SUNDRE — Whether the proud owner of a prized vehicle or simply an enthusiast with a passion for looking at and talking about a variety of different makes and models, a weekly informal car show is available at no cost to one and all.
“Anybody’s welcome to the group,” said Cody McAllister, a moderator of the Sundre & Olds Auto Group social media page.
Although the weekly gathering originally got underway in late March, he said the reintroduction of COVID-19 restrictions during the third wave ended up shutting the event down until the July 1 start of Stage 3 of the provincial government’s economic relaunch strategy.
Since then, McAllister said the group resumed meeting every Friday starting at about 7 p.m. at the Sundre Co-op Cardlock’s spacious parking lot, provided of course the weather allows.
The car show is an informal affair that is more about getting vehicle enthusiasts together to have fun, socialize and share stories while showing off their vehicles, rather than competing for prizes and bragging rights, he said.
“It’s just kind of a drop-in street meet,” he said. “It’s completely free.”
People are welcome to stop by just to have a look, or bring their own truck, car or motorcycle — from vintage vehicles to modern makes — if they want, he said.
Although the group does not typically keep an official head count on the number of people who attend, he said, “We’ve had as many as 40 vehicles show up.”
Katarina Marie Lloyd, who helps promote the group, is among the regulars who hasn’t yet missed a gathering.
“I'm there every week and honestly I just love cars and their owners,” she said, adding she also enjoys “talking about their stories and just having a good time.”
The proud owner of a 1981 Ford Mustang affectionately named Stitch, Lloyd professed a preference for classic American vehicles — especially models that predate the 1980s.
“Anything pre-1980 is my go-to most of the time,” she said.
Depending on how many people show up on any given week, McAllister said the gathering might wrap up fairly quickly after just over half an hour, or go on for as long as several hours.
Asked who primarily pulls the organizational strings to make the event possible, McAllister said many hands get involved.
“It’s everybody, it’s a group effort — there’s not one or two people,” he said.
“It’s the car community working together to put it together.”
Anyone who has not yet had a chance to check out the weekly show still has plenty of time, as McAllister said the group intends to continue gathering “until the snow flies.”
That could mean anything from some time in September to November, he said.
“So long as it’s weather permitting, we’re going to be doing it," he said.