc. attracted some of the best chili chefs vying for bragging rights and some nice prizes.

The chili made by Cathy Wheat and a crew from Chapel of the Pines captured the judges’ first place award.

Second was concocted by Justin Cherman of Ponte Palmero and the third place winners were the Calamity Cooks of Dave and Carie Woodson.

In the Peoples’ Choice voting first place went to Cherman of Ponte Palmero, second was B and H Chili by Becky Petty and Henry Jeter and third place was Wheat of Chapel of the Pines.

Several awards were presented in special categories. The hottest and spiciest chili was given to SRC Chili Peppers and Paul Harlow. The most unique chili was given to Calamity Cooks, the Woodsons.

The chili judges for the day were: Kevin Barri, Laurel Brent-Bumb, Mimi Escabar, Richard Esposito, Debi Harlow, Mindy Jackson, Doug Noble and Paul Zappettini.

The masters of heat entering the cook-off were: Peter Messimore: A Helping Hand Home Care; Mark Cimino: Cimino Care Chili; Becky Petty and Henry Jeter: B and H Chili; Dale Van Dam and Stu Van Horn: Graduate Degree Chili; Cathy Wheat: Chapel of the Pines; Susie Lewis, Sierra Vista Bank: Three Stooges Plus One; Mickey Killian: Chili Mic’s; Richard Solis and Co.: Team Solis Collision Center; Scott Goold: Hot Cha Cha Cha; Mary Goold: Bean There, Done That; Kathy Teresi: Teresi’s Chili; Paul Harlow: SRC Chili Peppers; Justin Cherman: Ponte Palmero; Jeanne Hall and Todd White: Foster Awareness Network; Dave and Carie Woodson: Calamity Cooks; Linda Griffiths: Cordelia Smythe Mysteries; and Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce: Spicy Chamber Chili Compadres.

Hottest of the hot cars were: Best of Show: a 1960 Chevy Impala owned by Don and Mona Thorne; Pre-1950: a 1936 Oldsmobile Convertible with rumble seat owned by Ty and Keith Peters; 1951-1975: a 1958 Chevy Impala owned by Bud and Dee Adams; Pickup: a 1956 Chevy Cameo Pickup owned by Eddie Refuerzo

The first place in the Peoples’ Choice voting was a 1936 Oldsmobile Convertible with rumble seat owned by the Peters; second place was a 1969 Chevy Camaro 427 owned by Sam Teresi; and third place was a 1958 Chevy Impala owned by the Adams.

The classic car judges were: Michael Misch, Linda Hopkins, Maxine Hurley, Robbie Montalbano and Wendell Smith.

Other cars entered were: a 1966 Ford Mustang owned by Larry Frantzen, a 1934 Ford Sedan owned by Dan and Lilly Stuart, a 1928 Ford Roadster owned by Roy and Tami Stuart, a 1960 Chevy Impala owned by Don and Mona Thorne, a 1963 Chevy Nova SS owned by Bob Wolery, a 1956 Ford Fairlane 500 owned by Gayle Helms, a 1970 Chevy Chevelle owned by Mike Russo, a 1970 Chevy Chevelle owned by Parcale Russo, a 1965 Ford Mustang owned by Tim Gibbons, a 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback owned by John Lease, a 1967 Chevy Camaro owned by Gordon Helm, a 1965 Chevy Nova SS owned by Tricia & Preston Friend, a 1967 Plymouth Barracuda owned by Kent Taylor, a 1972 Volkswagen Squareback owned by Armando Tovar, a 1964 GMC Pickup owned by Rex Cox, a 1964 Chevy Panel Pickup owned by John Schaaf, 1954 Chevy Z10 owned by Harry Ortiz, a 1965 Chevy Corvette owned by John Cook, a 1963 Ford Falcon Sprint owned by Tom Zarneke, a 1969 Chevy Camaro owned by Sue Cook and a 1956 Chevy Cameo owned by Eddie Refuerzo.

Susie Davies, executive director of MORE said the event could not happen with out the event sponsors: The Mountain Democrat, Wells Fargo Bank, El Dorado Disposal and Burke Junction LLC.

She also acknowledged the Kiwanis Key Club and Aktion Club volunteers, the STAR volunteers and the MORE staff and board for giving up their Saturday to make the event a giant success.