Car talk brings New Zealanders to Cuba, Missouri

The Owens (left) and the Wracks had the good fortune to tour Bob’s Gasoline Alley just west of Cuba. Photo courtesy of Jerry McLain

The love of classic cars seems to be universal. Recently, it brought couples from Chesterfield, Missouri, New Zealand, and some Cubans (Missouri-style) together for some international “car talk.”

Let’s start with some friends of Cuba’s Janet and Jerry McLain. The McLains have known Cal and Peggy Owens from Chesterfield, Missouri for over sixty years. The Owens met New Zealanders Colin and Margaret Wrack in Denver a few years ago while traveling. They became friends, and the Wracks invited the Owens to visit them in New Zealand, which they did.

Colin Wrack, who is now retired, worked for a car company in New Zealand. He and his wife both like American cars and own several restored cars. On one of their trips to the U.S., they bought their daughter a 1957 Chevy convertible as a wedding present.

During one of the Wrack’s trips to the U. S., the Owens brought their New Zealand friends to meet their long-time friends the McLains in Cuba. Since Jerry is a career auto mechanic and Janet’s brother-in-law is a race car driver, they fit right into the car scenario. The McLains son David also builds race car engines in a shop next to their house. The group found they had a lot of car talk and interests in common.

The Wracks enjoyed the McLain Shop and were interested in a 409 Chevy engine that they had there. Jerry also took them to see Gary Killeen’s extensive collection of restored cars at his country home outside of Cuba. Jerry says, “When they saw the cars that Gary owns, they were just about speechless.”

After the visit to Gary Killeen’s, they came back for a lunch at Rock Fair, a trip to the murals, and checked out Jerry’s Lions Club Den on Buchanan Street. Jim Barnett saw them taking a break in the shade at the murals and told them how the Viva Cuba mural project started in Cuba.

According to Jerry McLain, the Wracks and Owens thought Cuba was a progressive and friendly town. Weather might have been a challenge since it was winter when the Wracks left New Zealand, and temperatures get down to freezing a couple of times during their winter. Our July heat wave was quite a change.

The Owens and Wracks also had a real treat when Jerry took them to Bob and Darlene Mullen’s home to see their auto-related/neon memorabilia titled Bob’s Gasoline Alley that fills three buildings. It is probably the largest private collection in the U.S. The Mullens also organize Cuba’s September Car/Motorcycle Show. Since it is “by appointment only,” it was a special stop for the Wracks.

The Wracks plan to return with some of their New Zealand friends and tour Route 66. We’re pretty sure a trip to Cuba to meet some old friends and make some new ones will be on their agenda.

Much thanks to all the people that met and opened their homes to the Wracks and Owens and were such great ambassadors for our community.