Watch parade of cars, trucks drive into Car Show Saturday

GRAVENHURST — Get up early Saturday, if you want to really experience the 25th Gravenhurst Chamber of Commerce Car Show.

It’s going to be a great day Saturday to enjoy a walk in the park and see the evolution of cars and trucks and take in all the food and events surrounding them.

One of the best ways to enjoy the classic cars and trucks is to see them on the road.

Go to the stop lights at the entrance to Gull Lake Rotary Park between 6 and 9 a.m to see the drivers arrive.

It’s a parade of pride for the owners who love to be behind the wheel on a sunny day and wave to the crowds.

Watch them cruise up and down Bethune Drive from the north and south and have your camera ready at the intersection with Brock Road at the railway crossing.

It’s a great spot to hear the roar and see the smooth lines as the vintage vehicles turn into the park for the annual celebration of the automobile old and new.

Then go inside the park and wander among the pines and on the ballfield to get a closer look at and inside these delightfully designed and colour-coordinated custom classics.

Whether you just appreciate their good looks and fun feel, or you really want to know what’s under the hood, this is the best place to admire and ask questions.

Maybe you want to one day own a Ford Roadster or cool Camaro.

Hundreds of them will be at the first and best show in Muskoka this weekend.

Right beside Gull Lake, feel the breeze, and meander through the trees and on the grass, if you don’t prefer the hard-top heat of the mainstreets in Bracebridge and Huntsville, which hold their Father’s Day car shows on Sunday.

There’s lots to do all over Gull Lake Rotary Park, on the waterfront, among the pine trees and on the ballfield. Get there early for best seats.

The Gravenhurst show has the best of both worlds – driving and riding and more.

“This is going to be a huge celebration for all of the car owners and for Gravenhurst,” says Sandy Lockhart, the executive director of the chamber, the event organizer.

“We want to see all our car owners bring out their best for our silver anniversary.”

It’s a big deal for big wheels.

Sponsored by Canadian Tire Gravenhurst, the show typically draws in excess of 400 cars from across Ontario. The vehicles run the gamut of makes and models, stretching back through nearly a century of automotive history.

In addition to the cars themselves, the show features food and beer vendors, a kid zone and dozens of prizes ready to be given away to car owners and guests.

For those who register their vehicles early, there’s also the chance to win $500 towards a set of tires from Wayne’s Tire Sales in Gravenhurst.

With the big anniversary in mind, organizers have also lined up a full day of special celebrations.

A free photo booth will be on hand – located inside a renovated 1960s VW bus, the first 250 vehicles through the gate will receive a free car show t-shirt.

And Silver Elvis himself will be returning to the car show this year.

The grass is greener on the other side if you appreciate quality on four wheels.

 

A key addition for this year is also the inclusion of a state-of-the-art wireless sound system, which will allow music and announcements to be clearly heard throughout the entire park.

“We’re also very excited to have a float plane soaring overhead to do some aerial photography,” says Tara Doyle, the Chamber’s manager of programs. “He should be overhead around 1 p.m., so we’re hoping everyone will keep an eye out and wave when they see him up there.”

The show kicks off at 9 a.m., rain or shine and it’s free for both vehicle owners and spectators but a donation is requested to help offset the cost of running the event.

Says Doyle: Thanks to the generous support of last year’s visitors and sponsors, working with the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst, the Chamber was able to create a bursary for a student taking automotive studies.

“We hope to be able to do this again in 2018,” says Lockhart. There will be hats and t-shirts for sale and guests are encouraged to cast their vote for the top 10 People’s Choice Awards.

The Car Show wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of sponsors like Canadian Tire Gravenhurst, Wayne’s Tire Sales, Sawdust City Brewing Co., Cavalcade Ford, Fabricare, Unique Muskoka, Hagerty, Home Building Centre Gravenhurst, Northland Performance, Hap’s Place RV, Harvey’s/Swiss Chalet, Sunshine 89, Muskoka 411, Hunters Bay Radio, Muskoka Springs and Muskoka Rock Company.

For more information, contact: Tara Doyle, Gravenhurst Chamber of Commerce

705-687-4432 ext. 102; or marketing@gravenhurstchamber.com