Over a thousand people came out to Galt Gardens for the Street Wheelers Car Club show and shine in Lethbridge on Sunday, July 10, 2022. (Photo: LNN)

By Drew Stremick

Street Machines: Show and shine draws huge crowds

Jul 10, 2022 | 4:00 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Over a thousand people came out to enjoy the Street Machine show and shine on Sunday, July 10, 2022. Hosted by the Street Wheelers Car Club, Galt Gardens was packed with all kinds of vehicles, and the people who love them.

Alex Dewar is the President of the Street Wheelers Car Club, and he says that around 500 vehicles were on display at the event.

“I think we’re right around the 500 mark or so, plus or minus a few. I know. Kind of going by our registration numbers right around there,” said Dewar. “And it’s nice because people tend to stick around for most of the day and a couple of late comers also come. So it’s a good time.”

Dewar says Street Wheelers’ main goal is to promote safety and build community.

“Our main focus is, you know, safe and effective events that we like to promote. Safe racing for our racing events, and just getting the community together,” said Dewar.

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One member of the community in particular is Gary Kelly. Kelly was proud to show off his 1952 Chevy Coupe that he and a friend worked on to restore. But what set Kelly apart from other collectors and enthusiasts is that the car he was showing off also happened to be his very first car.

“My wife thinks I’m crazy,” laughed Kelly. “You know, not many people can say they’ve got their first car. I can. I got it back. Oh, it took me awhile. Took me a lot of work and a lot of money, you know?”

Gary Kelly’s 1952 Chevy Coupe on display at the Street Wheelers show and shine in Lethbridge on Sunday, July 10, 2022. (Photo: LNN)

Kelly explained that he had first bought the car before he had a driver’s license, and was forced to sell it.

“I had got the car, and then my dad told me I had to sell it because I didn’t have a driver’s license. I was 15,” explained Kelly. “I remembered the guy I sold it to, and then when I got checking numbers [I] found out it was actually my car, so then I brought it home. It was wrecked, and started the rebuild in my garage.”

Kelly continued by saying he had to sell it again at one point, but thankfully this time it didn’t go too far.

“I run into some problems in my life and had to sell the car, and sold it to a buddy of mine in Coaldale with the understanding that someday I would buy it back. Well he up and died,” Kelly said.

“So then I had to wait about ten years to get it back. So when I got it back, I had to redo it all again because mechanically, it was toast. So we’ve replaced all the running gear in it, and updated with the continental kit, and some other things that hadn’t been finished on it. So yeah, I got it back and it ain’t going anywhere anymore.”

The interior of Kelly’s 1952 Chevy Coupe, July 10, 2022 (Photo: LNN)

Kelly didn’t beat around the bush when it came to giving advice to anyone who is thinking about getting into restoring cars as a hobby.

“You got to have two things with old cars. You got to like them and you got to have money. I don’t have the money, but I’ve had in a long time at it. So that’s how I did it,” said Kelly. “You start looking at stuff like that and you go, ‘I can’t afford that’. But you do it. You do it because you like them.”