THUNDER BAY – From a rock lift to a monster truck pull local strongman competitors showed off their strength Saturday for a good cause.
There were plenty of events Saturday at the 11th annual Motors and Muscles in support of Our Kids Count, which was presented in conjunction with Ribfest in the city’s north core.
For the first time Saturday’s events featured the Taranis Excavator Rodeo, the Tbaytel 3Ride BMX bike ride competition, and the Lakehead Radio Control Car Club races.
Organizers said several new events have been incorporated into Motors and Muscles this year, but they expect that the Equipment World strongman competition will draw the biggest crowd.
“This show is all local athletes,” said event organizer Ben Thompson. “Thunder Bay has a deep core of good strongman athletes, and so (today’s show) is going to be good.”
To kick off the strongman competition six women demonstrated a deadlift with three different weight options of 225, 275, and 300 pounds.
The men followed after with four different weight events, which included an overhead press medley, a 950 pound tire lift, an 8,500 pound monster truck pull and then a deadlift event.
Thompson said for every strongman competition they try to raise money for a certain charity.
“It’s part of what the guys like to do,” Thompson said. “They like to help other people, they like to do it to raise awareness and it just sort of makes the event more attractive.”
He added that the strongman organizers are hoping to raise a couple of thousand for Our Kids Count.
Sunday’s events will feature the Red River Rumble and the Thunder Bay Lake motorcycle and car show.
