INNISFAIL - Innisfailians, start your engines.
For the second year in a row, the Innisfail Kinsmen and the Kinette Club of Innisfail are hosting a weekend full of high-speed racing and cruise-ins at the annual Weekend of Wheels, a town fundraiser this Sept. 9 and 10.
Like last year, all proceeds and donations will go to help fund the new skatepark in Innisfail, a place Russ Klemmer, a director with the Kinsmen Club, hopes will be somewhat of a community watering hole for the town.
“It's a place for the whole family now,” he said, adding the old skatepark location on 50th Street wasn't connected to any other recreational activities.
For Klemmer, a skatepark shouldn't just be a place for ollies and kickflips; the new park should have plenty of activities around so entire families can enjoy the experience.
He added even if you don't like skateboarding, or only have one child into it, there are horseshoes, ball diamonds, a swimming pool, soccer pitches and a playground facility – something for everyone.
The Weekend of Wheels fundraiser is a two-day event; Saturday is for the Show and Shine at John's Nofrills, while Sunday hosts the Shootout and the Burnout, an event new to this year's weekend where you can “bring your car out, light up the tires and make some smoke,” said Klemmer. And win a trophy, he said.
Since this is only the second year hosting for the Kinsmen and Kinettes – they took over from the Downtown Business Association – Klemmer knows they have to up the ante each year to bring the crowds.
“The goal is to build the car show and the whole weekend to be a premier event,” he said.
The Show and Shine, once again located on the pavement and grass area at John's Nofrills, gives participants a chance to admire the wide variety of cars on display – from muscle cars to pickups.
The Shootout – a highlight from last year's Weekend of Wheels – is a 100-foot pedal-to-the-metal race in front of the Innisfail Arena on 42nd Street.
“It gives participants the opportunity to go head to head with their car against other vehicles,” said Klemmer.
To enter your car in the Show and Shine, it will cost you $10, while entry for spectators is free. On Sunday, the Shootout and Burnout will cost $25 and $10, respectively. If you want to watch those events, it's $5 a spectator; children 12 and under are free.
Because of the cold weather last year, registration was lower than expected and 15 cars signed up for the event. This year, Klemmer hopes to see that number grow.
Despite the low attendance, the event managed to raise a couple of hundred dollars for the park, which is more than the break-even operations of past years.
There will be ice cream and mini doughnuts available for indulgence, and the organizers are still looking for more food vendors.
For those looking to sponsor the Weekend of Wheels, they have up until the day of the event to do so, while they'll be accepting donations throughout the weekend.
The show runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, and spectators can arrive after 10 a.m. Sunday for the Shootout starting at 11 a.m.
For more information, visit the Innisfail Kinsmen/Kinettes Weekend of Wheels on Facebook.
Russ Klemmer, Innisfail Kinsmen club director
"The goal is to build the car show and the whole weekend to be a premier event."
