Car enthusiasts in Moose Jaw look forward to the enormous gathering of colourful hot rods and classic cars at the Bent Wrench Show and Shine every year, but the pandemic has forced organizers to rethink this year’s event to keep attendees safe.
The show, organized by Those Guys Car Club, takes place every Father’s Day weekend down in Wakamow Valley, usually featuring around 100 cars on display for people to enjoy. This year, however, the huge car show has been scrapped, as organizers were unsure about maintaining safe social distancing practices due to the large crowds the event usually draws.
But Those Guys weren’t willing to give up their car-centric weekend entirely, said club representative Kevin Brown.
The Bent Wrench car show always kicks its weekend off with an evening cruise, and the club is keeping up the tradition this year with a no-contact version of spin, called the Bent Wrench Run.
There’s no registration required and no official meeting place for the cruise, which will start at 6 p.m. on June 20. Instead, to ensure proper social distancing practices, drivers are encouraged to just join the cruise wherever they come across the parade of classic cars, which will start their route on Main Street.
Those Guys Car Club will also have a table set up outside of Wired Up Auto on High Street, where they will be taking monetary donations before the cruise. Every donation will receive a special Bent Wrench sticker, and every dollar raised will go to the usual charity of choice of the Bent Wrench Show and Shine — Hunger in Moose Jaw.
“[The idea] is to get classic cars out and we’re still looking to raise money for Hunger in Moose Jaw,” said Brown. “And we’re just hoping that people keep on cruising. Usually, turnout is pretty good, and we’re hoping this year is no different.”
Club members were disappointed to have to cancel the annual show and shine as it’s a favourite of many, said Brown, but the club is hoping to at least keep some of the spirit alive with the cruise.
“With so much stuff being shut down, and people having to stay distant, we wanted to still get out and do something as a community,” said Brown. “There’s been lots of people on Facebook and emailing us to make sure it's still going on, so we’ve got lots of interest.”
The Those Guys Car Club welcomes people to join their Facebook group to keep up with the Bent Wrench Run, and to consider stepping outside to enjoy the cruise as it passes by on June 20.
