Biggest-ever turnout at Lakers Car Club Show and ShineWilliams Lake Tribune
By Greg Sabatino
Published: June 02, 2009
With the Williams Lake downtown core lined with onlookers, the Lakers Car Club put on a fantastic weekend chalked full of activities including the show and shine, drive-in movie night and a poker run.
Paul Christianson, president of the Lakers Car Club, says this year’s 15th annual Lakers Car Club Show and Shine drew the largest crowd he’s seen in his 13 years helping put on the event.
“It was huge. It’s growing more and more every year,” Christianson said. “We had nearly 200 cars.
“It was the best we’ve ever seen.”
What started 15 years ago as a small group of people with a common interest has taken off over the years.
The event was originally held inside the Williams Lake Curling Club arena where 35 to 40 people would put their cars on display; however, Christianson said it was nothing like what the car show has grown into today.
“We’d get maybe 35 to 40 cars, but we wouldn’t get the general public out,” he said.
“Since, we’ve moved it downtown and given people more of a reason to come down and make a weekend of it.”
Now, contestants bring their vehicles from across B.C., and even some from the U.S.
Greeted by gorgeous sunny weather, throngs of people flooded the downtown core Sunday to catch a glimpse of the shimmering chrome and sparkling paint jobs put on display.
Judges worked their way around the streets, casting their ballots on whose ride they liked the most — and the choice wasn’t easy.
Custom street rods, vintage trucks, lifted trucks, bikes, muscle cars, sports cars and even some novelty vehicles including a rock crawler lined the streets.
On top of the judges selections, car show contestants were asked to give their picks on their favourite vehicles creating two tiers of judging — a most voted by contestants and the judges selections.
Spectators were also given the opportunity to cast their ballots as a special people’s choice award was handed out at the end of the day.
Lee Crowley, member of the Lakers Car Club, said this was also the most vehicles he’s seen turn up at the Lakers Car Club Show and Shine.
“There’s more and more hot rods showing up every year,” Crowley said. “It’s a great benefit to the whole community.”
Christianson said one the aspects he enjoys most about the show is getting out and seeing all the familiar faces again — if just once a year at the show.
“It’s nice to see people you see year after year,” he said. “People I only see once a year, I see them here.”
In total, 66 trophies were awarded throughout the day.
However, the big winner, Christianson and Crowley said, is the Child Development Centre.
“They’re our benefactor,” Christianson said. “We give most of the money to them.”
Proceeds from the car show will go towards helping the Child Development Centre run its various programs.
“That’s what we put it all on for,” Crowley said. “They get the money — pretty much everything we generate.”
On top of the show and shine, the Lakers Car Club hosted a number of activities the previous day including a campfire social, a steak dinner barbecue put on by the Rotary Club, a poker run, a parade and even a drive-in movie — appropriately, American Graffiti — displayed on a giant inflatable screen on the Stampede grounds.
“We had a lot of fun at the poker run and the meal put on by the Rotary Club was great,” Christianson said. “We had a fantastic turnout at the drive-in movie. American Graffiti was a big hit.”
On Sunday, Selina Hunjen, from the Downtown Business Improvement Area, and Liz Higgs, hosted a ladies only poker run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Around 35 participants made their way from business to business, collecting cards from a face-down deck. Each card was marked with a point value, and the entrants who brought back the sheets with the most points were awarded prizes.
“The highest 17 scores got a prize,” Hunjen said. “So we had 17 great prizes to give out.”
First prize was a Belleek Living Jewellery set, and second prize was a satellite radio. Other prizes included a variety of gift certificates and gift baskets from local participating businesses.
Overall, Christianson said the entire event was a smashing success.
And, he said, without the help of all the local businesses, the event would not be possible.
“Every one of the trophies is sponsored by a business in town,” he said, adding the business sponsors are a huge help in getting people to attend. “Without that, how would we get people down here?
“Overall, she’s a 10 out of 10. We’ve just improved and gotten bigger every year.”
For a list of winners and awards, see the Scoreboard in the Thursday edition of the Tribune.
www.bclocalnews.com/bc_cariboo/williamslaketribune/sports/46680742.html
