THE Fabulous 50s Ford Club of Manitoba had over a thousand reasons to smile this past weekend when they hosted the 13th annual Flashback Weekend.
Sunday's show easily drew more than 1,000 classic and special interest vehicles to the Garden City Shopping Centre for the largest free car show of the 2007 cruising season. The lot was jam packed early in the day and organizers were literally turning cars away at the gates by mid-afternoon.
Car customizer Gene Winfield, left, with Lockport customizer Pete Kroeker, was the showstopper at the Fabulous ’50s Flashback weekend.
The Sunday show was the exclamation point on a great weekend that featured a sock hop on Friday night at the Transcona Country Club with a massive silent auction and the nostalgic sounds of local band The Tune Raiders.
On Saturday afternoon a cavalcade of cruisers joined in a scenic poker run from the Canad Inns Garden City to Lockport for lunch and a show and shine at the Half Moon Drive Inn.
For many in attendance the big Sunday show offered an opportunity to meet Gene Winfield, a true legend in the custom car world. Winfield held paint seminars at both Kildonan East Collegiate and Red River College throughout the weekend before attending the Sunday car show.
"We had 47 participants in the course at the college and boy do you have some talented people out here," offered Winfield, "I learned a few new tricks from my Canadian friends." Winfield spent all day Sunday signing autographs and displaying an amazing album of photos that truly chronicled the history of hot rods in his native California.
Winfield continues to own and operate his shop in Mojave, California, located on the edge of Death Valley. "Winnipeg is a real good car town," added Winfield, "You have a nice selection of cars and some real nice folks up here."
Winfield was invited to Winnipeg by the Manitoba Street Rod Association and his friend Pete Kroeker, the owner of DMK Customs in Lockport. Kroeker met Winfield when he went to California a few years back to take a course at his shop.
"He is really an inspiration to everyone," offered Kroeker, who admitted it was tough to keep up with the 80-year-old dynamo, "He really doesn't stop -- and he's an excellent teacher."
In a touching moment, later in the day show chairwoman Betty Lannoo of the Fabulous 50s Ford Club presented Gay Kirby, the executive director of the Rehabilitation Centre For Children Foundation with a cheque in the amount of $3,880 raised at the silent auction on Friday night.
For an amazing collection of photos from the event, check out www.autoclubs.ca
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With the chilly weather fast approaching, we've been busy arranging photo shoots and interviews for upcoming Willy's Garage features. This summer we've met so many nice folks who have great cars and great stories to tell and it promises to be a real treat to share their stories with Free Press readers. Highlights this winter will include a series of shop tours, comprehensive how-to features and tales of restoration that chronicle an eclectic collection of made in Manitoba machines.
Make sure to stop by and visit us at the Sunday night cruise at the Pony Corral on Grant Avenue, the weekly event continues to run through to Sept. 30, when an amazing array of prizes highlighted by a Motobushi quad valued at more than $7,000 that was donated by Eastwood Truck and Toy Centre will be given away to one lucky cruiser.
willy@freepress.mb.ca
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