As club president Kip McMillan what kind of car owners qualifies for membership in Sarnia Street Machines, and he has a ready answer.
As club president Kip McMillan what kind of car owners qualifies for membership in Sarnia Street Machines, and he has a ready answer.
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“If your car is special to you, then it’s special to us,” he said, quoting his late father, Bob McMillan, a former club president.
“That’s really what it is,” the younger McMillan said.
“You don’t have to have a super clean show car,” he added. “(It can be) something you just love or are just working on. It could be something you bought off the showroom that you think is cool.”
Sarnia Street Machineslaunched in 1985 with a few car enthusiasts devoted to cruising and raising money for charity, has about 80 members today.
McMillan is eager to see plenty of “spedial” vehicles at Hot Night, Cool Cars, the club’s annual cruise-in and concert fundraiser in Sarnia’s Canatara Park on Aug. 1, from 5 to 9 p.m.
Admission is by donation to Sarnia’s Pathways Health Center for Children, which will have volunteers on hand selling food.
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There will be live music by Borderline and Scott Manery and the Barn Burners, plus draws and giveaways.
A late club member’s vehicle will be a featured this year, along with a pickup from the streaming TV series, The Trades, whose creator, Sarnia’s Ryan Lindsay, is expected to attend, McMillan said.
“We want everyone to come out and have some fun,” he said.
Typically, 300 to 500 cars “of all kinds” are displayed during the event, McMillan said.
“I want to see a big variety,” along with classics and show cars, he said.
“I want to see exotics,” McMillan said. “I want to see tuner cars, like Fast and Furious kind of things. There are so many cars out there that people love, and they want to see at these shows, and they’re all welcome.”
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Not Night, Cool Cars is one of two large annual club events supporting Pathways, its charity partner since 2005.
“Pathways has been incredibly supportive and helpful, and have added so much to these shows,” McMillan said.
“It’s wonderful to help them make money, raise money for capital projects and do some good things in the community,” he added. “And it’s for kids.”
Pathways provides therapy and other services for children and youth with physical, developmental and communication needs. It receives government funding, but also counts on fundraising and donations to meet local service needs.
“We have raised well over $300,000 in 19 years” for the center, McMillan said.
The club’s other annual event is Cruise in the Park, which drew nearly 280 vehicles in June, he said. “The numbers were low because there was a threat of rain in the morning, but it worked out to be just a really nice, fun day.”
Sarnia Street Machines members attend other local car shows and work with their “sister club,” the Sarnia Street Cruisers.
“To me, cars are art,” McMillan said of what draws people to car shows.
“For some people there are memories attached to some of these older cars,” he added. “Maybe a beloved family member or friend had one.”
Sarnia Street Machines was inducted in 2018 into the Canadian Street Rodding Hall of Fame for its community and promotional efforts.
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