More than 31 exhibitors converged on Big Valley last Saturday and Sunday for Alberta Prairie’s annual Live Steam, Pump Engine, and Antique Vehicle Show, displaying everything from working steam-powered model traction engines to Big Valley’s Rod Miller’s unique tubmobile.
Live steamers in the show were exhibited by Dave Fitchie, Randy Kvill, Ernie Bertschi and Stettler’s own Larry Potter.
Leo Wieser of Calgary, Charles Wright of Innisfail and Robert Beer of Erskine had the distinction of having the largest number of working pump engines in the show.
A special highlight of this year’s show was the arrival of eight Model A and one Model B Fords for the Sunday show. The old cars ranged from coupes, trucks and convertible roadsters.
All of the Fords arrived under their own power and were driven by members of the Stampede City Model A Ford Club.
The 1932 Model B Ford driven by Lyle Ford of Calgary is a rare vehicle, as only a few of those cars were ever built, because of the Great Depression and only a small number still exist.
Although most of the cars were from Calgary club members and their cars from Carstairs and Three Hills attended the show and Walter Pickles from Castor drove in to be a part of the event.
The winner of Alberta Prairie’s $1,000 exhibitors draw went to Bill Bailey (1955 Chev) of Red Deer and his charity of choice, the Stars Air Ambulance.