Shannon’s Trivia Winner: Question turns into a real Hefty Henry!
By Tom Peterson with photos and background by John Foley
The Dalles, Ore., June 10, 2024 — Who knew this little car would spark such an epic return in answers and information?
To quote a Punk band, It was like drinking from a fountain that was pouring like an avalanche coming down the mountain.
And the question went deep - iconic deep, seminal cultural implications deep - like Hefty Henry deep.
We asked for the name of the car above and we had 18 correct answers sent via email. All were entered into the raffle.
We wrote each name on bits of paper and threw them in the backseat of my 2000 Subaru and drove down Interstate 84 at 70 mph with all four windows open, and the last piece of paper to remain in the car had this winner’s name written on it:
Bob Rhoades
Bob Rhoades is our winner!
“The car in the photo is most likely a BMW Isetta. (Made in Germany from 1955-62),” Bob wrote. “It was also built under license by other companies in different countries, so although not as likely, the car in question could be an Iso Isetta (made in Italy from 1953-56), a VELAM Isetta (made in France from 1955-58), or Romi Isetta (made in Brazil from 1956-61). Without seeing the front of the front door, it is hard to say with 100% certainty that this is the BMW. While the BMW version is the one most likely the one you would encounter in the US, it was Initially manufactured by the Italian firm Iso SpA. The name Isetta means “little Iso”.
Here’s to you Bob Rhoades master of the Issetta question this week. Shannon’s awaits. Shannon’s Ice Cream 318 E. Fourth Street, scooping the dream daily from noon to 9 p.m. It’s across the street from the Civic Auditorium. Look for the boneshaker out front.
Bob your encyclopedic knowledge just paid off on all things Isetta - much appreciated. Take a Rhoades trip to CCCNews on Tuesday, June 11 and claim your $25 gift certificate to Shannon’s Ice Cream.
While Bob enjoys his winnings everyone else can bite into this priceless piece of information we garnered.
Our good friend Pat Fowler turned up this gem:
The Hefty Henry. Wam, Bam, thankyou Ham!
“I don't remember the car's name but I do remember that it was given to the person that named the "Hefty Henry" sandwich. Tom Foley staged a contest to name his new sandwich. That person won the car. The Hefty Henry Sandwich is still on the menu at Spooky's,” she wrote. “When we were in California, and I was expecting, I woke up one night and said "I want a Hefty Henry"! I think Mike said "good luck"! :-)”
That would mean that the Hefty Henry preceded the opening of Spooky’s in 1966 leading us to believe that it must have been a staple of the Handout and or Dairy Queen menus. Hmm… John?
That’s impressive and get this.
Bo and Mary Macnab absolutely destroyed this question!
“Bo’s dad took a picture of Bo sitting in the Issetta! He was seven years old. Tom Foley is next to the vehicle. He thinks Tom Foley had a contest to give the car away. He thinks the winner was Bob Godier from Sherman County. These responses belong to Bo. I’m just helping him.”
So, right, right and double right, Bo and Mary! - Bo and Mary were the only ones to name the winner of the car. And for that you will live in infamy as the Trivia Master Blasters Brain Outcasters.
John Foley cranked the legend up a notch with some prank history.
Mr. Courtney
“I showed these pictures to Mike Courtney class of 1959 and he shared a funny story. Mike and his buddies were on 4th St. and saw the car parked in front of the Civic Auditorium, they opened the double doors picked up the car and put it into the lobby of the Civic, then they ran like crazy laughing with a great story to tell the rest of their lives.”
There were winners all around this week and here is the list of others who were motoring their emails with top-notch answers.
Denise Ellis, Robert Catlin, Dick Brown of Lincoln City, Rodger Nichols, Anne Huteson, Robert Thouvenel, Jack Kuzma Leslie Morgan, Lana Tepfer, Donna Bailey, Doug Nelson, Becky Pearson, Teresa Hepker, Dennis Castanares.
And we will end with this note from Becky Pearson:
“My family had 2 of them, red and baby blue when I was a kid in the mid-1960s - one that ran (Dad’s commuter car), and one for parts,” she said.
“Our family of 5 barely squeezed into it on rare occasions when for some reason our Rambler station wagon wasn’t available.”
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