Vintage car season promises to be a classic

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This article was published 14/05/2025 (316 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This Thursday is the launch of a pretty exciting summer in and around Brandon, with “wall-to-wall events” for car collectors and fans of the classics, says Dave Burba, president of the Road Rebels Car Club.

There will be monthly car shows in downtown Brandon, an event in June that will pair high school graduates with a classic car, and the largest car show on the Prairies comes to the Wheat City in August.

“A lot of our car guys are gearing up for some great shows, so for people who want to see these cars up close, this will be a perfect summer with lots of opportunities,” Burba said.

First up is tomorrow night’s Downtown Cruise Night, when cars will take over seven blocks of Rosser Avenue. The event is scheduled for the first Thursday of every month until September and has been presented by Brandon and Area Car Enthusiasts for more than 20 years.

“We’ll have cars on Rosser Avenue between Sixth and 13th streets from 6 to 9 p.m.,” Burba said. “I do see a chance of showers for Thursday, but we hope to get the crowds out for our first big event of the season.”

Next on the classic and collector car calendar is a new event called Grad Cruise Night planned for June 5, which coincides with the second of the five downtown cruise nights.

Burba said he and his “car guys are all in,” but was quick to steer the credit to Emmy Sanderson of Downtown BIZ.

“Emmy is working with businesses to get high school grads downtown. The plan is to have their picture taken with a classic car. So on that night we’ll be blocking off 10th Street between Rosser and Pacific exclusively for those who want to take part,” said Burba.

Sanderson said she was happy to run with the idea that came from Kari Hammersley, owner and operator of Muse Bridal Studio, who got Promises Bridal on board.

“Kari sells a lot of dresses for grads in Brandon,” Sanderson said, “and there aren’t a lot of places for them to wear them other than grad night.

“There is no charge,” Sanderson added. “It’s free for students who want to dress up, have a fun place to go, and be together and with families. We’re providing a place for the community to celebrate our grads and bring a fun, vibrant, youthful energy to the downtown. Plus, we’ll have music, food, a professional photographer for the car photos, and prizes.”

There will be two $500 educational bursaries awarded that night, offered by Hammersley and Faye Couling from Promises Bridal.

Any high school graduate who comes to the event can enter the draw to win $500 — as long as they provide proof they have been accepted into a post-secondary school.

Planning the Grad Cruise Night was a “no-brainer” as a way to honour the graduates, said Hammersley. She helps find dresses for her clients from western and northern Manitoba, and into Saskatchewan.

“I see so many rural grads from small towns, and they all have street parades where the whole town turns out and celebrates them,” said Hammersley.

“So, why can’t we do that in Brandon? And then I figured, why couldn’t we do it on one of the cruise nights, because the streets are already closed off?

“We’ll also have the grads do a parade march down Rosser from 10th Street to Seventh or Eighth and back again, so we’re hoping to have friends and relatives come out and celebrate our grads,” she said.

As soon as one car show and shine ends, another one is ready to go, said Burba.

“Case in point, this year’s Collector Car Appreciation Day is about a month after Grad Cruise Night. We’re planning for July 6, and we’ll be back on Princess Avenue for that one, between 10th and 13th streets,” Burba said.

But the biggest car show that will roll into Brandon this year, Burba said, is the Western Canadian Nationals Car Show from Aug. 2-3. He and his organizing committees have booked the Keystone Centre grounds for the “800 classic, collectible and vintage vehicles that are expected.”

Many car enthusiasts might remember the event under its old name — Super Run — which rotated on a three-year basis with Saskatoon, Sask., and Red Deer, Alta.

It was last held in Brandon in 2022. But the show came to a screeching halt in 2023 when Saskatoon and Red Deer dropped out.

That’s why Burba said he’s expecting a huge turnout this year.

“It’s looking good,” said Burba. “We have so many events for our car guys and spectators lined up.”

Two celebrities in the automotive industry and restoration world have been booked for appearances and meet and greets during the car show. Mike Hall has a television show called “Rust Valley Restorers,” and Avery Shoaf has “Wild Man Garage” on YouTube.

All the classic, collectible and vintage vehicles will be on display on the Keystone grounds from Hill Avenue along 13th Street, south to Richmond Avenue and west along Richmond to 18th Street.

“Really, with any of our car shows,” said Burba, “it’s a chance for people to see vehicles they’ve never seen before. And some have been restored to better than they were new.

“When people look at some of the classics, and look up and say, ‘This one brings back so many memories,’ that’s why we do it.”

For more information about Road Rebels Car Club, find them on Facebook.

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