THIS weekend the Manitoba Street Rod Association's annual Rondex Rodarama Car Show is poised to take over both ice surfaces of the East End Arena on Pandora Avenue in Transcona. This show is regarded by many as Winnipeg's favourite traditional car show. Unlike the World of Wheels, where emphasis is also placed on Hollywood stars, at Rodarama it's all about the cars.
A scene at last year's Rodarama left me feeling like the future of our hobby was in good hands. It actually took place outside, before the show had even officially started. It was Thursday evening and there was a bunch of us car buffs milling around the back door of the East End Arena watching the cars roll in. The earth moved under our feet as the high-horsepower machines that would be on display throughout the weekend slowly inched into the arena.
Manitoba Street Rod Association member Angus Hansey will be displaying his beautiful 1938 Chevrolet at the Rondex Rodarama. Hansey's sedan was selected the 2007 MSRA street rod of the year.
It was a chilly night, yet I still couldn't help but feel warm and fuzzy inside. Another long winter had finally passed, and before long the streets of Winnipeg would be packed with pavement pounding proof that we are the cruising capital of Canada.
It didn't take long before a pack of neighbourhood kids rolled up on their bicycles. They were a noisy bunch, no doubt also excited to be back on the road after a long winter. They quickly multiplied, and there was at least a dozen of them crowded around the door in minutes. As they jockeyed for a closer look the car talk really started to flow. "Wow, check it out," a little guy in a baseball cap shouted over the sounds of the rumbling exhaust. "One day I'm gonna' have a hot rod just like that." The chorus that followed from each of his buddies was filled with enthusiastic agreement. As the parade of chrome rolled by, each of the little guys chose a favourite car and outlined its finer points.
Here we had a group of kids, most under the age of 12, who were showing a keen interest in vehicles built long before they were even born. While they certainly weren't experts, they knew a '69 Camaro was a muscle car, and a '40 Ford was a hot rod, and they knew what they liked. It was at this exact moment that I realized our cherished hobby was in good hands. I couldn't help but chuckle as grown men in their 50s and beyond basically repeated the same sentiments to one another.
Every spring around this time I start to get excited in anticipation of all the fun stuff the upcoming summer has to offer. This year our coverage will include car shows and drag races, stock car racing, motorcycle events, swap meets and our famous Sunday night cruises. 2008 promises to be the most action-packed summer in our city's already legendary motoring history. And it all starts at 6p.m. tonight at the Rondex Rodarama. Be there or be square.
What you'll see:
If you're hoping to get an up close look at a soap opera star or a famous wrestler, Rodarama may disappoint you, but if you're looking for an amazing lineup of classic and special interest vehicles on display in a laid back atmosphere, this is the show you don't want to miss. Words like grassroots, nostalgic and old-school fill the air as folks wade through the sea of shining chrome that covers both ice surfaces. The majority of the vehicles on display are locally owned, and in many cases they were restored by the owner.
Ralph Thomas, a longtime MSRA member, will be displaying his awesome 1940 Plymouth Coupe at the Rondex Rodarama this weekend.
The Rondex sponsorship is new for 2008. This leading local automotive paint and body supply company became the title sponsor of the show earlier this year. While the lion's share of the business Rondex does is with professional body shops, they have earned a great reputation as the place to go for local do-it-yourselfers in the automotive hobby.
The nice folks from Praxair will also be on hand all weekend with a special display that allows folks to try their hand at welding. If you've ever dreamed of chopping a top but had no clue how to weld it back on this is the place to get started.
Another favourite is 'Uncle' Bill Harrison from VaVaVoom Garage. Every year he packs up a selection of treasures from his southern Manitoba field of dreams. If you're looking for that last piece for your mechanical puzzle, there's a good chance Harrison has it.
Rodarama offers fun for the entire family. Kids 12 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. MSRA members Wayne and Rita Hayes will have a cool miniature Model T Ford on display that kids can sit in and get their photo taken free of charge (bring your own camera), and there's also face painting and balloon animals for the kids.
Vendors at Rondex Rodarama:
Transcona Optimists
The Driwash Guy
Praxair Distribution
CC Customs
Dalex Detailing Products
Phil's Auto Parts
Winnipeg Model Car Club
Otto's Custom Upholstery
Ground Pounders
Minute Muffler
Low Bux (Eastwood products)
1320 ART (Drag race art)
VaVaVoom Garage
Drag Mart
Maniacal (Air brush artist)
Fountain Tire
Roger's Auto Art Works
Richard Wood Photography
Truckworks Customizing Corp
Digital Zebra (Automotive art)
Walker Automotive
Thunder Rapids
Rondex Limited
MSRA member Al Bodnarchuk of Tyndall will be displaying in his award-winning 1932 Ford three-window coupe for the second year in a row at this weekend’s Rondex Rodarama.
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