Dreamcast18
05-12-2008, 12:08 PM
34th annual Radical Speed Sport show brings car enthusiasts to Moncton to share their love of art on wheels
Now in its 34th year, the Radical Speed Sport auto show continues to build on its international reputation as a must-attend exhibit of art on wheels, fashions and entertainment.
"Canada is our most favourite place to visit and we really love coming to Moncton," says Richard Udell, an attorney from Swan Lake, Montana, who is making his third visit to the Speed Sport show this year. "The friendships that we have made in Canada are truly priceless. And people have a true love affair with cars. They get excited to see the cars. They're so enthusiastic. You can see it in their faces."
The Coliseum-Agrena complex was a busy spot yesterday afternoon as dozens of hot rods, race cars, custom cars, antique cars, classic cars, restored cars, trucks, Jeeps, motorcycles and even antique snowmobiles were rolled into place and polished up for the show, which opens today at 2 p.m. and continues tomorrow and Sunday.
The setup is a busy one as lights, sound systems and performance stages were also being put together. The vast number of entries to the show mean the entire building is filled with vehicles and displays. The fashion shows, models and live entertainment will be centred in the nightclub atmosphere of the Xtreme Zone in Hall C.
Richard Udell and his wife Paige were busy yesterday setting up and shining the travelling show car Magnitude, a completely hand-built golden 1932 Ford Roadster owned by Sam Magarino of Sussex, N.J. Udell says every piece of the car was hand-made from the ground up. The metal bodywork was hand-crafted in Los Angeles and the car itself was built and assembled in Cleveland.
The Udells -- accompanied by their trusty miniature Doberman, Hoochie Mama -- have shown the car all over the United States. It was named the number one car by Hot Rod International and won Best in Show 14 times since November. In Tulsa, it won a $20,000 cash prize.
Udell won't say how much the car cost to build.
"It's not dollars so much as the love of the car and the creativity and craftsmanship. That's what people should come to see."
The Udells said they have made many friends during their trips to Canada and hope to return for a motorcycle trip through the Maritimes. Richard said they aren't being paid for this trip, since they came as a promise to former show president Bruce Robertson, who passed away last July. Moncton businessman Greg Turner -- who has been associated with the show since the beginning -- has assumed the role of president this year. A tribute to Robertson will be part of Sunday's awards ceremony.
Each year, hundreds of hot rods, antique cars, custom cars, motorcycles and other vehicles from Metro Moncton, Atlantic Canada and other parts of North America are put on display at the Coliseum-Agrena complex. Over its 34-year history, the show has become the unofficial beginning of the summer driving season and a place where car enthusiasts connect with old friends and make new ones. Many who attend the show each year can attest to the fact that often you can walk only a few steps without bumping into someone you know and stopping to chat before moving on. More than 25,000 people attend the show each year.
The show gives local car builders a chance to show off their many years of hard work. Local car and motorcycle clubs use the show to generate interest in their hobby and recruit new members. And each year they try to improve their displays.
For example, the local Jeep club was working yesterday to assemble an off-road scene complete with a bridge made of logs over a wishing pond where people can make donations to MADD Canada.
While many of the cars at the show are brought in on trailers and treated like precious works of art by their owners, others are actually driven to the show.
"I drive this car every day," said James Dunback of Jeddore Oyster Point, N.S., a small fishing village near Halifax. Dunback's bought his 2000 Plymouth Prowler roadster three years ago, fell in love it and decided to customize it. Last year, the car won the prize for best paint job. The deep mirror-like gloss black base is airbrushed with images of flames and skulls that actually glows purple when the light shines on it.
"This is the best show I've ever been to, it's such a professional deal and I didn't know about it until three years ago," Dunback said. "I want to come back every year."
Unlike the flash and shine, the feature attraction Tow Mater is actually made to look like a rusty, dirty, worn-out tow truck with a big old winch and tow hook on the back. Tow Mater is a real truck resembling the animated character in the movie Cars. It was custom built with big eyes in the windshield and big teeth in the grill.
"He's got a real personality and the people love him," says Tow Mater's handler, Mike Shore of Michigan. "Sometimes the little kids will walk up and start talking to him."
Shore, who has travelled all over North America as a professional vehicle wrangler, says he enjoys visiting Metro Moncton.
"You've got a really nice town. I really like it here."
Other featured attractions at this year's show are the Super Sky Saturn, which was partially built by Henry's Auto Body in Shediac and Dora the Explorer of the children's TV show. Former professional wrestler Virgil, the Los Angeles dance troup PurrFect Angelz, Fredericton country music group the Hardcore Troubadours and Moncton rock group Tracy Starr will also perform at the show.
http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/front/article/271737
Now in its 34th year, the Radical Speed Sport auto show continues to build on its international reputation as a must-attend exhibit of art on wheels, fashions and entertainment.
"Canada is our most favourite place to visit and we really love coming to Moncton," says Richard Udell, an attorney from Swan Lake, Montana, who is making his third visit to the Speed Sport show this year. "The friendships that we have made in Canada are truly priceless. And people have a true love affair with cars. They get excited to see the cars. They're so enthusiastic. You can see it in their faces."
The Coliseum-Agrena complex was a busy spot yesterday afternoon as dozens of hot rods, race cars, custom cars, antique cars, classic cars, restored cars, trucks, Jeeps, motorcycles and even antique snowmobiles were rolled into place and polished up for the show, which opens today at 2 p.m. and continues tomorrow and Sunday.
The setup is a busy one as lights, sound systems and performance stages were also being put together. The vast number of entries to the show mean the entire building is filled with vehicles and displays. The fashion shows, models and live entertainment will be centred in the nightclub atmosphere of the Xtreme Zone in Hall C.
Richard Udell and his wife Paige were busy yesterday setting up and shining the travelling show car Magnitude, a completely hand-built golden 1932 Ford Roadster owned by Sam Magarino of Sussex, N.J. Udell says every piece of the car was hand-made from the ground up. The metal bodywork was hand-crafted in Los Angeles and the car itself was built and assembled in Cleveland.
The Udells -- accompanied by their trusty miniature Doberman, Hoochie Mama -- have shown the car all over the United States. It was named the number one car by Hot Rod International and won Best in Show 14 times since November. In Tulsa, it won a $20,000 cash prize.
Udell won't say how much the car cost to build.
"It's not dollars so much as the love of the car and the creativity and craftsmanship. That's what people should come to see."
The Udells said they have made many friends during their trips to Canada and hope to return for a motorcycle trip through the Maritimes. Richard said they aren't being paid for this trip, since they came as a promise to former show president Bruce Robertson, who passed away last July. Moncton businessman Greg Turner -- who has been associated with the show since the beginning -- has assumed the role of president this year. A tribute to Robertson will be part of Sunday's awards ceremony.
Each year, hundreds of hot rods, antique cars, custom cars, motorcycles and other vehicles from Metro Moncton, Atlantic Canada and other parts of North America are put on display at the Coliseum-Agrena complex. Over its 34-year history, the show has become the unofficial beginning of the summer driving season and a place where car enthusiasts connect with old friends and make new ones. Many who attend the show each year can attest to the fact that often you can walk only a few steps without bumping into someone you know and stopping to chat before moving on. More than 25,000 people attend the show each year.
The show gives local car builders a chance to show off their many years of hard work. Local car and motorcycle clubs use the show to generate interest in their hobby and recruit new members. And each year they try to improve their displays.
For example, the local Jeep club was working yesterday to assemble an off-road scene complete with a bridge made of logs over a wishing pond where people can make donations to MADD Canada.
While many of the cars at the show are brought in on trailers and treated like precious works of art by their owners, others are actually driven to the show.
"I drive this car every day," said James Dunback of Jeddore Oyster Point, N.S., a small fishing village near Halifax. Dunback's bought his 2000 Plymouth Prowler roadster three years ago, fell in love it and decided to customize it. Last year, the car won the prize for best paint job. The deep mirror-like gloss black base is airbrushed with images of flames and skulls that actually glows purple when the light shines on it.
"This is the best show I've ever been to, it's such a professional deal and I didn't know about it until three years ago," Dunback said. "I want to come back every year."
Unlike the flash and shine, the feature attraction Tow Mater is actually made to look like a rusty, dirty, worn-out tow truck with a big old winch and tow hook on the back. Tow Mater is a real truck resembling the animated character in the movie Cars. It was custom built with big eyes in the windshield and big teeth in the grill.
"He's got a real personality and the people love him," says Tow Mater's handler, Mike Shore of Michigan. "Sometimes the little kids will walk up and start talking to him."
Shore, who has travelled all over North America as a professional vehicle wrangler, says he enjoys visiting Metro Moncton.
"You've got a really nice town. I really like it here."
Other featured attractions at this year's show are the Super Sky Saturn, which was partially built by Henry's Auto Body in Shediac and Dora the Explorer of the children's TV show. Former professional wrestler Virgil, the Los Angeles dance troup PurrFect Angelz, Fredericton country music group the Hardcore Troubadours and Moncton rock group Tracy Starr will also perform at the show.
http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/front/article/271737