Lethbridge Street Wheelers planning COVID safe 2021 events By Cole Parkinson Southern Alberta Newspapers


going ahead with several events with COVID in mind. Last year saw the cancellation of many


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Street Machine Weekend events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though many partici- pants still hit the Lethbridge strip to show off their rides in a safe manner. The Street Wheelers Facebook page


released a video stating it wasn’t an easy decision to cancel their primary event, but in order to follow public health orders, it was necessary to do so. This summer, the group has scheduled


several events, but details are still short due to the unpredictability of what this summer will contain in terms of restrictions. With Alberta in a heavy restriction phase


right now, the group has yet to commit to any events for the coming Street Machine Weekend, which is scheduled for July 9-11. The last full Street Machine Weekend al-


lowed with spectators was held in 2019 and featured a drive-in movie on the Thursday night, the controlled cruise on the Friday evening, the 100-foot dash on Saturday af- ternoon and wrapped up with autocross and the show and shine on the Sunday. With the hopes of bringing back a full slate


of events, the group is stating more details for Street Machine Weekend will emerge closer to the date, as the group waits for updated mandates from the province. The Alberta government had stated in April its optimistic outdoor festivals and PAGE 6 - 2021 WHEELS


events can be held. Premier Jason Kenney stated in a media


conference on April 10 he believed outdoor events, including the Calgary Stampede would be able to take place later this sum- mer. The group has also been hosting several other events in communities in southern Alberta, including their airport racing series. Wheelers in Warner: Dogfight at Devil’s


Coulee is scheduled for June 26 and Vaux- hall Airport Race Warz is set for Sept. 11. Last year, no spectators were permitted on the grounds, and the group has yet to identify if that will be the case again for 2021.


The races are one-eighth mile heads up,


no prep drag racing and these events are designed for racers to hit high speeds in a controlled environment. In the past, any money raised from the


drag racing events has been donated back to the community in which the event was held in. After the 2017 event in Vauxhall, the group


donated the extra funds to the Vauxhall Fire Department and the Vauxhall Food Bank. The event in Vauxhall has been ongoing


since 2017 and Municipal District of Taber council have been supportive of the event. While council originally had concerns about effects of the races on the airport landing strip, those concerns were eased after the first event and they’ve since ap- proved the event every year after. For more information on the Lethbridge


Street Wheeler Club, including updates on 2021 event, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/StreetWheelersCarClub.


ith Albertans still unsure how this coming summer will play out, the Lethbridge Street Wheelers Car Club is


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