APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – Appleton’s Octoberfest weekend kicked off on Friday with License to Cruise as hundreds of classic cars lined College Avenue and the Appleton Exhibition Center.
One of the numerous car enthusiasts whose classic rides are on display is an Appleton man whose incredible story speaks volumes about his love of classic vehicles.
Dave Kattner is a brain cancer survivor and a lifetime car enthusiast, and his historic 1937 Chevy truck, Orange Crush, was on display in the Appleton Exhibition Center.
Kattner was diagnosed in 2017, and after surgery, he was unable to work; thus, he turned to his longtime love of classic cars after his doctors encouraged him to find something to stay occupied.
“I’ve always been into cars, so I started painting cars,” Kattner said. “Without being able to go to work anymore, I was trying to figure out what to do with myself.”
Kattner said his surgeon and cancer counselor gave him the idea to find and build a car, and the idea turned into his beloved Orange Crush, which serves as a symbol for him.
“It’s something to be proud of,” Kattner said. “I’m a car guy who has a very tough daily struggle with his brain, but I’m not gonna make excuses for it.”
Restoring cars helped him during his recovery, and he now takes Orange Crush to shows nationwide, connecting him with others, which he said helps him keep his foot on the gas.
“Having my truck, my cars, meeting people at car shows,” Kattner said. “It keeps me going.”
The truck was built to mark Kattner’s fifth anniversary of his victory over cancer.
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Kattner also had a rare 1954 Corvette on display, one that he restored to glory himself.
Click here to learn more about Kattner’s story directly from Kattner himself.
