SUBMITTED
The car community is strong across Canada, especially in Ontario, providing an outlet for enthusiasts to build, modify, and showcase their vehicles. Car cruises and shows bring together like-minded individuals while inviting the public to share in the excitement.
For more than 30 years, the Rolling Thunder Car Club hosted an annual car show at Lower Reach Park in Smiths Falls. In the spring of 2018, Hugh Henderson gathered a group of car enthusiasts to gauge interest in taking over the event after the Rolling Thunder Car Club could no longer manage it due to a lack of administrators. The show was a success, leading to the formation of the Rise at the Falls Car Club.
The 2019 Rise at the Falls Car Show, again held at Lower Reach Park, was bigger and better than the previous year. Planning for the 2020 event was well underway when the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation. Due to ongoing uncertainties, all car shows, including this one, remained on hold until 2022.
When the event finally returned in 2022, it was an overwhelming success, with car owners and spectators eager to reconnect after two years without large gatherings. However, in 2023, concerns over potential damage to the grass at Lower Reach Park created uncertainty about its availability.
Fortunately, Toledo Branch 475 of the Royal Canadian Legion, along with Greg and Nancy Williams, generously offered the field behind the legion as a new venue. This partnership proved to be a perfect fit, with the legion providing a barbecue, beer garden, cooling station, coffee, breakfast sandwiches, and a warm welcome to all.
To better reflect its growing membership, the club was renamed Rideau Rods and Rides in 2023. The past two years, 2023 and 2024, have been a successful collaboration, and the club looks forward to many more.
Planning is already underway for the 2025 show, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 3, with a rain date of Monday, Aug. 4. Mark your calendars and drop in for another outstanding event!
Submitted by the Rideau Rods and Riders Car Club / Photos by Bravo Whiskey photography.
