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Cruisin’ Clearwater brings over 200 fancy vehicles to town

Over 200 vehicles travelled to Clearwater from all over Interior Health for the second Cruisin’ Clearwater event.
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This head-turner GMC got a lot of attention as Grama, with her hot pink hair and driving gloves, made her way through town for Cruisin’ Clearwater on Saturday. (Stephanie Hagenaars photo)

Over 200 vehicles travelled to Clearwater from all over Interior Health for the second Cruisin’ Clearwater event.

A mix of old and new, shiny and rusted, unique and quirky vehicles made their way around town Saturday, May 6. The second annual event brought in over $14,000 for the Clearwater & District Food Bank from more than 70 donors.

The route began in the parking lot of Clearwater Secondary School, where neighbours all around could hear the rumbling of engines firing up just before 10:30 a.m. They left the lot in smaller groups, waving to spectators sitting in lawn chairs and on tailgates.

A number of awards were given out, including the best dressed, awarded to Allison Schulte and her daughter Sarah from Clearwater, a rockabilly challenge, won by Scott and Marina Hytad, as well as Rai-Lyn Crosland, and a club trophy, given to Ralf Baechmann and his 1930 Hudson rat rod.

A trophy was given out by Addison, seven-year-old car enthusiast and niece of Cruisin’ Clearwater organizer Ryan Mackenzie, to her favourite vehicle. A post made to the Cruisin’ Clearwater Facebook page by Darlene Bond read, “She may be impressed by the fanciest car there, she may be impressed by a rust bucket that you’d find in a field.”

Addison came up with the idea to honour a man her life that she lost, Kamloops chapter Roadmen member Wayne Larrimore. Each year, she wants to award a trophy in his memory, she said.

This year, the trophy, along with a swag bag, was awarded to Clearwater resident Gary Hall and his stylish 1951 GMC cab over engine.

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Visitors to the Clearwater Farmer’s Market were in for a treat Saturday morning as Cruisin’ Clearwater’s fancy rides made their way through the Dutch Lake subdivision. (Stephanie Hagenaars photo)
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Over 200 old, new and quirky vehicles made their way around Clearwater on Saturday. (Stephanie Hagenaars photo)
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Myles, 9, left, and Turner, 5, hung out on the tailgate with their grandmother and waved to the people in the vehicles as they passed in the Strawberry Flats community Saturday morning. (Stephanie Hagenaars photo)
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Gary Hall was awarded a trophy from Addison, 7, who chooses her favourite vehicle in honour of someone that was close to her. (Photo courtesy of Jerilyn Mackenzie)