Four-day Cactus Jalopies car event expected to draw 10,000

By the middle of this week, Osoyoos will start seeing more and more shiny and beautiful classic cars and unique automotive creations driving down Main Street.

For the general public, the main event is the Cactus Jalopies Show and Shine that gets rolling Saturday morning at Gyro Park, when many of the 400 vehicles in town will be on display.

But for registered participants, who come from all over Western Canada and the U.S. Northwest, there will be many more activities running from Thursday to Sunday.

Francine Launier, who has been an organizer of the event since her son JF Launier started it in 2004, said Cactus Jalopies has grown to be the second most popular Osoyoos event after July 1 festivities.

Francine Launier said this year’s crowd estimate of 10,000 will be a significant growth even from a couple years ago.

“Two years ago, we counted them, and we were over 6,000,” she said. “We have more and more every year. People love it. And people in town tell me they can’t wait to see the car show.”

Why is Cactus Jalopies so popular?

“I guess because people love cars,” said Launier. “You know, beautiful cars. We bring a lot of beautiful cars. My gosh, over the years we’ve had million-dollar cars… These cars are worth a fortune, a lot of them. People love to look at them.”

Among the expensive cars coming through are expected to be about 100 supercars that will be stopping over in Osoyoos on the way from Vancouver to the Area 27 racetrack near Oliver. Launier said they should arrive at the Lake Osoyoos Sailing Club sometime between 11 a.m. and noon on Saturday.

But many of the cars in the show and shine are older classics, lovingly restored and sometimes customized by their proud owners, who often spend thousands of hours making their vehicle look its best.

This year’s featured vehicle is a 1956 Chevy truck fixed up by 19-year-old Nikki Bunn with her father. Launier said the vehicle will be featured on the back of this year’s t-shirts and will be on display at Cactus Jalopies.

Launier said she’s thrilled with the choice because Bunn is a young female.

“It’s nice because usually car shows are mostly guys,” she said. “We have a few women who bring their cars, but we’re happy that the new trend is young girls doing their cars. It’s nice to see. You have to encourage the young people.”

Among the ways the event is helping youth is that Osoyoos Secondary School grad students will be there collecting money for dry grad.

“We don’t charge anything for entry, but if people want to, they can donate to them,” Launier said.

Part of the proceeds will also go to the Variety Show of Hearts and Variety Children’s Charity, she added.

In addition to the popular show and shine on Saturday, there will also be extreme motorbike shows at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Among the star bikers is Kyle Dimelo, of Oliver, Launier said.

Registration of participants takes place Thursday night at the Sage Pub and there will be a mini-show and shine outside the pub.

“It’s not all the cars that will be there because a lot of them will be coming on Friday and Saturday,” said Launier. “The road will be blocked except for the people that live there.”

On Friday, registered participants will be able to take part in the wine tours that have been held in previous years.

But new this year, a limited number of registered participants will also be able to take tours to two garages in Penticton, and there will also be a trip to the farm of Ken Helm near Cawston, who collects old vehicles and an assortment of other antiques.

JF Customs will also be doing an open house on Saturday for registered participants only.

The show and shine on Saturday is the best opportunity the public will have to see the jalopies. Launier said that although the setup starts around 8 a.m., people are asked not to come until around 10 a.m. because of all the vehicles moving into place.

“We don’t want anybody endangered or anything,” she said.

On Sunday, the drag racing with the Wine Country Racing Association will run at the Richter Motorplex, also known as the Osoyoos Airport. That event is being run in conjunction with Cactus Jalopies.

Gates open at 9 a.m. and time trials start around 10 a.m. to noon. Eliminations run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults. Children 12 and under are admitted free with an adult.

Launier said her son, JF, reminded her that when he started Cactus Jalopies, the event was, and continues to be, open for any vehicle whether it is completely refurbished or is a work in progress or at its initial stage.

That’s why it’s called “jalopies,” she said.

“We give trophies, but it’s not about trophies,” she said. “It’s about bringing that vehicle that makes you vibrate and sharing it with the public at large.”

RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times