Cars, trucks and many other vehicles will be on display at Lindahl Park this Sunday for the 26th annual Westlock Wheels of Class Show and Shine.
The show has been a July staple in Westlock for years, and this year will hopefully be no exception, said Wheels of Class secretary-treasurer Dave Ristoff.
Two types of people usually attend these types of shows, he said — those who like to see the older and fancy cars that are still on the roads, and those who want to show off their cars.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s the best paint job in the world, or it has never been painted in its life,” Ristoff said. “If you think it’s a cool car, bring it down. Everybody has what they think is the coolest car, and that’s what we want to see.”
The day is a fairly simple exercise. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and runs until noon. At 3 p.m., awards will be handed out.
Awards up for grabs include the People’s Choice and Competitors’ Choice. Ristoff said there will also be awards for the best of era (’30s, ’40s, ’50s, etc.) and best of type (pickup, convertible, muscle car, etc.).
At any time during the event, spectators are welcome to come down to the park to take in the sights. However, he suggested the later the better.
“Wander on down any time from 10 a.m. on,” Ristoff said. “If you get there too soon, you’re going to miss the ones that come later.”
There is no cost to come out to take in the show, but spectators cannot vote for the People’s Choice award unless they pay a $2 donation to get a ballot.
All money collected from the spectators’ donations will go towards a local charity, but Ristoff said the charity of choice won’t be chosen until the end of this year.
In past years, the event has drawn upwards of 200 vehicles to the park, but ultimately the weather dictates the turnout. In 2011, when the sky was overcast and rainy, only about 50 people brought out their vehicles. Last year, with the exhibition under wide-open sunny skies, there were about 170 vehicles on display.
Ristoff said there are many reasons why people should want to come out and take in the show.
“It’s probably the biggest car show north of Edmonton, which is pretty good for a little town like Westlock,” he said.
There are other shows around the province for people who want to see what is out there, but the costs can be many times what Wheels of Class has set, and the location is not as nice as a grassy field.
For the entrants, it’s all about being with people who share a common interest, Ristoff said. it’s also a chance to show off what they have.
“It’s just for people to see it and enjoy the weather,” he said.
