The St. Albert Cruisers are up to their old antics again, and local classic car enthusiasts couldn’t be more pleased.
The group is putting on the 21st annual Autorama. It’s the event that brings antique street rods, customs, classics and muscle cars all to one place and all on the last Sunday in May. It’s also the biggest event of its kind in the city before Rock’n August comes around.
The 2011 event actually grew past expectations, growing to 165 entrants, well past the 150 maximum mark. People thought it couldn’t grow much more.
“Last year we had around 175 show vehicles,” exclaimed Cruiser member Nelson Bender. “We won’t stress anything about the bikes, not that there’s anything against them.”
Autorama likely won’t get that big this year but Bender said the crowd of attendees should still expect to be pleased as always.
“It’s a nice leisurely show. We got ’50s, ’60s music playing in the background,” he stated, adding that seeing the people and the cars is his favourite part of the day. “Not necessarily in that order.”
“It’s so fun to see some of the repeaters … the friends that you’ve seen in the past. It’s good to see the enthusiasm of the young and the old. I think that’s what it’s all about. The camaraderie amongst our club members is second to none as well.”
He added that people start lining up to get in around 8 a.m. The time to remember, however, is 11 o’clock because that’s the cut off for registration.
“If you’re in, you’re in. If you’re not, you’re not.”
There will be a 50/50 draw plus door prizes and the infamous contest to see how long an engine can run without oil before it seizes entirely.
People can bring donations for the food bank. Monetary proceeds from the event will go to support St. Albert Stop Abuse in Families.
Bender added that the Cruisers are always grateful to the many sponsors as well as the management of St. Albert Centre for allowing them to take over so much of the shopping mall’s parking lot for most of the day every year.
“That’s what makes it a community event.”
Preview
Autorama Show and Shine<br />St. Albert Centre<br />Sunday, May 26<br />10 a.m. to 4 p.m.<br />$10 per vehicle<br />For more information, contact the St. Albert Cruisers car club at www.stalbertcruisers.org.
