Pete's Garage brings classic cars and community back to OSUIT
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Media Contact: Hicham Raache | Communications Coordinator | 918-293-4678 | hicham.raache@okstate.edu
The sun was bright, the sky was blue and the classic cars were glistening during Pete’s Garage car show, May 9 at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology.
The car show featured vintage muscle cars, custom hot rods and World War II era military ambulances. Pancakes for Patriots, a special pancake breakfast for U.S. veterans in honor of Military Appreciation Month, was also a part of the festivities. The event attracted community members from several local areas.
“I think the event itself brings together the community. We are about supporting our community. This event is that space to be able to do that,” said Dr. Heather Ortiz, assistant vice president for Academic Affairs — Executive Dean. “We’re celebrating an opportunity to bring the university and our local community together, as well as taking an opportunity to support active military and veterans. What better way to represent the faith in our community than bringing our community onto campus to celebrate?”
OSUIT has deep ties to the U.S. Military. The OSUIT campus was originally the Glennan Military Hospital, which the U.S. Army built for the treatment of U.S. servicemen and German prisoners of war wounded during World War II. OSUIT maintains a strong connection with the military community.
“With being a military hospital, that being our heritage and a tradition, we honor and celebrate that. That's a rich history,” Ortiz said.
Automotive and diesel technician training is also an important, longstanding tradition at OSUIT. Having a car show on the OSUIT campus is an ideal fit, according to Mark Gibble, assistant dean of the School of Transportation and Heavy Equipment.
“It's an ideal fit because transportation-heavy equipment is kind of what we're about,” Gibble said. “We used to have a big car show here on campus. It kind of died out during COVID, and we never had a chance to bring it back. So, we're bringing it back and hopefully it can keep growing and we'll see where we go from here.”
Mike Doak, a Henrietta resident, said he and his son used to attend car shows held at OSUIT during the early 1980s. He said the old car shows featured cars from the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s, including the Ford Model A.
Doak strolled past the cars featured in this year’s show, marveling at their beauty and the ingenuity that went into their creation. He was particularly impressed with a tough looking rat rod, custom-built by Vinny Roberts of Warburton.
“It’s a lot of imagination,” Doak said.
Okmulgee resident Dee Russell showed off his sleek, black 1957 Thunderbird at Pete’s Garage.
Russell has a long, enduring love for Thunderbirds. His first was a 1955 Thunderbird he kept for his brother for eight years while his brother was serving in the Army in Okinawa. He bought his ’57 Thunderbird three years ago.
“I just love it, the looks of it, the way it sets. You know, it's lower than the rest of them, and the design of it is beautiful,” Russell said.
Kevin Hicks of Chandler shared an impressive piece of American military history at Pete’s Garage — a 1942 WC-54 Dodge Ambulance, the standard ambulance used by U.S. forces during World War II.
Hicks served in the Army for 25 years, retiring in 2003. He purchased the ambulance around four years ago, and it took him about two years to fully outfit it with authentic parts and equipment that were unique to it.
Hicks said the ambulance represents service and sacrifice.
“I'd say it's a tribute to the men and women who served and paid the price for our freedoms nowadays,” he said.