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Jamel Brown’s Nova Makes Another Trip on Road to Recovery at Car Show
BY SANDY DELCOURE
Jamel Brown’s 1969 Nova’s resurrection officially began at its first car show, the 23rd annual Easter Concourse d’Elegance Car Show in Forest Park on Easter Sunday. Wonel Brown, 46, of Florissant, entered and drove Jamel’s Nova to the show because it was the first stop on the road to completion of his and his son, Jamel’s dream to restore, race and show the Chevy Nova together at car shows in their future.
Then on Nov. 17, 2008 Jamel collapsed and died after a wrestling practice at Hazelwood West High School. Jamel was gone but his Nova dream burned all the brighter when Wonel’s friends made the promise that they were going to help Wonel finish the restoration of the Nova in memory of Jamel and his exemplary life as a good son, student, athlete and friend to many.
The road ahead looks long because the Nova now needs almost everything to bring it to the state of perfection that Wonel and Jamel and car show enthusiast’s dream their cars should be. Every show the Nova appears show another milestone of improvement or change on the car on its roadto completion. But the trip is time well spent in Jamel’s remembrance and for those who knew and loved him and for those who volunteer or donate anything to make the Nova dream happen.
The next stop on the Nova journey will be at the Florissant Valley of Flowers Festival Car Show on Saturday, May 2, on rue St. Francois, in Old Town Florissant. The show will run from 8-3.
Anyone who comes by can witness the beginning of the Nova that will eventually be green with white racing stripes and a white vinyl roof that could even run at racetracks and speedways. (Old Nova’s are known to race and even win!). Jamel’s Nova is considered a muscle car – that has (or will have) a big engine.
Jamel had planned to take his bike to all the car shows the Nova would be in. The bike was Jamel ‘s favorite color (green) and the color he wanted the car to be painted.
A Nova by definition is a star that suddenly increases in brilliance. This Nova will lead all involved on a journey of Jamel’s living presence in the hearts and souls of all who become involved in this mystical adventure.
