From a 1956 GMC 3100 to a 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle, cars, trucks and motorcycles from across the decades were on display at the sixth annual Gear Grabbers Show and Shine.
Hundreds of car enthusiasts packed the Centennial Centre parking lot and Reid Field House to view the around 200 vehicles registered for the day-long event and take part in the festivities.
Since its start in the summer of 2011 the show and shine has grown exponentially, with this year being the best one yet.
“Every year we've stepped up. Being able to continue our growth has been very rewarding for us as a club,” said Cayle Scherger, president of the Bonnyville Gear Grabbers.
Club executive member Don Serbu added, “I think it's the volunteers that put their heart and soul into it and the car enthusiasts around here were really looking for something, because we didn't have a car club before us.”
Gear Grabbers was started by a small group of classic vehicle owners at a time when there wasn't any such club in Bonnyville. Since then, they have gone from a few members meeting in someone's garage to the group of around 50 members there is today.
As the club has advanced, so has their reach.
“The majority of our show (registries) are from within the 30 to 40-kilometre radius, but we do reach out to some far clubs,” Scherger noted. “We've had cars from Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie. These are six to seven hour drives these guys are doing with a trailer, or even some are driving these old cars that distance, which is really rewarding for us because it makes it feel like we're on the map.”
As in previous shows, this year didn't disappoint. In addition to the show and shine, there was an indoor car showcase, vendors, kids' activities, and a SPCA fundraiser barbecue. One attraction that caught the attention of many in attendance was the Mobile Dyno – a device that vehicles could be hooked up to measure their horsepower/torque.
The big winner of the day was Cold Lake's Ray Harbarenko, whose 1967 Chevrolet C10 was awarded both Mayor's Choice and Best in Show.
With another successful year in the books, the Gear Grabbers are looking ahead to how they can make the show and shine even bigger and better next summer.
“One of thing we would like for next year is to get a multiple car show date, so rather than a single date we want to spread it over a weekend,” said Scherger, without wanting to give away too much.
“There's a lot that we can do in a weekend that we can't do in a single day and you'll just have to stay tuned for that.”
