DOGWOOD DUST UP 2026 Words & Photos Monique Sache

DOGWOOD DUST UP 2026

I’d been hearing whispers about something called the Dogwood Dust Up, making its debut this past spring.  Just five minutes south of Cache Creek, BC, up a long, winding single lane road that is carved into the side of a small mountain, leads to the airport runway that served as the event’s unforgettable location. Where the blue sky seemed to stretch on forever and the unmistakable rumble of V8’s echoed over the dry hillsides and into the valley below.  The air carried an aroma of grilled burgers from the food truck and the rich scent of exhaust from the vintage flatheads as they ran tests and tunes down the track.  As people arrived they parked their customs, motorcycles and hot rods, filling the grass field behind the track, creating a show all its own.  Spectators made their way through the makeshift car show, filling the wooden bleachers and watched as 14 pre 1954 flathead racers chased speed down the 1/8th mile track - it felt as if I had stepped back in time.  All too quickly the sun dipped behind the hills, and everyone headed back into town, where live music, race day stories, and cold drinks kept the spirit of the event alive long after the engines had fallen silent.  The echoes of the first Dogwood Dust Up have lingered long after it ended and some traditions don’t need decades to earn their place- they just need one perfect weekend.  If this inaugural event was any indication of things to come, you’ll know exactly where to be next May.

Words & Photos Monique Sache