McLean Mill will be overrun with trucks of all sizes as the Antique Truck Show moves in, Saturday, Sept. 3 through Monday, Sept. 5.
“Last year, 80 vintage vehicles showed up at the McLean steam sawmill National Historic Site and were scattered amongst the trees and old buildings,” spokesperson David Hooper said.
“We are hoping for a similar turnout this time.”
Some of the feature trucks expected this year are coming from the BC Forest Discovery Centre in Duncan, Hooper said.
The 1918 White truck will be of interest to people here in the Alberni Valley that know the Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society (IHS) is rebuilding a 1919 White.
These trucks were used in the first decade of truck logging.
The 1918 Maxwell, with its distinctive wooden spoke wheels, will also be part of the show again.
The 1967 Expo Hayes will also be coming to McLean Mill.
This particular Hayes truck was built in Vancouver and sent straight to the BC Pavilion at Expo ’67 in Montreal.
It returned to work around Chemainus for many years and is now privately owned by Alan Williamson in Qualicum Beach.
“Hayes Junction” will undoubtedly be set up again, as there are many Hayes logging trucks in private collections in the Alberni Valley and vicinity.
The IHS puts on the Antique Truck Show every year as a way to showcase the Alberni Valley Museum’s industrial collection, as well as the IHS’s collection.
“We thought the community should see what they own,” Hooper said.
“A lot of it is from the industrial collection from the museum.
And it (the show) gives private truck owners a chance to show off what they can do as well.”
There are at least 20 vehicles between the museum and the IHS, he estimated.
The show draws interest from participants and truck enthusiasts from as far away as Campbell River and Sayward to the north and Duncan and Victoria to the south.
Hooper has also been in contact with someone from New Zealand who is interested in attending the show next year.
There will be steam train rides (10 a.m. and 2 p.m.) from Port Alberni Train Station every day.
Volunteers at the steam sawmill will be sawing logs and there will be a daily old-time logging demonstration, featuring the 1929 steam donkey.
A log dump into the log pond is scheduled for sometime Sunday, Hooper said.
There will also be children’s activities, including a play area with toy trucks and a sand pile.
There will be radio-controlled model trucks and equipment doing demonstrations in the same area.
Michael Dean, old-time logging artist, will be there.
Clive Macfarlane will bring his wooden model trucks on Saturday.
Bob Hoar and Don Watts will also be there with their old-time logging photo collections.
Admission is $10 at the mill or free with a ticket on the steam train.
A seniors rate is also available.
Rates and reservation information are listed on the groups website at www.alberniheritage.com.
editor@albernivalleynews.com