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The 31st annual Graham Owners Club International Meet started Monday, with participants staying at the Radisson Hotel.
The weeklong event will culminate with a car show from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today at the north end of Riverside Park.
“They create a good camaraderie,” said Graham car restorer Neville Story of the classic autos. “They create friends wherever you go. It’s something to talk about across the world.”
Story should know — he came from Ulladulla, Australia, for his fifth international meet.
He’s driving a 1932 Graham, but he didn’t bring it with him from Down Under. He borrowed from friends in Texas, and when they visit other Graham enthusiasts in Austra-lia, he loans them one of his.
Michel Larouche drove his 1929 Graham from his home in Baie Comeau in Quebec, Canada. He said he spent more than three days on the road, driving 500 miles a day.
“I just fell in love with them,” Larouche said of the cars.
Hosts Jeanne and Stephen Keyser of Holmen, Wis., said the car club has 600 members, with 130 in La Crosse with up to 25 automobiles. The group has been sightseeing and road tripping throughout the area before today’s car show.
“I love the camaraderie of the Graham people,” Jeanne said. “And the cars are beautiful.”
Husband Stephen said they’re driving a 1939 “shark nose” model Graham.
He said it’s an expensive hobby but worth it.
“It’s a disease and there’s no known cure,” Stephen said.
Ryan Stotts can be reached at (608) 791-8446 or ryan.stotts@lee.net.
