Last year’s 60th Anniversary McLaren celebration, held in partnership with 124 on Queen Hotel & Spa, the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce and McLaren Toronto, was a huge success.
Organizer Alana Hurov promises to eclipse 2023’s excitement with the Niagara 5000, scheduled for August 8 and 9.
“We had almost 5,000 people come to the event last year,” Hurov tells The Local. “We shut down the street and organized it all in about a week. I realized what we had last year was really special, and I began to think about how we could make it even better.”
Almost 20 luxury high-performance automobiles that can sell for millions paraded down Queen Street, led by Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa in the first car. Visitors and locals alike gathered to ogle the carbon fibre bodies and meet the well-to-do owners who participated. Hurov says the one-day event was a big boost to local businesses.
“We got really great feedback from them,” Hurov says of the business owners.
This year’s Niagara 5000 will involve several NOTL businesses who Hurov has approached about erecting a tent during the festival to promote their products, especially those that can add an automotive or McLaren angle to their offerings.
New this year will be the Niagara 5000 opening night party on Thursday, August 8 hosted by another local business, Peller Estates Winery.
“We’re planning to have dancing, food stations and a few McLaren’s on hand that night from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m., and a few other surprises,” explains Hurov. It’s really going to be the showpiece for the event.”
A novel new addition to the festivities kicks off the next day at 9:00 a.m. with the Kids Niagara 5000. It’ll be a chance for youngsters aged 2 to 12 to catch the buzz of their own car show experience with their parents cheering them on from the sidelines.
“We’ll have Queen Street closed from Regent to King Streets early that morning,” explains Hurov, who says her five-year-old daughter Katherine loves her own pink Jeep. “We’ll have kids riding on their electric (toy) cars driving down the street. They’ll be able to showcase their electric cars, and we’re hoping we can make a deal with a rental company so they can rent their own mini McLaren, or Mercedes or Lamborghini.”
Each participant will be treated to complimentary ice cream, t-shirts, flags and a goodie bag and will have the chance to win an electric car.
Also new this year is an exclusive, invitation-only party at the new luxury Scotsman Hotel on Johnson Street. Celebrities such as Jeanne Beker, Sangita Patel, Pooja Handa and Rick Campanelli are expected to attend.
And between two parties and other efforts, proceeds from the first Niagara 5000 will be going to Cassie and Friends, the Vancouver-based charity that raises funds for research, education, connection and support for children living with juvenile arthritis.
“My daughter was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis,” says Hurov. “She relies on her medication, and we’ve become close with her medical team, her specialist and with Cassie and Friends. I have to give her a needle once a week. Parents of children with rheumatic diseases live in constant fear of it flaring up at any time.”
Hurov adds that Cassie and Friends has been invaluable in helping to create awareness and has funded research projects that have reached important milestones toward finding a cure for juvenile arthritis.
Partnering once again on the event with Hurov is the NOTL Chamber of Commerce and McLaren Toronto, part of the Pfaff group of luxury car dealerships. The parade of McLarens will begin at 1:00 p.m.
“McLaren’s are such incredible cars,” Hurov says. “They’re very rare. That’s why we had so many people wanting to see them last year. They’re racing cars, as well. Their owners love driving them in car rallies to showcase them. It’s an opportunity for the drivers to get together and for McLaren Toronto to give their customers a great loyalty event.”
And with the Niagara 5000 just about a month away, Hurov has her eye on making it an annual event that will evolve over time.
The 5000 part of the event’s name refers to the length of the runway at the Niagara District Airport.
“I originally planned to do some kind of car racing event at the airport,” she explains. “My ultimate dream is to set up a race between a fighter jet and a McLaren there. I had many discussions with airport staff, but it takes a few years of planning to pull that off.”
Like last year, though the main focus is on the McLaren supercars, other marques will be on display as well. The McLarens will be lined up between on Queen Street between Gate and Victoria. The next block will feature many different models of Porsches. And the last stretch past the cenotaph to King Street will be luxury vintage cars.
Hurov invites any owners of luxury vintage cars who would like to participate to send her an email.
“One of the goals of the town’s tourism strategy is to promote NOTL as a premium destination,” Hurov says. “Niagara 5000 does that really well. My goal is to showcase the amazing restaurants and stores we have here, all the attributes that can put us on the map internationally.”
