Club LaSalle Custom Car Show: History Returns!

Club LaSalle Custom Car Show: History Returns!

 

By David DeRocco

The great French explorer LaSalle may have travelled the waters of Lake Ontario by boat. August 19th, the club that honours his name invites you to explore an event that’s all about cars!

 In celebration of the 60th anniversary of their uniquely located cultural organization, The Club LaSalle is hosting its first ever Custom Car Show. The car show is designed as both a celebration of the Niagara Region’s rich French heritage and an event held to commemorate a significant milestone for the Club, which sits as a bastion of Francophone culture on the southern shore of Lake Ontario in St. Catharines’ Port Weller neighbourhood.

 You’d be hard-pressed to find a more interesting chapter in Canadian history than the one written about René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle.  As one of the most accomplished explorers ever to traverse the North American continent, LaSalle not only opened up the Great Lakes but his expeditions also included much of the American mid-west including the Mississippi. And while the Custom Car Show won’t include any classics as old as LaSalle’s famed Le Griffon schooner, it will have a great variety of legendary automobiles.

 “We currently have over 35 cars registered,” said organizer Micheline Herve-Belleau, who expects that number to increase with a favourable weather forecast. “Many do not register until the last minute, because if it rains it would take too much work for all those lovely beauties to be polished up again.”

 Why host a car show to celebrate the Club’s anniversary? Given the Club’s beach-front location – and the immortalization of “cruisin’ culture” by The Beach Boys – a car show with a beach theme seemed  like a natural idea, one that’s been in the works for a while according to Herve-Belleau.

 “The owner from Ryson’s has approached the club several times to do a beach party, and board members thought we should add cars to make it a leisurely day for all. The car show is a great way for families to enjoy a nice outing. Parents remember their parents having a classic car, and people enjoy going down memory lane. Car shows are something I used to do with my dad and loved it.

 A $5 admission gives attendees access to all the activities, including the car show, a barbecue, a bikini contest, kid’s bouncy castle fun zone, a dunk tank, live entertainment and giveaways from classic rock radio station 91.7 GIANT-FM. The car show is just one of the many events be hosted to celebrate Canada 150 and the Club’s 60th anniversary milestone; other events include the September 23rd golf tournament, and a gala evening September 30th.

 Given LaSalle’s unique history on the waters of Lake Ontario, is there any plan for boats at the show?

 “At present time we do not have any events for our friends with boats, although there are  many who enjoy the view we have from our beach of all the windsurfers, sail boats and freighters to be seen walking along our shore or just burying your feet in the sands.”

 For more information, visit http://www.clublasalle.ca/