Reporter's Notebook: Dream of '60s still alive

Between the Gearhead Gathering during the day and Draggin' Main at night, Clovis will see a lot of old cars on Saturday — and every one of them has a story.

One of the hopeful participants to take the customary circuit down Main Street is a relatively newer vehicle with a decidedly older look. You may already recognize it, since it's hard to miss and its owners said they've already been bombarded with admirers and peace-sign-flippers in recent weeks.

Ian Regnier and Karime Gutierrez said they came back into possession of the 2000 Dodge Caravan about a month ago and decided to brighten up its faded white exterior — something "to make people smile," Gutierrez said.

The pair said they've put maybe $100 in supplies and far more than that in elbow grease to bring the Ram to its present state of sky-blue Flower Power grooviness. "Have A Hippie Life," says the message on the back doors, on a rainbow background with a big yellow smiley face.

On one side are the words Peace, Love and Music; on the other, "Woodstock" and a brandished guitar. A sunny Peace logo sits on the center of the hood, book-ended with fairy tale red mushrooms.

Regnier said the customization cuts deeper than the surface; inside, he and Gutierrez removed the middle seating, painted some interior panels and placed a rug on the floor and a printed fabric on the ceiling. They hope to add a few more touches in time to drag Main on Saturday, and then to make a reprisal during Independence Day festivities in the city.

— Compiled by Staff Writer David Grieder