CLIFFORD – For the past 14 years, the Great Lakes Truck Club (GLTC) has held its Antique and Classic Truck Show in Clifford’s Rotary Park.
On June 28 and 29, the park was filled with 338 large trucks and truckers from Manitoba, Michigan, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec and other locales.
Event organizer Chris Hall said enthusiasts flew in from as far away British Columbia.
“We’re the largest gathering of classic and antique trucks in Canada, right here in Clifford, in Wellington County,” said Hall.
But it is much more than a truck show, he added.
“It’s a reunion. I’ve had drivers who have retired after a lifetime of driving come up to me and say they hadn’t seen so-and-so in years, and how happy it makes them,” he said.
Hall explained the show caters to both veteran drivers and younger drivers with flashier trucks.
“There are a lot of young livestock and grain haulers in the area, and they are a big part of the show,” he said.
“The older and younger drivers get along here. They are all here for the same reason. They love the classic looking and antique trucks. It’s why they drive them. It’s their common thread.”
Hall said the show has put Clifford on the map in the trucking world, noting, “Anywhere you go in Canada, truckers know about Clifford.”
This year there were over 60 volunteers at the event, and some were providing wagon and golf cart rides to help people cover the expanse of the park.
There were vendor tents and memorabilia displays, on-site camping and a Rotary-run food stand.
The “non-judged” show is meant for everyone to enjoy. It boasts one of the largest collections of old-school cab-over trucks, according to organizers and enthusiasts.
Row upon row of vintage and classic trucks at the show included Ford, GMC, Kenworth, Mack, Peterbilt and White.
Jim and Joan Scott of Walkerton drew a lot of attention at the show with their ’48 and ’49 Diamond T’s.
“We’ve been coming for over five years now. It’s a great show. I like the people,” Joan said.
“Jim’s been a trucker all his life and he likes to talk to the truckers and see old friends we’ve met along the way.
“Jim put these all together. It took about four trucks for parts and about five years to get them ready.”
Driving in the U.S. over the years, Scott said, “I kept saying I’d like to own one (Diamond T) someday. They are about the prettiest truck ever made. They called them the Cadillac of trucks in the ’40s.”
The success and popularity of the show has grown over the years. Hall praised the Town of Minto and Clifford Rotary.
“I’ve never worked with such an easy-going, bend-over-backwards group. I love working with them,” he said.
“We work closely with the Rotary, ask them what they need, what the town needs. Every year we donate to the Rotary and help with projects. We choose another charity in the area as well. Last year we donated to Mount Forest Cancer Services to help with their volunteer drivers.”
Clifford Rotary club president Randy Ruetz has worked with GLTC since the inception of the show.
“It works out really well for both of us,” Ruetz said. “They do a great job, it’s so well organized, and they like to support the park.”
Recent projects the Rotary and GLTC worked together on include putting light standards in the field and creating a new cement pad for handicap parking at the park.
Ruetz said Rotary runs the barbecue stand at the show and it brought in over $11,000 this year, a new record. Proceeds go back into the community.
“The show also helps support local businesses. The restaurants were busy over the weekend, and Clifford Food Market said they had their biggest day ever,” Ruetz said.
“When we are long gone, we hope we have done as much as we can for the betterment of Rotary Park,” Hall said.
