St. Catharines Downtown Association

http://www.scstandard.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2664485

Jayden Thorpe could barely contain himself when asked what he learned about cars Saturday morning.

"I know what 'chop' means!" the nine-year-old Rochester, N.Y., boy said.

"And what does it mean?" asked his grandfather George Thorpe, who brought Jayden and his younger brothers Trent and Chad to the downtown car show.

"It means the wheels have been lowered," Jayden said, pointing out a purple 1972 GMC truck. "I love the chopped truck. This is my second show, and I just love it."

The Thorpes joined thousands of others who braved the summer heat and crammed into a few blocks of St. Paul St. for the ninth annual Classic Car show Saturday. Cars, from the truly classic to the more modern vehicles, lined St. Paul, Queen and James streets.

"I just love the cars. I like to come out and show it off and meet with other owners," said Harry Hartford of St. Catharines, standing beside his white 1959 Triumph on James St.

Although walking about looking at cars might make little sense to those not passionate about automobiles, aficionados like Hartford talk about vintage vehicles with awe.

"I love driving the old school cars. No power (steering). It's great," said the member of the Niagara British Car Club.

Even those who don't own or display classic cars admired the craft involved in restoring and maintaining them.

"This is what is called a 'Rot Rod'," said Mark Gallant of St. Catharines, at the show with is son Matt and daughter Jessica, pointing to a truck that appears rather worse for wear.

Rot Rods, he explains are classic vehicles that are assembled without repainting or touching up the body. Sometimes the paint job is deliberately worn down to give the vehicle a much rougher appearance.

Cars were not the only attractions downtown Saturday. The Good Rockin' Tonight band was playing on William St. while on St. Paul St. Ryson's United Studios of Music hosted the third annual Fiddlefest.

"We didn't hold it last year because of the rain, but this year the turnout is great," said Anne Deyme of Ryson's.

There were 14 age categories with the winners all receiving cash prizes from money collected for a raffle during the competition.

Deyme said competitors came from all over Niagara and Southern Ontario with a few from New York state and one from Belgium.

Elizabeth Fritshaw, event coordinator for the St. Catharines Downtown Association, said the weekend event featured more than 500 cars and drew an estimated 5,000 people to the downtown.

"It's about bringing people to the downtown, highlighting the downtown businesses," she said. "It's just a great event. Our business owners love it, and the people who come down love it too."

Please see full story in The St. Catharines Standard at: