Hubbell life: Dragging for decades

Kathy and Kerry Hubbell have been married for more than 38 years. They both went to high school in Clovis and have shared a love for cars since they were dating as teenagers.

They've been dragging Main since their teenage years also – long before it became an official community event.

Back in the day, the Hubbells said dragging main was something everyone did for fun, and they actually first got to know each other on the downtown bricks.

"My mom said, 'I never worried because I knew where you were. You were on Main Street somewhere,'" said Kathy Hubbell about her Friday and Saturday nights growing up.

Now decades later, Kathy participates in the Clovis car show with her husband Kerry in their 1964 peacock-blue Mercury Comet Caliente.

"My husband does all the heavy lifting," Kathy said last week as they prepared to participate in Saturday's 10th annual Draggin' Main, which was expected to draw thousands downtown.

Kerry prepares the car days in advance by bringing it from his hobby shop to their home to clean and detail. Kerry said he loves taking the car not only to Draggin' Main but car shows across New Mexico and Texas.

The couple has had the car since 2005, and Kerry said he worked on it daily and had the restorations done in about one month.

"We found a flyer advertising giving it away," Kerry said.

Someone in their car club won the car but didn't want it. Kathy and Kerry loved how the car looked ... except for the original matching peacock-blue rims. Kathy said that would be the first thing to go. The rims are now chrome.

"Yeah, when we met, she was kind of a car person. We were going to drag races, car shows," Kerry said with a smile. He said they still enjoy going to car shows as a couple and friends.

"She's my best friend," Kerry said.

Kerry said he also loves cars as a hobby and the car shows because it allows him to pass on his knowledge to other enthusiasts and the younger generation.

"It's kind of neat to see another generation enjoying the old cars," he said.

As for the car-loving couple, they hope to continue participating in Draggin' Main and similar events for years to come.

"We've been to Ruidoso in it and Lubbock, Albuquerque, Amarillo," Kathy said.

"We used to go over to Muleshoe or Fort Sumner for dinner, you know, go to Portales sometimes just to get out in it. The radio's not that great, but you know, put the top down. You just really don't care."