Annual car show to take over Elgin Park
Roger Varley
A major car show is slated to take over Elgin Park on the last weekend in August, with organizers claiming as many as 1,500 automobiles could be on display.
The Motor City Car Club of Oshawa (MCCC), which has been running Autofest in Oshawa for the last 25 years, has decided it wants to move the event to Uxbridge. Following a deputation to township council in December, club officials received approval "in principle" for the event, subject to a staff report. That report, by Courtney Clarke, deputy director of public works, was delivered to council on Monday.
The report made a number of recommendations, the main ones being that council support the event and allow overnight camping for some of the participants. The report also recommended that the car club's request that fees for the park be waived should be denied, and the club should pay the full rental price of $7,648 for two days’ "exclusive use of the park grounds." (The MCCC is a provincially-registered not-for-profit organization that donates its proceeds to charities that include Grandview Kids and Lakeridge Health.) In addition, the club must provide a $1,000 damage deposit for each day and $5 million liability insurance.
Mayor Dave Barton opined that the event "will be very good for downtown businesses."
Organizers claim that Autofest Nationals is one of Canada’s biggest classic and muscle car shows. Car owners and enthusiasts reportedly come from across North America to attend the annual show, previously held in Oshawa. This year marks the 31st anniversary of the show. Organizer Blair Trotter said during the December presentation to council that it was time to “reinvent ourselves and refresh our event,” and that “Elgin Park would be perfect for what we have in store.”
Last Wednesday, Jan. 31, an online Durham news publication, “insauga,” proclaimed that the event was definitely relocating to Uxbridge, despite no report having been issued to council by Uxbridge staff on or before that date. When asked about the timing of the online publication’s announcement, Clarke said that the MCCC had not seen her report before it was presented to council. Clarke did add that she has had several meetings with the MCCC and that more are planned.
A local resident familiar with car shows told the Cosmos that the Bonner Boys weekly Thursday night "cruise in" at Elgin Park usually features about 150 cars, and that one special event saw 400 cars on display. The resident said those 400 cars covered that part of the park usually used for the midway at the Fall Fair, and extended around the baseball diamond. When asked about the possibility of hosting 1,500 cars, the resident said: "Maybe if you used the whole park. Not sure where spectators would park." MCCC has said it expects more than 6,000 visitors to the event.
Clarke confirmed Monday that visitor overflow parking can be handled.
Clarke's report also suggested that, to ensure Uxbridge residents can still access the park during the event for activities such as walking, playing on the playground and working out, a wristband policy be implemented to allow event organizers to differentiate between event participants and township residents.
MCCC will also be responsible for assisting staff in maintaining washrooms and managing garbage overflow, including renting a dumpster for the event.
On the camping issue, although the report recommended camping be allowed, it also said the township "will evaluate the feasibility and requirements for this request."