What was once hailed as the Super Run has been renamed the Western Canadian Nationals Car Show (WCN) with its next big bash to take place at Brandon's Keystone Centre the first weekend in August.
The 3-day festival celebrates everything we love about vintage vehicles, drawing hundreds of cars, trucks and motorcycles, and their owners, from across North America.
With the loss of the Super Run's rotational locations of Saskatoon, SK and Red Deer, AB the organizing committee took to renaming the iconic show n' shine to capture the essence of what the event is all about, and thus the Western Canadian Nationals Car Show was born!
"We saw an opportunity to redefine the show’s identity while honoring its rich history," shares committee Chair Dave Burba. "The new name highlights our focus on inclusivity, regional pride, and the love of cars."
The Super Run started in the late 1980's alternating between Saskatoon and Red Deer. Brandon joined the rotation in 2007 and has hosted a total of 7 times over the years. Burba has taken the lead of organizing the Brandon show since 2019.
Burba says they're excited to host the 2025 WCN August 1-3 on the Keystone Centre grounds and are expecting upwards of 800 vintage vehicles on display.
"We usually hover around the 600 mark the last few times we've had it," explains Burba. "We're hoping for over the 800 mark because of what's happening south of us. A lot of people aren't going to the U.S. for car shows. Our publicity has been good too, and our celebrities are going to attract a lot of people in."
"There hasn't been a show like this since we put it on in 2022," says Burba.
"You're going to see a lot of different cars that you just haven't seen in this area for a long time, or forever," he adds. "A lot are coming from both locally and from far away. We've got registrations from BC for sure, and all the way from north of Toronto, and some coming up from the U.S."
YouTube / TV personalities, Mike Hall and Avery Shaw from Rust Valley Restorer, will be on site at the Keystone Centre as well as multiple competitions including battle of the bands, and much, much more!
"There's just an amazing number of things happening at the Keystone Centre grounds those two days," says Burba. "It will just be packed full. It will be amazing how many things will be going on!"
The pin-up competition will prove to be a fun feature of the weekend where participants, both gals and guys, dress up in vintage costumes of the eras of their sweet rides. Pin-up enthusiasts already got into the game this past Canada Day for the Boissevain parade.
"This is not risqué or anything like that," he's quick to note. "It's folks dressed up in vintage-type clothes as you would see at some of the rock-a-billy type shows. We had that at the last two shows and it's growing more and more popular. So that will be a lot of fun!"
Burba encourages everyone joining them for the Saturday banquet will be dressed up in vintage attire. Please reserve your meal by July 15, 2025 through their website HERE.
The Brandon area car club hosts a cruise night the first Thursday of every month throughout the summer, with the biggest one scheduled for July 31st as a lead up to the WCN.
"We'll block off Princess Avenue and Rosser and all the connecting streets on that night so that should be a pretty big downtown show for Brandon," notes Burba.
The WCN begins at the start of the week on July 28th with tours across Westman for those who are travelling to Brandon earlier than August 1st. They'll be taking in local car shows, visiting local car museums at Elkhorn and Treherne, and stopping by at favorite drive-ins across the southwestern corner of the province for pitstops along the way.
"It's a great place and time to get together with all the other car enthusiasts," he says. "We have tours starting on the Monday prior to the weekend. We'll be going all around Western Manitoba here checking out some man-caves, collections and Bar-B-Ques. So, there's going to be lots of stuff going on!"
Volunteers are always welcome, says Burba. For more information on the Western Canadian Nationals Car Show visit their website HERE, and their Facebook page HERE! Contact information to volunteer is also available at both of these online platforms.
(All photos credit of the WCN Facebook page)