Imagine having flown nearly 7,000 kilometers from Ecuador and walking down the middle of Main Street Three Hills last weekend, surrounded by throngs of visitors and hundreds of classic vehicles.

A surprising way to start a month-long visit to Canada for senior citizens Maria and Jose Lanchimba and daughter Eva.

Quito, Ecuador, is their South American home, so of course you would say yes when your Three Hills daughter, Jeaneth Maxwell, suggests a walk to see the 385 classic vehicles trimming each side of Main Street and stretching along Railway Ave.

"In Ecuador we don't see these cars anymore," said Mr. Lanchimba, "so it's wonderful to see them in such excellent condition. Amazing! Amazing!" 

But this is supposed to be a Cruise Weekend report, Three Hills' annual landmark attraction since 1981. With wall-to-wall visitors for the two-day event, organizers ensure their multi-faceted weekend lives up to its reputation as western Canada's largest show/shine and cruising event. Are classic vehicles passé? There’s bracket racing (a kind of drag racing) at the Three Hills airport.

Eye-candy classic cars and trucks of every imaginable vintage share viewing areas with hot rods, rat rods, motorcycles, and retro rods . . . many customized, some with endearing names, and most with a shine to make a polishing factory proud.

Rural Alberta Report/David Nadeau