Despite challenges from the weather, Hot July Nights still enjoyed a record-breaking number of participants this year.
This year 424 vintage cars, trucks, motorcycles and vehicles over one ton were registered by the end of the weekend. Marty Mahovlich, Hot July Night's chair, said that the event lived up to its name with the hot temperature proving to be a challenge throughout the weekend.
"It was really hot, and when a lot of the older guys were struggling with breathing and stuff like that," Mahovlich said. "We had to make a lot of concessions that we normally wouldn't have done."
Mahovlich said that participants pulled together to help each other out through the heat and when other things went awry. On Friday during the Rod Run one of the participants' vehicles broke down on Highway 97 entering 100 Mile House.
"One of the cars hit something on the road - just coming down the hill here and just sheared his oil pan in half - like put a three-inch gash in it."
Mahovlich said that a whole bunch of people had stopped to help the owners of the vehicle, from Gibson B.C., including several members of the Roadmen Car Club. The club is a club dedicated to pre-1964 vehicles and hot rods and while they weren't able to fix the vehicle, Mahovlich gave them his compliments.
"The whole club was there - his group of guys, there were three or four of them working on this thing."
Ed Gerbracht, the president of the 100 Mile chapter of the Roadmen Car Club brought his 1940 International Pickup, which he got from the Springfield Ranch north of Williams Lake. After getting the car from Shaw Auto Wrecking, he brought it home where he had decided to restore the vehicle. Gerbracht said it was "pretty cool" to be participating in Hot July Nights.
"Good to see more cars and more roadmen are up here than last year, so that's good," Gerbracht said.
Throughout the weekend participants and the community got the chance to enjoy several events including the Rod Run Friday, a Poker Run Saturday, a Dog Agility Show at the Stan Halcro Agriplex and a dinner and dance Saturday night. Sunday saw the Show'N'Shine take over Birch Avenue with thousands checking out the vintage cars and taking part in various car-related activities.
One of the participants was Neil Muir, a resident of Quesnel who brought his 1956 Custom 210 Chef, which Muir has owned for six years. He had bought the car from a man who had owned the car for 40 years and had moved to Chase, BC from California.
"Him and his wife decided they were going to travel and the car came up for sale and I ended up buying it," Muir explained.
Muir stated that he decided to participate in Hot July Nights because he enjoys the show.
"We love this show. It's a very good show here - the city and the car club put on a wonderful show," Muir said.
One particularly heartwarming moment came right at the end of Hot July Nights.
"We had to shift gears more than we've ever had to do before the team pulled it off and everybody was happy - we had a greeter when everyone's leaving, and they were actually stopping their cars and hugging him."
The greeter this year was Dan Jackson, a member of the Hot July Nights committee. Mahovlich says that Jackson cried tears of joy from all the goodwill people displayed
Overall, however, Mahovlich believes the event was a success, noting they sold around 7,000 tickets for Hot July Nights's spectator draw on Sunday.
The winners of Hot July Nights's prizes are as follows:
Spectators Choice: Bill Elgart
Bad Ass Clock: Ralf Baechmann
Buddy Heater: Willy Dyck
Stihl Lawn Blower: John and Mica MacNeil
Maui Sunglasses: Phil Brown
1700 PSI Power Washer: Brad Paddison
Seasons Fountain: Gerald Lawglois
Barbeque: Earl Weishuhn
Cooler: Ron Marchuk
Bench: Shaheena Harris
Stanley Tools: Mary Rowas
Tablet: J Flett
Honda Generator: Shannon Parks
Trip for 2: Joseph Gushue (108 Mile Ranch)
