The Draggins car club held there first meeting on October 3rd 1957 to form an organization that
was to promote their hobby as a safe and credible sport to the general public. In 1961, on Friday, April 1st (Easter weekend), the First Annual Draggins Car Show was held in the Saskatoon Arena, now the site of Mayor potato head's River Landing / Joni Mitchell centre.
In January of 1997 the Draggins Rod and Custom Car Club was one of the first inductees into the Saskatchewan Motorsport Hall of Fame for the contribution they made to the wonderful world of motorsport. The club celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2007, an event which we were honored to play at.
These guys hold down a tradition, and regardless of stature in the city, or the amount of money in a guys bank account, every member does his fair share. This means typical club house chores and volunteering at various events.
The biggest event is the Easter weekend car show. This year marked 49 successful events, and the money these guys raise gets donated back to help charities in our community. The big one for the Draggins is Camp Easter Seal.
For a hot rod car guy holding a membership among these leaders in our city is a big deal.
While these original members never thought the history and tradition would grow in to a club that could do so much for so many people, they did have a vision of shining a positive light on the labor of love car guys have with there projects (and garages!). Every thing about this crew is first class.
If you read this on occasion, you probably know Lou. Yes he is known as the longest drummer in the world, he is also known for hiding cars from his wife in the back yards of all his friends. Lou has a passion for cool cars, hell Lou has a passion for all cars, in fact anything with wheels that he can take apart he likes...
He has always been the "go to guy" for all questions mechanical, especially on older stuff.
So last year Lou starts selling off his hidden treasures. Cars were showing up from old garages, hidden in bushes, under tarps in the lot of ex employers, and to Clem's delight about nine vehicles were towed away from the shed behind his trailer. Unfortunately one of the vans was storing all Clem's empties. See he was saving up so he could afford some new in door / out door carpet that he was going to lay down for a front lawn. Clem reckoned that he wouldn't need to cut or water it....
Not only that but it was time to replace the rug in kitten's car again...
Anyway we started to think Lou's wife finally had enough of cars up on blocks in there front yard and was laying down the law .
"What do you mean you want to use the garage???"
Then next thing you know Lou is pulling up in a beautiful custom red truck.
Seems Lou had his eye on this ride for a couple of years (and just needed to wait until the Statue of Limits ran out in order to sell off the old stuff and avoid prosecution).
What you see here is a 53 Merc 1/2 ton cab. Chopped, channeled and lowered. Fenders are sectioned. Box is the back 1/2 of a 58 Chev station wagon. Custom front end. Custom interior with upholstered bomber seats. Engine is a 460 Ford with a C6 tranny. Chrome reverse wheels with bullet caps and wide whites.
So Lou enters this beauty into the Draggins 49th show and wins "Coolest Car" award (owned by a hillbilly in small print) Were proud of his award, and equally proud of our friends at the Draggins who did another fine job.
As for Clem and his lost treasure of empties, while he is starting over again and has asked that any one at work can feel free to toss there bottles and cans into his truck after lunch break and he will be pleased to take care of them. In fact Lou made it up to Clem. Seeing how Clem couldn't enjoy the feel of indoor / outdoor carpet on his feet as he goes outside to use the out house in the middle of the night, Lou had the kindness to make Clem a special pair of shoes until he can save up enough cash for the real thing......
# posted by Monty P Marshall @ 7:33 PM
