By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
“Go big or go home” might be a suitable tagline for the 18th annual Cactus Jalopies car show as organizers are expecting an Osoyoos-bursting 1,000 cars and well over 10,000 humans at the two-and-a-half day event.
Despite the fact the event carried on through the pandemic, 2020 being the exception, as a much smaller and low key private event it seems there is some serious pent-up desire to get the beautiful machines shined and showing.
The event will take over pretty much every available inch of downtown Osoyoos, Gyro Beach Park and much more from June 1-4.
OCU helps fuel the Jalopies with a $6,000 cheque – (left to right) Eileen McGinn, Cactus Jalopies head of fundraising, JF Launier from Cactus Jalopies, and Trina Melanson from OCU.
The last time the show was held under “normal” circumstances in 2019 there were about 650 cars and “this year based on pre-registration we’re expecting 1,000 cars,” JF Launier, Osoyoos car builder and Cactus Jalopies organizer told the Times Chronicle.
The car show is only a small portion of what takes place over the weekend.
A wine cruise on Friday kicks off the event and local garage tours will take place on Saturday with a VIP dinner event that night.
The event will “wind down” with drag racing on Sunday at the Richter Pass Motorplex at the Osoyoos Airport.
This year will see enthusiasts coming to Osoyoos from as far away as Finland (and yes they’re bringing their car with them), along with TV celebrities like the History Channel’s Rust Valley Restorers.
Anybody under 25 can register their car for free, a move that Launier says is aimed at enticing the younger crowd away from their internet devices and into the world of cars.
Cactus Jalopies photo
“Like most industries we’re just running out of young kids getting involved. I think the internet has gotten kids gathering in a different way,” he says.
“I feel as though our hobby, our industry is going to fail in the next 15 years if we don’t start welcoming the public to see our cars and welcome the public to see our craft. It’s a part of what allows it to grow and a part of our ability to go to the government and change legislation and make sure we don’t lose those cars.”
Launier is concerned that environmental regulations might one day make it difficult for vintage and modified car enthusiasts to enjoy their hobby.
“Nobody knows what the future holds for that but if they start penalizing people for driving gas vehicles then all vintage vehicles are gas powered so it would really deeply affect the industry and our hobby and how we enjoy our cars.”
While the show’s many pieces are still being assembled Launier teases that discussions have been ongoing with Chip Foose, one of the most famous automotive designers, but his participation can’t be confirmed just yet.
More details on the event will be available in the coming weeks at cactusjalopies2023.ca
