ORION TWP, Mich. – On Thursday, June 27, 2024, car enthusiasts gathered on the grounds of Canterbury Village to show off their muscle cars, sports cars and hot rods to others. This event was put on by Shifter’s Auto Club of Southeastern Mich., a subset of the Michigan Hot Rod Association (MHRA.)
According to Shifter’s website, “The club joined Michigan Hot Rod Association 3 or 4 months after the Shifters were formed. By 1958, MHRA had grown to 35 clubs.”
Photo by Joe Johnson
ONTV’s Lexi McKinney spoke to Jeff Ratliff of Shifter’s Auto Club about the event going on that day.
“We’ve got older cars, newer cars, newer muscle – a little of everything. Just. trying to get something on Thursday night for the Oxford-Lake Orion area, for people to come and do,” Ratliff said.
Shifter’s and other auto club affiliated groups have been putting on these car meet-ups and shows for the month of June here at Canterbury, according to Ratliff this is only their second good Thursday night of the month, heat and rain stopped the members from gathering before. These particular “Canterbury Cruisin’” events will be running until the end of August.
Proceeds from these events will be matched in a fifty-fifty raffle to benefit the “Shop With A Cop” event at the end of the year.
Joe Hildebrand, owner of the Classic Street Signs and Neon business, who recently moved into a space in Canterbury Village, helped run this event as well.
ONTV also spoke with Hildebrand along with other members of the Lake Orion Lions Club about their future events on the property.
According to Hildebrand, he agreed that Canterbury needed a car show on Labor Day and it would be a good opportunity to raise funds to give back to the community.
Photo by Joe Johnson
“We’re hoping to fill the park here with cars, we’ll have our Lions Club out helping with different things…,” Hildebrand said. “There’s something to do for everybody.”
The Lake Orion Lions Club is set to have their own charity car show on September 1, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is available online and in-person at the event.
For more information about events like these visit lakeorionlions.org or visit mhraonline.org/shiftr.html for more information about Shifter’s Auto Club of SE Mich.