Prairies’ largest car show returns in August

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The largest car show on the Prairies — the Western Canadian Nationals Car Show — is looking for volunteers.

Scheduled to be held from Aug. 2–3 in Brandon, this year’s show will see up to 800 classic, collectible and vintage vehicles roll into the Wheat City.

Dave Burba, one of the show’s organizers and president of Road Rebels — a Westman car club — spoke to the Sun about the interesting lineup of events for this year’s show.

While Burba was hesitant to say how many volunteers are needed to make this year’s car show a success, he pointed out, “At least 100, it will take an army.”

“We’re looking to have volunteers work in two-hour shifts, so they don’t get burned out,” Burba said. “We need people to help us with everything from registration to parking, raffle sales, working the food and souvenir booths, organizing accommodations and to run on-site activities.”

Many car enthusiasts might remember the event under its old name, which was called Super Run. The name was recently changed to Western Canadian Nationals to encourage more entries from other provinces beyond Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Brandon used to take turns hosting the car show with Saskatoon, Sask., and Red Deer, Alta., on a three-year rotating basis.

The Wheat City played host in 2019, but the show was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Brandon turned host again in 2022, but the show came to a screeching halt in 2023 when Saskatoon and Red Deer dropped out.

It makes a comeback this year — again in the Wheat City — and Burba thinks it will be big.

“In 2022, we had 650 cars registered, and since we’re the only one left in the rotation, we’re thinking 800, maybe even more than that. At least that’s what we’re hoping for, because there hasn’t been a show like this for three years,” Burba said.

The event may have a new name, but the location will head back to where it started six years ago, on the Keystone Centre grounds.

Vehicles will be on display on the grounds from Hill Avenue along 13th Street, south to Richmond Avenue, and west along Richmond to 18th Street.

“You’re going to see some beautiful cars,” Burba said, adding, “cars seem to resonate and connect with everybody, but more on the Prairies than anywhere else I’ve seen.”

“Everybody has a story about a car, when their grandpa hauled them around in it, or they took their first drive, even had their first kiss.”

“And spectators will meet people who built their cars by hand, right from scratch — or searched for a car like their dad had and rebuilt it. All these car guys and gals take great pride in their cars,” stated Burba.

Mike Hall, a celebrity in the automotive restoration world, has been booked to appear during the car show, added Burba.

Car enthusiasts may recognize Hall from his YouTube channel, or his television show called, “Rust Valley Restorers,” which is filmed from his restoration workshop in British Columbia’s southern interior.

Hall will be available for “meet and greets,” said Burba and will hand out the first ever Mike Hall award, which will be his overall favourite.

The car show was not created with prizes and awards in mind, noted Burba, but it has become a tradition to recognize the vehicle that spectators vote as people’s choice.

Additionally, there is an award for the best of the show, best hotrod and the stand-out from General Motors, Mopar, and best pre-World War.

“The awards are great,” Burba said, “but these car guys and gals really don’t come for that reason. Most of them are coming because they, and we want to show our cars to people who appreciate them.”

“We also want to get the younger generation interested in hotrods and classic cars, because we don’t want the interest dying off,” he said.

Before attending the August weekend show, vehicle owners will be asked to register on Friday, Aug. 1 at the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum at Brandon’s Municipal Airport.

And it’s hoped that Thursday, July 31 — the evening before, there will be a record turnout for Cruise Night, which takes over Rosser Avenue between Sixth and 13th streets from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

That car show is hosted by Brandon and Area Car Enthusiasts (BACE) on the first Thursday of every month from June through September, but Burba said it will be a perfect opportunity to kick off the Western Canadian Nationals Car Show.

“We had Cruise Night when we hosted in 2019, and we had a stupendous amount of spectators come through, so that night is kind of a teaser of what’s to come, we’re hoping for a lot of the locals to put on a nice party,” Burba said.

Volunteers are also needed to help promote the Western Canadian Nationals Car Show, by attending Winnipeg’s World of Wheels in March and Rodarama in April, and the Brandon Home Show, also in April.

For more information and to volunteer, email westerncarshow@outlook.com or text or call 204-573-8063.

» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com

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