CRUISING with an exclamation point!

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/05/2010 (5609 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When Dennis Gage, the host of the popular television series My Classic Car, rolls into the parking lot of the Grant Park Pony Corral restaurant this Sunday, we have a tremendous opportunity to prove that Winnipeg is once and for all the crusing capital of Canada.

The last time I spoke with Gage, one of the most influential auto enthusiasts in the world, was back in 2003 when he flew in to attend a Sunday night cruise at the old Pony Corral on Pembina Highway. It was a magical night and more than 1,000 cool cars loaded with revellers showed up to greet him.

Gage was a gracious guest who chatted with the crowd, posed for pictures and signed hundreds of autographs. I was a rookie auto writer and he was smack dab in the middle of my beat, so I latched onto him early and held on tight. As we strolled through the packed parking lot Gage told me that he was impressed with how large and diverse our local auto scene was.

When I asked him if we were the craziest car town he’d ever visited , he politely pointed me in the direction of Cleveland, Ohio. Gage’s eyes lit up as he described a Saturday night in Cleveland. The picture he painted was of a city that comes alive when thousands of cruisers hit the streets. Apparently even local officials were in favour of the hobby and had to agree that the cruisers were good for the economy and helped put the city on the map for something both unique and positive.

The fine details escape me, but what I gathered from our conversation was that when it comes to classic cars Cleveland is pretty much the hub of America.

The parallels got me thinking and have stuck with me ever since. Let’s be frank here, most of America pretty much craps on Cleveland, and most of Canada pretty much does the same thing to us.

There are about 500,000 people in Cleveland so it’s just a little smaller than we are and, although it’s not an icebox like here, I’m told it gets pretty damn cold there in the winter. They have a few crime issues too, and they also don’t have an NHL team, or for that matter much of a football team either (sorry Browns fans). Yet, for whatever reason, just like Winnipeg, when it comes to cars Cleveland is a hotbed of activity.

Perhaps we’re not in the same league as Cleveland just yet, but I can report with complete confidence that in just seven short years our local scene has grown to become among the best in Canada. I’ve had the opportunity to do a bit of travelling and always ask car guys I meet in different Canadian cities about auto-related events in their town. Most will tell you about a drive-in restaurant that attracts a handful of cruisers or a big show every summer, but across Canada it’s as though everyone just does their own thing. Rarely do they get together the way we do here in Winnipeg.

While the youngsters get caught in the massive net that is Portage and Main (been there, got the ticket), the majority of us more seasoned cruisers make our way every Sunday evening to restaurants like the Pony Corral or the Tavern United to show off our cars and hang out with our friends. There’s always excitement in the air and miles of smiles as we admire and talk about one another’s rides. We also attend huge events throughout the summer hosted by car clubs and organizations that raise thousands of dollars for local charities.

The big ones that immediately come to mind are the annual Cruz-In Downtown show, The Fabulous 50’s Flashback Weekend and the Manitoba Street Rod Association’s Toy Run.

Throughout the summer months we also take over small towns, and when they open up their hearts we open up our wallets. Rural car shows like the ones held in Gimli, Beausejour, Steinbach and Dauphin are popular events that not only benefit area businesses, but also provide quality family entertainment.

Like I said, we’ve really come a long way.

This Sunday, when Dennis Gage comes to town for a visit, I hope you’re there to not only show off your prized ride but also to help show this influential car guy just how far we’ve come as a community of cruisers since his last trip here.

If everything falls into place, Gage may start mentioning Winnipeg in the same breath as Cleveland. And in this case that would be a good thing.

willy@freepress.mb.ca

Just the facts

Dennis Gage will be appearing on Sunday May 30 at the Pony Corral’s Grant Park location from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is free for all and the parking lot will be expanded to accommodate the anticipated crowd of cruisers. There will be hourly prize draws and a tool chest donated by Piston Ring that will be autographed by Gage will be given away to one lucky cruiser at the end of the night.

Earlier in the day a special VIP brunch with Gage will also take place from noon to 2 p.m. at the Pony Corral’s Pier 7 location on Pembina Highway.

Tickets are available at any Pony location.