The Herman Prior Activity Centre was buzzing with nostalgia and community spirit on Thursday, August 28th, for its annual Car Hop Fundraiser.
The event, held in partnership with Sunset Palliative Care, saw hundreds of Portage la Prairie residents come out to enjoy classic cars, 50s and 60s music, and a meal served right to their vehicles in a blast-from-the-past experience.
Executive Director Kathy Bryce was thrilled with the turnout and the unique atmosphere.
She explains the concept for a new generation, saying, “This being a senior center, we definitely are in tune with what a car hop is. Back in the day there was the A&W and you would be served your food right at your vehicle, and that's exactly what we're doing."
She further points out that, “It's basically 50s, 60s, that's the kind of music we're playing tonight. And, our costumes here kind of go with the theme as well.”
A parking lot full of history
The centre’s parking lot was transformed into a mini auto show, featuring a stunning array of classic vehicles. The lineup included a 1965 Chevy II Nova SS, a 1991 Ford Mustang LX/GT Coupe, a 1966 Ford Mustang, a stately 1939-1940 Chevrolet Master Deluxe, and two particularly noteworthy luxury cars.
One standout was a massive 1975 Lincoln Continental Mark V owned by Red Gillett. The car has a storied local history that begins at a Portage dealership.
“It was bought at the Ford dealership here in Portage in 1975, brand new. It was bought by a fella who had a cafe in town,” Gillett recalls, “This is the one with the urban legend, that when he showed it to his wife, she smashed all the windows out of it.”
Gillett, who purchased the Lincoln in 2018, enjoyed bringing the car with a past to the event.
“It's fun. Same thing you did 50 years ago, like there's no difference,” he remarks.
More than just a show
Alongside the Lincoln was a pristine 1995 Jaguar XJ6 Vanden Plas owned by Reginald, who goes by Reg.
A longtime classic car enthusiast, Reg drove his Jaguar to the event as he does every day during the summer.
“This one here is a '95 Jaguar Vanden Plas, which was the top-end car for Jaguar at the time. You couldn't get better,” Reg said.
For him, the Car Hop evoked memories of a different era.
He reminisces that, “Just like, you know, in the 60s and 70s, one would go to a drive-in theater; gig screen outside, park your car, put a speaker on your window, and watch the movie. Well, this is not quite the same, but to some degree, it's like that. You know, you can put your window down and they come serve you in your car, which is sort of neat.”
The event successfully blended community, nostalgia, and philanthropy.
The partnership with Sunset Palliative Care meant attendees could also participate in the organization’s Rainbow Auction.
Kathy Bryce highlighted both fundraisers help play off each other, noting that, “Both events go hand in hand. People come in to buy tickets for Sunset Palliative Care, and they see there's a barbecue happening here. So they buy supper from Herman Prior Centre and vice versa. So it works really, really well."
The successful evening goes to show that a classic idea can still drive a community forward.
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