Cruisin’ 2018
Newfoundland Antique & Classic Car Club event set for July 21 in Bowring Park in St. John’s supports Easter Seals and Compass Shrine
Do you or someone you know have a car they are proud of?
A car, maybe a hot rod, an old car you got from your grandfather or even a new one you just drove off the dealership lot and would love a chance to show off.
If any of these descriptions fit, you can participate in the Newfoundland Antique & Classic Car Club’s (NACCC) Cruisin’ 2018 event slated for July 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bowring Park in St. John’s.
This event is open to all makes, models and years of cars and motorcycles from across Newfoundland and Labrador … and beyond.
“This event is being held in aid of Easter Seals and the Compass Shrine,” NACCC president Mel Gregory said.
“Our club has been on the go for 38-years, the only recognized car club in Newfoundland and Labrador. We have raised more than $200,000 in that time for these organizations. Some may consider this a small amount, but for the size of our club, we are quite proud of this achievement,” he added.
The club has approximately 80 members, and has been as large as 130 members or as small as 20 members in its history.
Gregory said the cars in the club have included everything from what he describes as the oldest of old, antiques, modern cars and street rods.
He said this cross-section has been made possible by the club changing its constitution to read car enthusiasts,
which opens its membership to a wider swath of car lovers.
He said there are a host of people across the province who own vehicles of all types that could participate in the event. Those vehicles could be a single entry that your neighbor down the street has been tuning on for years or an entire stable of cars such as the ones owned by Vern Smith of Swift Current, who has a world-renowned collection of vintage and unique automobiles.
Gregory says having the event at Bowring Park is the best venue anywhere for the show, providing a large and picturesque setting.
“We are hoping for a great turnout, especially because it goes to support Easter
Seals,” he said.
“We are hoping to have Easter Seals ambassador Anna Santos
at the event and a host of other participants from Easter Seals as well.”
Children like cars, ice cream
Gregory said children tend to like the old cars and this is a great event for the Easter Seals children to get a chance to enjoy themselves by getting to see all the cars up close.
“We even do an event later where we put these children in one of our cars and take them to Berg’s for an ice cream,” he said.
This event has been welcome for the participants and staff at Easter Seals House.
“Once a year, the NL Antique & Classic Car Club brings their cars to Easter Seals house on a Sunday and lines them up in the parking lot,” said Eileen Bartlett, Easter Seals NL program director.
“The families look over the cars and choose one they like and then they all cruise to Berg’s in Manuels and then back to the Easter Seals House for a barbecue.”
Bartlett said the car club has raised a significant amount of money for Easter Seals through its long-term commitment the organization. She said the fundraising and interaction both benefit the overall programming at Easter Seals House.
Those who require additional information can obtain it or a registration form by logging on to www.nlclassics.com. Those completed forms and a $15 donation can be dropped off to Constantine’s Engine & Performance, H&H Auto Restoration or Bob’s Fender Shop. In addition, the forms and donation can be brought to the show.
A rain date of Sunday, July 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. has been scheduled.