Unity Drives the Co-op 2018

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Unity Saskatchewan, June 2 2018 - Where there are people there are cars. Where there are cars there are car clubs and car shows for people. It's a self-fueling cycle that never gets as old as the automobiles in it. Local car shows offer a glimpse into the history and character of a town – the old automobiles that live here and there are a reflection of the past and a measure of the present.

1937 Chevrolet 5-Window Coupe

Big cities get one of everything in all kinds and sizes of car shows – small towns more often get one kind of show for everything. On a nice day on which we were supposed to be at the Steve McQueen Car and Motorcycle Show in Chino Hills California, we were happy to at least catch a small town gathering in Unity Saskatchewan. The local Show and Shine is held on the Delta Co-op Food Store parking lot during June's Western Days. That spot happens to have the most parking frontage on downtown Main Street – usually the best place in town to have a car show.

1971 Plymouth Barracuda 383

A rural community of 5000 is going to have a number of automobile gearheads – lots of folks that can turn wrenches on big machinery turn them on cars on the weekend. Being a land ruled by winter though, both collector car and drivers of all ages need to be survivors. All must survive the snow, salt, mud, ice, rain, fire and brimstone summarized as normal prairie weather. Add the road hazards from windshield pocking rocks to roof removing mooses (meese?) - not so many cars stay pretty by going outside long here.

1974 Harley-Davidson FLH

In contrast to the Steve McQueen Car Show, there were no Porsches here. There were no Jags or Maseratis or other high falutin' egobiles that make no sense in the previously mentioned weather summary. None of these makers had dealerships here to sell and service their foreign brand, so there is no local loyalty or knowledge to carry on. In a similar vein to the Steve McQueen Show, the Unity show had a significant lineup of motorcycles – everything between vintage mini-bikes and newer Harleys.

Hats off to the small town car crowd for showing and shining. And maybe hats off to the local RCMP who may have turned a deaf ear to the rev cackling and tire burnouting that could be heard well after the Main Street parade was over. Now... let's talk about those new rock chips in the hood...

by Randy Berg