Fancy vehicles dazzle at Car Show4MS
'Can't get much better than this on a Sunday afternoon'
Robin Grant
Northern News Services
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Car-loving guys and girls got together on Sunday at the second annual Car Show4MS to show off their rides, all in the name of multiple sclerosis.
Don Asher shows off his 1946 Chevrolet pick-up truck at the second annual Car Show4MS on Sunday at the Yellowknife Community Arena parking lot. He says his truck brings back memories from his childhood. - Robin Grant/NNSL photo
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During the event, the Yellowknife Community Arena parking lot was packed with every type of vehicle from unique trucks, motorcycles, fat bikes, grand prix soapbox cars and everything in between.
Don Asher sat next to his fire-engine-red 1946 Chevrolet truck enjoying a cool beverage under the hot sun as a small crowd of enthusiasts gathered around him.
"This car I bought when I was 18-years old," he said.
"I bought it when I left high school to go to work in construction and drove it for three years and sold it, so I didn't have it anymore."
But last March, Asher said he heard of an antique car sale in Red Deer, Alta. that was selling the same model he had when he was young.
"I saw a picture of it and I said, 'I'm going to buy that.' So I went down and - of course - I bought it. It brings back old memories. I might get a couple more before I retire."
Asher participated in the car show last year as well and says it's a great opportunity for people to learn about and see antique cars.
"A lot of people haven't seen a car that old before . So I just want to show it off and show off what I had when I was a young kid ... Can't get much better than this on a Sunday afternoon."
The story of how Adam Bembridge bought his 1955 Ford F100 pick-up starts with when he and his wife were getting ready to entertain a dinner guest.
His friend had told him about a truck he should buy, and he agreed.
"I told my wife I was going to Northern Fancy Meats to buy some steaks because we had guests coming over," he said.
"And I did go to Northern Fancy Meats, but I told her I needed a cheque. So I paid for the meat with my credit card and bought the truck, brought it home and after everybody left at midnight, my wife said, 'Why is that truck in our driveway? That's not our truck.' And I said, 'It is now.'"
He said owning the truck was akin to owning a "small piece of history," adding it can attract a lot of attention in the form of people waving or children coming up ask questions.
"I think that living in Yellowknife, it's kind of nice to have the odd nostalgic thing that you can bring out in the summer and have a little bit of fun ... I'm driving it everyday to work right now," he said. "It seems like if you take it to the grocery store a lot of kids are interested and stuff, so you just let them have a look or talk to them."
Mike Nolting's shiny, army green Jeep JK Rubicon towered above the rest of the automobiles in the parking lot on its 37-inch heavy duty, off-road tires.
"When I bought it, it was completely stock. It's now sitting about four and a half inches higher, 37-inch tires, high-strength axle shafts. It's got an extra aftermarket roll cage in it to protect me in case it ever does end up going on its side. It's a labour of love," he said, chuckling.
"Everything on here is done by myself. I've bolted everything on. I prefer to do it myself (.) Up here, you need something to keep you busy on those cold winter nights. And that's what it is."
Nolting said he drives the vehicle daily but cuts across the Canadian Shield when he wants to have fun.
"I prefer to play on rocks. I don't like tearing through the bush and stuff like that. I like the more technical aspect of it. When you're playing on those (rocks), you don't get muddy or dirty, so it looks nice and clean all the time," he said.
Funds raised from the second Annual Car Show4MS support services, programs and advocacy for Yellowknifers with multiple sclerosis.
