MBiz

Western Wheels of Time Auto museum shifts gears to draw new generation by David Schmeichel Photo courtesy of Village of Elkhorn I n a world where car culture has dominated for the last century, it's hard to imagine the pure novelty factor that accompanied the advent of the automobile age. But for Elkhorn resident Isaac "Ike" Clarkson, childhood memories of a neighbour's 1909 Hupmobile roadster inspired a lifelong devotion to antique autos. Thanks to Clarkson, the Manitoba Antique Automobile Museum now houses one of the most extensive collections in North America, with more than 150 vintage vehicles, including a Hupmobile, which Clarkson purchased and painstakingly restored in 1946. He went on to amass some 60 additional makes and models, restoring each to working condition. "He wanted to preserve a part of our history that would otherwise have ended up in a scrap metal heap," says museum manager Lorna Sander-Ladd. "It's a lifestyle that's gone by the wayside, but it's still important. To know where you're going, you've got to know where you came from." By 1961, Clarkson was fielding offers of up to $100,000 for his collection, but he instead turned it over to the Village of Elkhorn. The museum opened in 1967, and he served as its first curator until his death four years later. The scope of the site has broadened to include antique farm equipment, aboriginal and pioneer artifacts and a 1912 farmhouse that's currently under restoration. They're all links to a way of life that's hard for younger generations to fathom. "People don't realize what it was like to drive a Model T — we don't really think about what our forefathers had to deal with," Sander-Ladd says. Garth Mitchell, secretary/treasurer of the museum's volunteer board, says the museum's biggest challenge is finding ways to engage younger patrons. In the past, people came to the museum to see vehicles they or their parents remembered seeing as children. But most young people have only seen a Model T in a museum. "So as we move to a new generation, we'll be looking for those 1950s and 1960s vehicles that are more relevant to the traveling public," Mitchell says. "We're hoping the next generation will be able to get involved and eventually, to take the torch." www.mbautomuseum.com Think Local Think Westoba We pride ourselves on our professional standards and our dedication to member service Visit any of our 20 branches in 17 communities across Manitoba with two Commercial Business Centres; one in Brandon and one in Winnipeg For more information on locations and services explore our website www.westoba.com ® 1-877-937-8622 46 MBiz November 2012

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