Looking for a change of scene? Tired of the same old truck shows where you've seen the same vehicles so often you could identify most of them in the dark? How about combining your next truck show with a Northeast vacation, experiencing not only a new collection of vehicles but also the legendary attractions of the world's most famous waterfall? In our effort to bring you the most well rounded show coverage in the world, we've traveled north to Scrape by the Lake, an annual event held on the shores of Lake Ontario. Less than half an hour from Niagara Falls on the Canadian side, the show gets bigger and better every year, setting new attendance records for both vehicles and people.
"Scrape" is unusual in that it is billed as "Canada's Premier Lowrider Show." Although there was a large collection of lowriders on hand, there was an equally large collection of trucks, making this event fun for everyone. Put on by five very active members of the Rollerz Only car club (and assisted by dozens of family, friends, and potential members), the show is in its sixth year and one of the more important social events on Canadian and northern U.S. calendars.
The bikini contestants easily...
The bikini contestants easily raised the temperature north of the border.
Held at Charles Daley Park with the waters of Lake Ontario in the background, the location becomes more than half the fun. Add the laid-back picnic format and you begin to see the attraction. Hang out near the shore or catch a few rays in between examining the huge collection of more than five hundred of the top lowriders, trucks, and sport compacts in the Northeast.
Bring your own snacks or let Papa Shanowski provide dinner with his locally famous sausage selections-an establishment known as "Home of the Big One!" Local DJs entertained throughout the day, as did Rollerz Only emcee Joe Wing. Around three o'clock, Joe encouraged the crowd to find a comfortable seat on the hillside overlooking the hydraulic competition. As you might expect in a lowrider-oriented show, the hopping was first-rate, even though it is still something quite new to most Canadian audiences. Caddys, Regals, and Impalas went head-to-head, looking to capture cash prizes totaling $1,600. The mini-truckin' audience was also entertained thanks to David, Kevin, and Rob from Altered Altitude Customs in Scarborough, Ontario, and their amazing dancing Ranger. The nitrogen-powered mini was so strong that after blasting all four wheels several feet off the ground, the team was easily able to flip it on its side, much to the delight of the enthusiastic Canadian crowd. Rollerz Only president Pete Reibel brought the crowd to its feet, as well as bringing the Hydro competition to a close, as he easily won the Double Pump Hop. Although his immaculate '63 Chevy Impala SS is a bonafide show car, it also spends every sunny day on the streets of Buffalo with Pete behind the wheel.
Air dancing trucks and juiced Impalas were just the start. War of Wheels, a syndicated Canadian television show, filmed the buildup of two bone-stock S-10s customized by two Canadian and U.S. teams. The three-day blitz-build was a test of endurance as well as imagination and automotive talent. Votes were tallied at the end of the show, with the teams judged on mechanical elements, paint and bodywork, and stereo. James "Egg" Egerland and his team of Warranty Killers lost a close vote to Easton Locke and his Mini Masters. Locke's team molded the bed to accommodate the elaborate stereo, then added 20-inch rims, custom interior, and custom paint. Both vehicles and their crews will soon be starring on Canadian television.
As the day came to a close, two more favorite spectator events remained. The Miss Scrape by the Lake bikini contest attracted several of the area's hottest ladies looking for the $500 cash prize. The Awards Ceremony was next with more than 180 drivers heading home with a prized "Scrape" trophy and already planning to return again next year. If you would like to be part of this long-running Canadian event, check out the details at www.scrapebythelake.com.