class Glass has gone up on the World Professional Chuckwagon Association tour.
Jason Glass, the defending champion on the World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WCPA) circuit, had his tarps sell for $129,500 at the tour’s tarp auction. That was the top number among the 36 drivers on the auction block April 9 in Calgary for the eight shows.
Not surprisingly, Glass’s tarp was the top seller for his hometown show the Guy Weadick Chuckwagon Championships in High River. His tarp was sold for $17,000 to World Financial Group’s David Limpert who lives just outside of Okotoks.
“His winning the whole world meant his price went up,” Limpert said. “So we bought him for just two shows this year, High River and the new one in Saskatoon.”
He paid $17,000 for High River and $12,000 for Saskatoon.
As a finance specialist, Limpert analyzes how he spends his money and he said buying Glass is a sound investment.
“We get a lot of people come out — brokers, clients with their kids and spouses to take in the High River show,” Limpert said. “That’s value for us.”
He said World Financial Group has just opened two offices in Saskatoon as a result he wants to entertain his new clients similar to what World Financial does in High River.
He said Glass is an ideal spokesman for all of the sponsors who bought him for the eight shows.
“He signs autographs, talks to the clients,” he said. “It’s been a good investment.”
Glass said this was his highest total he has gone for at the WPCA auction in his 25 years of racing.
“It took me totally by surprise,” said Glass who was the first one on the auction block as the defending champion. “It allows me to operate properly. The amount is unlimited on what you can spend on these horses.”
He said while being the defending world champion helps at the auction it’s also important to work with the sponsors.
He said he is glad to be back with Limpert.
“We had a good relationship last year and I know they were really pleased with how High River went,” Glass said.
Limpert wasn’t the only foothills businessperson to buy a tarp. Terry Dixon of High River paid $3,750 for Gary Gorst’s tarp for the Guy Weadick Chuckwagon Races.
“High River is my town and I just wanted to support the community,” Dixon said. “It’s also a great way to promote my business.”
Her new business is Iron Crow Antiques and Objects of Intrigue, which specializes in antiques and western and native art.
“I’m sure it will help get people interested in my store,” she said.
“But the main thing is, it’s fun... I’ll be cheering for my guy.”
Highwood Distillers in High River purchased Mitch Sutherland’s tarp for $3,500 for the High River show.
“He comes from a prominent family in chuckwagon racing and I think he will give us positive name recognition,” said Highwood Distillers CEO Barry Wilde, while looking on his Iphone to see how the Okotoks Oilers were doing in Game 7. “We will use him for our barbecue and stuff.”
Andy Makelki of Tri-Mac Electrical in High River continued to help out his community and his friend Mark Sutherland by buying his tarp for $10,000 for the High River show.
Sutherland and Makelki have become close friends since Tri-Mac purchased the Okotoks chuckwagon driver’s tarp six years ago.
Sutherland’s tarps sold for $97,000 for the eight shows.
Doug Niemans of Peter Niemans Water Well Drilling in High River purchased Evan Salmond’s tarp for $3,000.
High River Autoplex and RV continued to be a generous sponsor to the WPCA circuit.
The High River dealerships bought Colt Cosgrave’s tarp for $35,000 for five of the eight shows on the circuit, including $10,000 for the Guy Weadick races.
MD of Foothills chuckwagon driver Jordie Fike’s tarp was sold for $6,000 for the Guy Weadick races and $60,000 total for the eight shows.
The 36 tarps sold for $221,750 for the Guy Weadick Races and 40 per cent ($40,350) of that total will go to the High River Agricultural Society who organizes the event.
The money will go towards maintaining the grounds where the races are held as well as prize money.
The Guy Weadick Races run from June 20-23. For more information go to www.halfmileofhell.com
