Hundreds of vintage cars and thousands of car enthusiasts are set to descend on the South Cariboo this weekend for Hot July Nights.
That's what Hot July Nights chair Marty Mahovlich and the team of volunteers organizing the annual car show are preparing for. Mahovlich said he anticipates between 400 to 500 cars, motorcycles and trucks to be entered this year from participants from across Western Canada and the United States.
"We are expecting quite a good turnout. We had 400 last year so we should have more this year," Mahovlich said. "It's all weather dependent and the weather looks like it's going to be good. We've got people coming from Edmonton, a bunch from Washington and we've never had anybody from the States before, so these are all new (entries)."
Hot July Nights kicks off on Friday, July 19 with a meet and greet at the South Cariboo Rec Centre parking lot from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. This will be a chance for participants to register their vehicles ahead of Sunday's Show'N'Shine and enjoy some hot dogs and hamburgers with local entertainment.
Following the meet and greet Mahovlich said they'll be conducting a rod run out to the Canim Lake Store. Entry is free for all participants and a trivia contest will be conducted at five stops along the route. This year with both their rod run on Friday and their poker run on Saturday, Mahovlich said their goal is to introduce participants from outside of the Cariboo to the local area so they can plan future vacations.
"We're trying to showcase the area so people will come back and vacation," Mahovlich added.
Saturday, July 20 opens with a breakfast at the South Cariboo Rec Centre from 8 to 10 a.m. This year the breakfast serves as a fundraiser for the 100 Mile House Wranglers whose volunteers will be cooking and serving the food.
Starting at 10 a.m. Mahovlich said the poker run will be kicking off free for all participants. This year the route is roughly 100 kilometres and ends at the Iron Horse Pub in Lone Butte. There is a potential $500 cash prize for the driver who brings in the winning hand.
The Cariboo Dog Agility Team has agreed to put on a Dog Agility Show at the Stan Halcro Agriplex from 2 to 4 p.m. free for the public to attend.
Mahovlich said that Saturday will end with a dinner and dance at the 100 Mile Community Hall. This is the only event that costs an additional $40 to attend, with proceeds covering the cost of the caterer. Doors open at 5 p.m. with dancing going until 11 p.m.
The main event kicks off on Sunday, July 21 as Birch Avenue is shut down to traffic in preparation for the Show'N'Shine. Hundreds of cars will be lining the entire length of Birch Avenue while in the parking lots beside 100 Mile Elementary School, logging trucks and semi-trucks over one ton are being featured for the first time ever. Registration and staging of the Show'N'Shine will run from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. with the Show'N'Shine being opened to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
"Last year we had about 10,000 people attend (the Show'N'Shine). There is about 20,000 people who live in the area so 10,000 is half of them and I think that's pretty good. I don't know how many more we can find parking for," Mahovlich chuckled. "We are also doing period correct dress this year where people dress up (in the fashion) of the year of there car. We're not sure how many are going to do it, it's totally optional, but I think that will catch on overtime."
Mahovlich said there will be activities for the public to enjoy up and down Birch Avenue. Inside the 100 Mile Community Hall, there will be a craft market while behind the hall there will be a swap meet and trade show taking place. A Walking Poker Run will also be taking place across Birch Avenue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Prizes are up for grabs at the Guess-A-Part booth while children's activities and colouring books will also be available. Live music will be taking place throughout the Show'N'Shine with the Markabillies, Three Scotch In and the Dixie Fried Hep Katz all set to perform on a stage set up by the community hall.
Following the Show'N'Shine, to close out the weekend events, MDA Fabrication will be hosting a burn-out competition at 602 Exeter Station Road. Mahovlich said every participant will be issued with a schedule of events in their goody bag and he plans to put up billboards on either side of Birch Avenue to let the public know what is happening where.
"Each event we are doing has at least $700 to $1,000 in prizes attached to it. This year we're giving out over $20,000 in prizes."
Organizing Hot July Nights takes a lot of volunteer hours and manpower, Mahovlich noted. Right now he has around 110 volunteers ready to help this weekend but he welcomes more. Anyone looking to volunteer on any of the days can call 250-593-4161 to sign up.
"Whatever help we can get we'll take. We're pretty good but right now we have a bunch of people doing multiple roles and we'd like to have people do one slot versus two of three," Mahovlich remarked.
