How best to communicate with men about men’s health issues?
Six years ago, that was the question posed by the Prostate Cancer Canada Network Calgary Society (PCCN Calgary).
The answer they arrived at was to host a car show, and the first was held at the Grey Eagle Casino in 2009.
“Cars are a way of reaching men,” says PCCN Calgary director Ron Gorham. “Cars attract their attention, and they’re a good outreach for us.”
The 2014 edition of the event returns to the Grey Eagle facility on Sunday, June 29.
Gorham is both a prostate cancer survivor and vintage car enthusiast. He says one in eight men have had some experience with prostate cancer.
“Get 40 men together and chances are good five of them have been affected by prostate cancer in some way, shape or form,” Gorham says.
PCCN Calgary, Gorham explains, is all about communication and education.
“There are a lot of other people out there fundraising for research,” he says. “That’s not our gig. We help people by giving the story from the survivor’s perspective, and the car show helps us raise awareness and raise funds so we can do our work.”
Organizers are working hard to ensure that the PCCN event becomes Calgary’s best outdoor auto show.
Ron Gorham, Driving
Since the first show the number of vehicles coming out for display has steadily increased, from under 100 at the start to well over 200 in 2013.
For 2014, however, Gorham says they’ve upped the ante, and want to ensure the event becomes Calgary’s best outdoor auto show.
“We’re trying to attract the best cars Calgary has to offer,” Gorham says. “And to do that, it’s a matter of attracting people, and that means offering some entertainment.”
Instead of calling it a car show, the event this year is being dubbed the Fun in the 50’s Festival. Music act Blues Brothers Too will be on the Grey Eagle lot, with performances running between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Because the Grey Eagle recently added a hotel to its complex, the parking lot has expanded and now has the capacity to hold more than 500 vehicles.
Just one of those cars will be Gorham’s own 1967 Mustang. He bought the car 10 years ago out of New York and drove it home. It’s an older restoration, but for Gorham, the car is something of a blast from the past.
That’s because he and his son spent time working on a 1967 Mustang in the early 1980s, and the car saw Gorham Jr. through his university years.
“We made mostly mechanical improvements to that car,” Gorham explains. “Mine has been restored quite nicely, and it’s been judged by the Mustang Club of America and scored 620 out of 700.
“It fell down on a couple of details, such as the back of the grille and one set of fender bolts being the wrong colours.”
Gorham’s not too concerned, however, because it’s a summer driver and he enjoys adding miles to the odometer.
Car classes include Classic Car Pre-1978, Muscle Car Pre-1978, Modern Muscle 1978 and Up, Hot Rod, Pick Up Truck and Special Interest. For the motorcycles, the classes include Touring/Bagger, Cruiser, Sport Bike and Vintage/Collector.
Ron Gorham, Driving
Fun in the 50’s is open to all makes, models and years, including motorcycles. A separate committee is involved in judging six car classes, and four motorcycle categories.
The car classes include Classic Car Pre-1978, Muscle Car Pre-1978, Modern Muscle 1978 and Up, Hot Rod, Pick Up Truck and Special Interest. For the motorcycles, the classes include Touring/Bagger, Cruiser, Sport Bike and Vintage/Collector.
New for this year’s show is the inclusion of a swap meet area, where vendors can rent an outdoor table for $15 and attempt to sell some of their used automotive and motorcycle parts and pieces. There’s also a car corral, where vehicles for sale will be displayed in a dedicated area.
Putting in an appearance is Calgary’s Dark Side Racing. On site at 2 p.m. they will fire up their top fuel dragster in what is referred to as a ‘cackle fest’.
Gorham notes the entire show is dedicated to men’s health. As such, there will be a health fair with other displays promoting primary health care for men.
And although not quite a classic vehicle, the Prostate Cancer Centre’s Man Van will also be on site from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering free PSA testing.
Fun in the 50’s runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and vehicle registration ($10), goes from 9 a.m. to noon. Visit www.pccncalgary.org for more information, or email Gorham at Ron.Gorham@pccncalgary.org.
Greg Williams is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Have an auto related item to share for the column or What’s Next? Contact him at 403-287-1067 or gregwilliams@shaw.ca. Visit his website at gregwilliams.ca.
WHAT’S NEXT
To see your event listed, email the details, at least three weeks in advance, to gregwilliams@shaw.ca.
June 21: Eighth Annual Al Azhar Vintage Car Club Show & Shrine at the Al Azhar Shrine Centre 5225 101 St. N.W. All makes and models, motorcycles welcome, too. Registration fee $10, free spectator admission. On-site food, mini-swap meet, vendor’s tables and children’s activities. Call Don Boyce at 403-949-3748 or email inga01@telusplanet.net.
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