This year was the 50th Annual Draggins Rod and Custom Car Club Auto Show in Saskatoon Sask. Aside from being Canada’s longest continuously running, club run, car show, the Draggins bring the automotive community of Saskatchewan together in more ways than you can imagine. In the strictest sense, the show is much more than a car show. There is a scale model display, radio control and slot car action displays as well as the real thing. Auto displays range from award winning rods to muscle cars to antiques and anything else automotive you can imagine.
The best part of the Draggins Show is the interaction between the people on both sides of the ropes. Yes, there are some show cars that you can’t even breathe on, but there were many more vehicles where the owners would invite you to sit in or talk about their pride and joy. This type of interaction promotes participation. It gets bums in seats at the local track and when the kids get old enough, it puts bums in race cars. It also sells parts and gives companies like American Hot Rod (the successor to Boyd Coddington’s business) a reason to bring their award winning iron to the show.
If you happen to be wondering why the community has embraced this show, start with the fact that the youngest exhibitor was 14 showing off his Jr. Dragster and the oldest entrant was 86 with her original 1969 RoadRunner. Add to that the fact that the Draggins have raised nearly two million dollars for the Saskatchewan Abilities Council’s “Camp Easter Seal” over the past 50 years. In addition the Draggins maintain roughly 12 of the Council’s vehicles that are needed to support the camp and other operations.
To help keep our interests, hobby and sport alive and thriving, do a little less navel gazing, get out and do something to help your community and provide a feeling of belonging to those that show an interest in what you do. If you don’t, when it is your turn to play “remember when”, there won’t be anyone to listen.
The best part of the Draggins Show is the interaction between the people on both sides of the ropes. Yes, there are some show cars that you can’t even breathe on, but there were many more vehicles where the owners would invite you to sit in or talk about their pride and joy. This type of interaction promotes participation. It gets bums in seats at the local track and when the kids get old enough, it puts bums in race cars. It also sells parts and gives companies like American Hot Rod (the successor to Boyd Coddington’s business) a reason to bring their award winning iron to the show.
If you happen to be wondering why the community has embraced this show, start with the fact that the youngest exhibitor was 14 showing off his Jr. Dragster and the oldest entrant was 86 with her original 1969 RoadRunner. Add to that the fact that the Draggins have raised nearly two million dollars for the Saskatchewan Abilities Council’s “Camp Easter Seal” over the past 50 years. In addition the Draggins maintain roughly 12 of the Council’s vehicles that are needed to support the camp and other operations.
To help keep our interests, hobby and sport alive and thriving, do a little less navel gazing, get out and do something to help your community and provide a feeling of belonging to those that show an interest in what you do. If you don’t, when it is your turn to play “remember when”, there won’t be anyone to listen.