Lauren Baron
BRANT NEWS

Dalhousie Street will become memory lane this weekend as hundreds of cars from the 1920s to this century line downtown streets during the eight annual Telephone City Car Show.

“It’s all nostalgia,” said event organizer Dwight Rose of OK Tire.

Dalhousie Street will be closed from Clarence to King streets between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday and lined with more than 300 antique cars, race cars, hot rods, classic cars and even a surprise historical display.

“There’s going to be some awesome cars on display,” Rose said. “Last year, people said there were better cars here than any other show. There’s really something for everybody.”

Local band One Bald Tire will perform, vendors and a car corral will be set up and children can enjoy clowns and have their faces painted during the event.

More than 70 trophies will be presented to cars that receive the most votes.

The car-themed events kick off on Saturday with the Remember When Cruise, hosted by the Brantford Piston Pushers. The fourth annual cruise runs from 4:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. with stops at Tim Hortons in West Brant, A&W on Wayne Gretzky Parkway and Dairy Queen on Colborne Street East.

The Telephone City Car Show is dedicated to the memory of Brian Heap, who passed away in 2008. Heap was known in the city for hosting many car shows.

“Brian was quite the individual, always involved in fundraising, a real go-getter,” Rose said. “Cars were his forte. He loved putting shows on, he loved people. It’s nice to keep this on in his memory.”

Funds raised during the show will be donated to Rosewood House Brantford, a not-for-profit organization that houses tenants with mental health challenges.

“It’s nice at the end of the day to work so hard and have a nice cheque to present to charity,” Rose said.

Last year’s event raised more than $10,000. Rose said he hopes the community will join together to raise even more this year.

To make the show even better, organizers have teamed up with the Brantford Blues Festival to offer a weekend full of events downtown. The Blues Festival runs Friday at the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts and Saturday and Sunday in the Market Square promenade.

“Every year, (the car show) gets bigger and better and in incorporating the Blues Festival I think we are really on to something,” Rose said.

By holding the show in Brantford’s downtown, Rose said he’s hoping it will promote the city and shed light on all the good things that are happening.

“(Brantford) is like a phoenix rising from the ashes with the students here bringing new life,” Rose said. “People come in for the show from all over and see how nice it is.”

Entrance to the car show is a $2 donation. Children 12 and under are free with an adult. Car registration begins at 9 a.m. and costs $10 per car. Visit www.telephonecitycarshow.ca for more information.