Queen City Cruise 2014 Bigger and Better than Ever
By Colin Payne
The Queen City Cruise had humble beginnings just over a decade in the minds of a few car buffs who wanted to revive the spirit of the muscle car era in the Nelson Area.
They took action and started the Nelson Road Kings car club, launched the first Queen City Cruise and the rest, as they say, is history.
The club now has over 100 members and its annual gala event is expected to attract about 350 cars and 10,000 people to Nelson’s downtown streets this year.
And according to Road Kings President, Stan Brost – who took over the reins this year from past president Mike Keegan – this year the September 5-6 event is going to be bigger and better than ever.
The event starts as always with the “Cardi-Gras” cruise through town on Friday night, but this year it will be followed by a fun casino night at the Adventure Hotel – a new addition to the cruise for 2014.
“There’s no money involved, but there will be prizes given away for things like the best hand,” Brost says. “The money raised from the event will go to local charities.”
Brost notes that fundraising for local charities is a big part of the Queen City Cruise each year, and all of the money left over after the bills are paid goes to support a variety of good local causes.
Some past benefactors include Our Daily Bread, The Salvation Army, Nelson Fire Fighters Muscular Dystrophy fund raiser and the Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation.
Plus the Road Kings support two $500 scholarships for L.V. Rogers graduates attending a trades program.
On Saturday the cars come out to Baker Street for the Show and Shine, the big ticket event of the weekend that Brost says is a favourite amongst locals and visitors alike.
“It gives the car owners pride to show off their works of art, and downtown is ideal for something like that,” he says. “It gives everyone something to do because there are lots of shops and things to do. It’s a nice gathering spot down there.”
Brost says the Cruise draws car buffs from as far off as the coast and down into the United States, and when asked what keeps people coming to the event, he said aside from the incredible roads and scenery in the area, it’s the camaraderie of the event.
“It’s nice to see folks you haven’t seen and see what they’ve been up to,” he says. “Plus it’s nice to see all the cars, the workmanship and some of the money people have spent on their vehicles. It’s just amazing.”
Brost says locals usually come out in force to both support the event and attend it, and he’s grateful to Nelson area residents for that.
“It’s nice to see all the support in town for this event. Hopefully all the people show up and walk through.”
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