Auto fans flock to custom show and shine

By Ry Clarke - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on August 16, 2022.

Alberta Custom and Modified Car Club hosted a Show and Shine event at La Verendrye School field right off Mayor Magrath on Saturday.

The 2nd Annual Car Show showcased cars, bikes, and trucks with owners who have a passion for what’s going on under the hood. The lot was filled with classics like Big Bad Blue, a 1969 AMC Javelin, a 1929 Buick McLaughlin with a 350 engine, and a 1952 Dodge D62-26. From classic to custom the engines were revving and crowds were excited to see what the car community had to offer.

“There’s lots of pretty cars out there. Everyone brings whatever you like. We don’t have any expectations on what they have to be in. If it’s something that you’re working on, or if you just pulled it out of the field, we want to see your pride. Bring it in. Anything that you want to show off and you’re proud of, that you’re working hard on,” said Cheryl Campbell, a member of the Alberta Custom and Modified Club.

Moving to a bigger venue from last year, held at One Guy Garage Auto Parts, the club has gotten a lot of traction selling out and filling the lot the previous year. Automotive fanatics flocked the field sharing stories of their pride and revelling in the shared experiences with others.

Glenn Cave had his 1977 Ford F-150 on display, a beauty he had originally bought in 1977, but had to sell back in 1984. Over the years the vehicle found its way back into Cave’s possession back in 2000.

“The seller asked me if I was interested in it again, I think he knew I would probably complete the restoration… but it took 20 years. I bought it and he had a XLT ’79 cab in it, that sat in storage in a storage container for 20 years. We relocated here from Saskatchewan in 2020 and just started on it last fall, and six months later we got ‘er done,” said Cave. “This is her maiden voyage to the show and shine. Mine’s still a work in progress, there’s still things I’d like to do. I’ve been told once you get the bug, it’s never done. My wife, she’s been part of it too. But she looks at it and jokes, saying ‘Well there’s my trip to Europe.’ She reminds me of that quite often,” said Cave.

The event provided great comraderie and a chance for enthusiasts to share in their stories and share tips and tricks to the restoration process, with a love for the car and the journey on the road.