Igniters cruise into part of Libby's history

In a scene typical of the times for many towns around the country, Ivan Troyer enjoyed cruising Mineral Avenue in his ’55 Ford, hanging out at the Blue Bear and getting rowdy with his friends.

One day in 1961, one of those friends asked him if he’d be interested in joining a car club.

Troyer’s response was something like, “Oh, I don’t know … maybe if I have time to stop by.”

But then a little extra incentive was offered.

“I went to the first meeting because he said there would be liquid refreshment,” Troyer laughed. “I said, ‘OK.’”

Nearly a half-century later, Troyer and a handful of other early members of the Igniters Car Club in Libby continue their passion along with scores of others that joined up along the way. The Igniters are known as the oldest continuously running car club in the state.

On Friday and Saturday, Ignite the Nites will take over Libby with events such as cruising, flame-throwing, a car show and a burn-out contest.

The club’s roots took hold in 1961 when Dave Swenson, Ken Preston and Mike Bailey got together to meet in a friend’s garage. A club with older members – referred to as the Cam Busters – had been in existence but the locals in their late teens and early 20s felt the urge to organize their own group.

“It was fun for us to find that camaraderie,” said Butch Peterson, another original member who drove a ’58 Cadillac when the club organized. “Our common interest was cars. In those days, there was a car club culture … there was sort of a grassroots movement to belong to a car club.”

Igniters seemed like an appropriate name, “to start something, to start a fire,” as Peterson said. Reese “Buzz” Larson designed the club’s original artwork.

By the following year, the club put together an event to benefit the community. Swenson, who drove a ’59 Chevy Impala at the time, remembers installing seatbelts for around $10 or so and doing safety checks on a Sunday in 1962. At the time, seatbelts were not standard equipment on vehicles.

The club approved its constitution in 1963 and incorporated in 1967. Its first meeting place that did not involve someone’s garage was located at 313 California Ave., a spot the Igniters leased from the power company.

Sometime in the mid-60s – old-timer members can’t recall the exact year – the club received a big boost when land was sold to them by George Enders for $50. The local bank gave them a loan, a kit was purchased and a building went up.

The club went to work raising money – its biggest source of income was through hosting dances.

The Igniters continued on over the years while earning respect within the community. For example, John Burkheimer and Bob Myrhang developed reputations of going out of their way to help the younger kids.

Then in the late ’70s – possibly 1979 – club member Ed Tecca came up with the idea of putting together a summer car show.

“The Igniters Timber Run was the first name,” Swenson remembers. “But people started coming to town with their jogging shoes on.”

The event eventually became known as Hot August Nights – until notified by an organization in Nevada that it owned the copyright to that name. As a result, the name was changed to Ignite the Nites.

One could argue that Ignite the Nites has become the biggest event of the summer in Libby. It brings in people and vehicles from all over the Pacific Northwest, including substantial representation from Canada. Last year’s number of entries came in at around 260.

A big draw is the club’s Friday night “Cruise the Gut” event. Participants are allowed to get a little rowdy with revving engines and burning out. Many communities would not allow a car club to hold such an event on public streets.

“The city letting us have main street (Mineral Avenue), that’s incredible support,” Peterson said.

Today, the club obviously remains active with a building where members can work on their cars. The shop includes a hoist, painting room and upstairs meeting room along with a kitchen and remodeled bathroom. Several members with the necessary skills to work on cars offer their help. The club also maintains what it calls an education incentive fund – an award that goes to a high school student interested in pursuing an automotive career.

“We started out as a bunch of teenage hot-rodders,” Swenson said. “It’s evolved into more of a social club.”

But whether members are part of the club for the adrenaline rush of fast cars or because of their love for fine vehicle craftsmanship, Peterson says they all have one thing in common.

“One thing we have is running gasoline through our veins instead of blood.”

Ignite the Nites

Aug. 14-15 in Libby

Friday’s Events

• 3-8 p.m. – Registration

• 3-7:30 p.m. – Poker Run

• 6-9:30 p.m. – Cruise the Gut

• 10 p.m.# – Neon and Flame-Throwing Contest

Saturday’s Events

• 8 a.m.-noon – Registration

• 9 a.m.-3 p.m. – Car show

• 3 p.m.# – Awards ceremony

• 5 p.m. – Burn Out Contest at Old Millpond Motocross Park

# Approximate start time