Chuckwagon tarp auction sets another record low

There was a hint of optimism in the air for Thursday’s chuckwagon tarp auction at the Medicine Hat Stampede’s Fireside Room. It was for naught. After a record-low sale last year, the annual event which tends to double as a measuring stick for the regional economy took in even less this time around. The total of $98,750 was down $4,250 from 2016.

Before any of the bids came in for the World Pro Chuckwagon Association event — Medicine Hat was part of a satellite auction involving eight tour stops — pre-sales were actually up according to Hat committee chairman Justin Derzaph.

“This year we’re feeling a lot of positive energy,” said Derzaph. “We have people going back to work a lot of places, just from the legwork we’ve done out in the public, knocking on a few doors, we’re anticipating more seats filled tonight and more tarps bought.”

In a sport where money is typically tight as is, sponsorships like the ones purchased Thursday can be a gamechanger. That’s why drivers such as Jordie Fike have spent lots of time beforehand building relationships with potential sponsors.

Fike, who’s from the High River area, was at the Hat auction site and wound up with a $2,750 bid from Weir Construction. Minimum bids were $2,000, while Obrey Motowylo and Troy Dorchester each fetched $5,000 to top the Hat’s list of 37 tarps.

Fike hopes that mirrors his on-track success this summer too.

“Last year on the racetrack it was an off year for me, haven’t had a year like that since my rookie year,” said Fike, who was 29th in the standings in 2016. “I’m just looking to bounce back.”

The Calgary Stampede auction last month was up about $100,000, but that’s after significant dips the previous few years. Medicine Hat has followed a similar trend, bottoming out at just over $100,000 last year after a record-high $203,000 in 2012.

Still, any help to get their horses and wagons down the road is appreciated.

“We’re optimistic, you hope things are always better but cautiously people have had a hard time, harder than us,” said Fike. “We’re happy to get what we get.”

The Medicine Hat race weekend is set for June 15 to 18.