Ugly Bessie set for Ekka glory | Ipswich Cars | 4WD, Green Cars and Motorcycling in Ipswich

Ute enthusiast Kev Hermann will enter his ute 'Bessie' in the feral ute competition at the Ekka.

Sarah Harvey

IT'S little wonder Kev Herrmann's 1966 Dodge has been so successful at ute shows past.

The big yellow monstrosity defines the “feral” category with about 50 lights, 17 working horns and an assortment of plastic animal attachments, dolls and skulls.

The weather-beaten panels are covered in about 500 stickers and packed under the bonnet is a 4.8-litre in-line six-cylinder “Canadian” which, Mr Herrmann said, was powerful enough to cart a full load up the range in top gear.

But perhaps even more impressive is when Mr Herrmann purchased “Bessie” from the Woollen Mills at Redbank about 13 years ago, a family of rats jumped out from under the seat and ran across the floor as he drove home.

“I bought it for the towing business and started entering it into ute comps about six years ago,” Mr Herrmann said.

“I chucked a new engine in her four or five years ago - it's got plenty of grunt and I can get about 14 miles to the gallon (about 5km per litre of fuel).

“All together it has won about 50 trophies.”

For the second successive year, Bessie has qualified for the state ute show finals, to be staged at the Ekka next month.

Although unsuccessful last year, Mr Herrmann said he had a better chance of winning this time because of a slight rule change.

“This year they will pick a winner from each of the categories, so I won't have to worry about trying to beat any of the pretty utes,” Mr Herrmann said.

“The feral ute category is basically designed for what you would call an ugly ute.

“The uglier the better.”

Mr Herrmann will be one of 11 members of the Brewer's Droop Ute Club to participate in the ute finals.

Other members of the unofficial club will compete in the street, B&S, chicks ute, 4x4, work ute and feral ute categories alongside Mr Herrmann on August 15.

“We love it,” Mr Herrmann said of the ute-showing circuit.

“It gives us a reason to get out of the house and gives us something to do.”

A static display of competing utes can be seen at the Ekka on Saturday, August 14.

Winners will be named about 3pm on August 15 with a parade to be held about 6pm.