In our efforts to bring you the best in show coverage from around the country, we traveled north of the U.S. border to check out a gathering of some of the hottest Canadian rides. St. Catherine's, located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, is just a 20-minute cruise from Niagara Falls and all its related attractions. The Charles Daley Park is a beautiful facility, with just the right combination of tall trees and sandy beaches, giving enthusiasts a perfect blend of sun and shade.
Now in its fifth year, the Scrape by the Lake has expanded, with almost 500 vehicles traveling from the provinces and U.S. to join in the fun. Club representation from the area's finest, including Altered Attitude, Costly Obsessions, 2nd Glance, Sinful Creations, Street Level Creations, and Underworld, added to the more than 5,000 spectators who enjoyed the event. The five hard-working members of the Canadian chapter of Rollerz Only hosted the show. These dedicated enthusiasts, augmented by dozens of family, friends, and potential club members, ensured that the event ran smoothly by handling the parking, judging, and entertainment with practiced ease.
Although the event is billed as Canada's premier lowrider show and Rollerz Only is a lowrider club, the shows that the Rollerz crew promotes have earned such a good reputation over the years that they now attract as many trucks and imports as lowriders. The merger is a good one, with the friendly Canadian crowds eager to admire the collection of custom vehicles regardless of the category. As the fans wandered the rows of highly polished vehicles, they discovered unique rides, such as the '93 Ford Ranger Truckin' magazine giveaway truck owned by Danny Ioannou from Toronto. He's had it for the past 10 years and has made modifications on a regular basis. It's currently under construction again, with a whole new look planned for 2005. The ultra-radical '83 Dodge Rampage, owned by Clay Hepburn of St. Catherine's, was also seen at the show. Clay's maximum mini, fit with a dual-quad 440 V-8 and pro-street rear, was clearly one of the quicker trucks at the show.
As the crowds were checking out the rides and filling up at the several concession stands, they were also entertained by DJs Cyanide and Medikil, along with live hip-hop crews such as Spektak, Kronic Illness, and Pistol Pete and the Apocalypse, all jammin' from the center stage.
By mid-afternoon, the show shifted into high gear, and the spectators headed for the hydro pit, where the switchmen had their sights set on the $1,000 prize. Hydraulics aren't nearly as common in Canada as they are in the U.S., and the crowd showed its appreciation by applauding each contestant. The air-hopping pickup of Chris Siddal from Street Level Creations was a special treat, with the team consistently cranking up the pressure until the truck bounced to a crowd-pleasing 48 inches. Don McGarry's '90 Mazda looked way too clean to compete, but he rolled the B2200 out from its custom display and successfully defended his "Truck Dancer" title for the fourth year in a row. With hardly a break in the action, the bikini contest captured everyone's attention, as the ladies danced their way to the $100 prize. The awards ceremony followed, as the huge collection of trophies acknowledged the skills of this talented group of customizers.
As the event drew to a close, happy truckers and exhausted club members were both thinking about the year's event. If you'd like to join in on some good mini-truckin' fun a little north of the border and spend some time at Niagara's legendary attractions, add Scrape by the Lake to your 2005 calendar. For more information, contact: www.scrapebythelake.com.