BURNING OUT IN HIGH RIVER
Power, smoke and noise at car show
Historic downtown High River has almost reached its new normal.
Under water during the epic flood of 2013, the downtown is approaching complete restoration. New water and sewer pipes are in place and fresh pavement has been rolled out on the streets.
Sidewalks have been poured and crews are working on the finishing details.
The wraps should be about ready to come off when the River City Classics car club hosts its 14th annual High River Show and Shine this weekend.
Just as the town has been renewed, there is a new feature to the car show.
Saturday, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., the asphalt on Centre Street south will be the site of a burnout night, where vehicle owners rev up engines and spin tires in a display of power, smoke and noise.
“The success of the car show has been phenomenal over the years, it has grown and grown,” said Roger Hamel, longtime member of the River City Classics group and owner of CDI International, a High River-based trucking company.
The Sunday car show routinely draws more than 1,000 vehicles and more than 12,000 visitors from all over Western Canada and the northwest United States.
“We held our show in 2013 after the flood, but some of us felt we needed to do something more, find something new to add to the car show and extend it into a weekend of events,” Hamel said.
In 2014, while at a car show in Libby, Mon., Hamel and a small core of River City Classics members witnessed a burnout pad in action.
“In Libby, they close down eight to 10 blocks of their Main Street and they were allowing burnouts from intersection to intersection,” Hamel said. “I got excited about the burnouts because so many car shows are simply static — you never get to see the vehicles perform like that in an environment where it’s acceptable.”
Upon returning to High River, the group began talking about hosting something similar, but almost immediately discounted the idea, thinking the town would never allow such an event.
But they talked to Mayor Craig Snodgrass and he was receptive, so they put together a proposal to present to town council.
After several meetings, a permit was granted for the group to operate a burnout event.
“We’re a responsible group of High River business owners and car enthusiasts, and safety is paramount,” Hamel said.
“This will be done in a safe and organized fashion.”
A five-block section of Centre Street South will be lined with security fence to keep spectators from entering the burnout zone.
Vehicles must be insured and have valid registration. Drivers pay a $20 fee to register for the burnout event (that also includes registration for the show and shine Sunday) and the cars and trucks go through an inspection station. There, items such as wheel lug nuts will be checked for tightness.
Once deemed safe, three cars will be marshalled to one of three staging areas along Centre Street.
“Car one does a smoke show, then Car Two and then Car Three,” Hamel said.
“That gives the spectators plenty of opportunity to see a burnout in action, regardless of where they are along the five-block stretch.”
During the burnout, vehicles are restricted to first gear only, with a maximum 15-second duration.
“We have a sense of responsibility to do this burnout night in a safe and orchestrated manner, and we feel honoured High River has allowed us to do this,” Hamel said.
While burnout activity is happening in the south end of High River, an old-fashioned cruise night will be underway in the rejuvenated downtown core.
Just like in American Graffiti, vintage vehicles will roam the streets.
Many businesses will be open and vendors and food trucks will also be on hand.
Plenty of other events occur in High River this weekend, too.
Friday, as part of the Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival, there will be a hot-air balloon ‘night glow’ at 8 p.m. at Spitzee Elementary School.
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Museum of the Highwood hosts its ninth annual Historic Homes Tour, and the River City Classics club will have an eraappropriate car parked in front of each house.
Sunday’s show and shine is open to spectators from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vehicle registration is $10 plus a food bank donation, starting at 7 a.m. and ending at 10 a.m.
Visit rivercityclassics.ca for more information, or email showchair@rivercityclassics.ca.