Downtown streets roared to life this weekend as the inaugural Innisfail Weekend of Wheels rolled into town.
Sunny skies greeted car show enthusiasts Saturday as the event got underway with the Show ’n Shine car show, which took over portions of 50 Street, 52 Street, 50 Avenue and the 49 Avenue Street Market.
Debra Stoski, a local spokesperson for the event, said a total of 141 cars were registered for the Show ’n Shine.
“I was just so thrilled,” Stoski said Monday. “It was a beautiful day – everybody loved it.”
Crowds flocked to see cars, trucks, and motorcycles of every shape, size, colour and vintage lined up along both sides of 50 Street. Many others took in the street festival and vendors set up along 49 Avenue.
One of those taking in the vintage wheels on Saturday was Innisfail Mayor Jim Romane. Romane lavished praise on the event’s main organizers, Thru the Windshield magazine/Just Ride Productions (TTW/JRP) as well as the scores of local volunteers.
TTW/JRP agreed to donate 10 per cent of the proceeds from the registration fees from the Show ’n Shine and Shootout, and 10 per cent of the admission fees from the Shootout to local efforts to beautify downtown.
“It’s just been a great success,” said Romane, explaining he had never seen Innisfail’s downtown so packed with people on a Saturday afternoon. “I knew if we got the weather we’d have a great show.”
Hall of fame drag racer Gordie “240 Gordie” Bonin signed autographs for fans along 52 Street and revved up the engine of one of his dragsters, much to the delight of the crowd. Bonin said he hopes the weekend remains an annual event.
“It’s just a cool deal,” Bonin said. “What a great place to have it, right in the middle of town.”
Bentley’s Rick and Donna Park shared Bonin’s sentiments. The Parks brought their refurbished yellow 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 to the Show ’n Shine. Rick said their favourite part of the shows is being able to chat with other owners about their cars.
“The social aspect of the event is what makes it fun,” he said, adding that working on the cars is also half the fun.
Checking out the street market were Carol Mawdsley and her friends Kathy Graham and Reesa John.
Graham said the trio were in town for the triathlon, but decided to swing by the market.
“We’ve been shopping around, I got my nails done and bought some jewelry – it’s the perfect deal,” she said.
It was a very rewarding weekend for Red Deer’s Terry McCrindle. McCrindle showcased his collection of die-cast model cars as well as his orange 1970 Dodge Super Bee. At the end of the day the Super Bee was chosen as the people’s choice for favourite car.
“It was the little guys,” McCrindle said of his win, explaining he gave out 80 small die-cast cars to children throughout the day. “I was just overwhelmed.”
McCrindle added the Super Bee was also selected as the people’s choice winner at the Innisfail Historical Village’s car show earlier this summer.
“So I like Innisfail,” he said with a chuckle.
Stoski said 75 cars packed the Henday Mall parking lot for the drive-in showing of “American Graffiti” on Saturday night. All the proceeds from admission will be donated back to the downtown association.
About 50 vehicles were also registered for Sunday’s 100-ft. shootout along 42 Street in front the Innisfail Arena. The grandstands were so packed many spectators set up lawn chairs at the corner of 42 Street and 57 Avenue to watch the vehicles zip down the track.
One of those taking in the action was Innisfail’s Jeff Wilson, who brought his six-year-old son, Dominyk Wilson-Hobbs, along.
“We’re loving it – all the different cars, beautiful vehicles,” he said.
Organizers are already planning for a bigger and better Innisfail Weekend of Wheels next year, Stoski said, adding the event could not have been pulled off without the support of local businesses and volunteers.
“Those guys worked full shifts – no complaints,” she said of the volunteers. “That kind of support was just phenomenal.”
Turn to pages 14-15 for photos from the inaugural event.
