A large crowd turned out for this year’s John Dyck Classic Car Show at Estevan Comprehensive School. The event was held in the evening for the first time, and the shift in schedule brought a noticeable boost in attendance. Rows of classic vehicles lined the school parking lot as community members came out to take in the display.
Grade 12 student Akara Reves was one of the participants.
“I think it's a really good opportunity,” said Reves. “I think this is more than what we had last year. It's our first time doing a nighttime show, so it'll be quite interesting to see the turnout.”
While the sun was still up during the early portion of the event, Reves said the light made the cars stand out even more.
Her love for vehicles began at a young age after watching movies like Fast and Furious and Gone in 60 Seconds.
“I always found a love for cars,” she said. “I really got into it when I got into high school.”
As she prepares to graduate, Reves encouraged younger students to join the ECS Auto Club.
“It’s a very good opportunity,” she said. “You get hands-on experience, and you learn a lot. I’d say much more than what you learn in the classroom.”
Fellow Grade 12 student Phillip Gellner also took part in the event and agreed that the evening format brought new energy to the show.
“Now that we moved the car show to 6:00 p.m., there's a lot more people here,” he said. “This is probably the best turnout we've ever had.”
Gellner has been a member of both the school’s mechanics classes and the auto club. He brought two vehicles to the show this year: his grandfather’s 1981 Oldsmobile 88 and his own 1996 Mercury Cougar.
Keeping the Cougar in top shape has been a challenge. He recently replaced leaking axle seals, which took two weeks to complete. Despite the hard work, he was happy with the result.
“It’s all good now. It’s running and it’s street legal,” he said.
Gellner was first introduced to the auto club by his older brother, who encouraged him to get involved in Grade 10.
His advice to new students thinking about joining is simple.
“Just show up, be an active member, and commit,” he said. “Everyone there will teach you the basics. You’ll learn everything you need to know.”
The John Dyck Classic Car Show continues to grow each year and remains a highlight for students and community members alike.
Kelly Tytslandsvik brought a piece of family history to this year’s show. He displayed a 1951 GMC half-ton originally bought by his dad.
"He bought it new in ’50,” he said. “One was used on a farm out longer for up until 1969, and late in the past year since then. And I brought it home. Started with all my own body work and engine overhaul and completely restored the truck.”
He said he tries to bring something to the show each year.
Tytslandsvik said it is great to see the turnout and the variety of ages and interests involved.
“Kind of nice to come up and support the kids. See the kids come out with the cars they're working on."
He shared his thoughts on car culture in Estevan.
“There's always a few of the young people who are interested in the old stuff, but nothing is old. I have three Model Ts as well, and the interests of those are dying off. There's not too many young people that are interested in those. The muscle car era is the thing now. Everybody's hot after that. But still, with the different age groups around town, there's a diversity of years of vehicles and styles of vehicles that people are collecting.”
Tytslandsvik also reflected on his friendship with fellow car enthusiast John Dyck, whom the show was named after.
“I don't even remember how I got to know John Dyck, other than I worked as a mechanic in town here for many years. I worked as a mechanic around town for many years, but not in the public."
He said that through friends and former student's of Dyck's their friendship grew.
"I got to know him through that and through the model engineering show that we have every year in October. Just got to be friends through that way with mutual interest and trading some parts back and forth.”
He credits Dyck with helping him start one of his more unique projects.
“He asked me if I needed a box for the one I was restoring, and I said yes, I do.”
“Well,” he says, “I have a box.” he says, “But to get the box, you have to take the rest of the car.”
“So the rest of the car got stuck together. Overhauled the drivetrain. But the body is all mismatched parts slapped together to look like a hillbilly wagon, on purpose. And that was one that came about from John Dyck. The car came from him.”
Andrew Makowski was among the attendees at the car show. He praised the event as a great celebration of car culture in Estevan.
“I encourage anyone to come check this kind of stuff,” he said, impressed by the quality of the cars and the passion of their owners.
His personal favourite was a striking orange Mustang that caught his eye for its excellent condition and undeniable cruising appeal.
