Father's Day shines on the calendar and that's the day that stunning works of automobile art shine at Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park.
The 43rd Annual Show 'n' Shine takes place in the park on June 18, hosted as always by the Cruisin' Classics Prince George car club. The membership has been growing lately, said Lawrence Cadieux, director of the popular event, and the number of cars at the show also looks to be bigger this year.
"We're getting more younger members, which is nice to see. I like seeing younger people appreciating these classic vehicles," Cadieux said.
"And the show has imports, domestics, classics, brand new cutting edge vehicles, everything you can imagine."
From futuristic to vintage to custom designed, this is the largest collection of exhibition-grade vehicles in Prince George and perhaps the northern two-thirds of the province. Last year the show attracted 389 vehicles - their largest vehicular turnout ever - plus all the ones brought for commercial display by main sponsor Northland Dodge. Parts supply company Lordco has also partnered with Cruisin' Classics Prince George to make this auto showcase as bright as possible. Cadieux also applauded the help they've received from city hall to put on this spacious event on the lawns of the city's most popular park.
"We are seeing a lot of new interest in cars. There's a new sense of appreciation going on," said Cadieux. "Cruising Classics is a non-profit organization. We're just in it for the love of the automobile. This event is our way to do something for the community. We are so proud to give the public this chance to see these amazing vehicles, so we get really excited about this time every year because we can't wait to see all the cars ourselves, and see all the people come out to share that with us.
"We live in a good city. We are very lucky that we have people who want to help out - hundreds and hundreds of hours - and sponsors who are so generous. That's allowed us to create a very positive reputation around the province for this Show 'n' Shine in Prince George. The people who own these cars and trucks and motorcycles, they spend incredible amounts of money and incredible amounts of time to be creative and bring these old cars back to life, and push the edges of what vehicles can be."
Within these autophiles there is a community of traditionalists who seek out all original components, or have exact replicas machined for their beloved projects.
There is a whole other community of modifiers who take an old car and turn them into magnificent Frankenstein machines using whatever parts they can borrow or manufacture to have an original ride from their own imaginations.
There are those who trick them up to be sporty, others who theme them on steam-punk or rat-rod styles, art car enthusiasts who use the vehicle as a mobile canvas or rolling sculpture.
"They are works of art, they are science projects, they are mechanics' challenges, it is all those things coming together," said Cadieux. "Even right from the factory, you have to be impressed by the designs and the mechanical innovations."
The Show 'n' Shine comes with all this auto art, but the organizers also paint on layers of music, vendors, demonstrations, info booths, and other ways to have family fun on Father's Day.
Anyone who wants to display their vehicle can get information at the Cruisin' Classics Prince George website or they can show up at the registration table (located on 20th Avenue in between Magnolia Gardens and Gyro Baseball Park) earlier than 9 a.m. that morning.
Trailers can be stored at the nearby REAPS compound for those who don't drive their shiny babies on the open road.
The public is invited to tour the vehicles parked in the park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free of charge.
