If you’re heading to the raceway in Halifax this weekend, one truck may stand out from the rest.
An Afghanistan war veteran has transformed his pickup truck into a tribute truck, in memory of his friends and fellow soldiers who died in Afghanistan.
“This is everyone that died in Afghanistan,” says Corporal Chris Ainsworth, pointing to the names etched on the back of the race truck. “All 159 names are on here in chronological order.”
Ainsworth bought the second-hand truck in August. It took him 10 months to hollow out and rebuild for Saturday’s race.
In addition to the names of the soldiers who died in Afghanistan, the vehicle also features images of the war.
“We’ve got a scene of Afghanistan with the Afghanistan flag and their colours and the sacrifice medal because everyone sacrificed their lives for Canada, and poem for the families on the back,” explains Ainsworth.
His truck is also number 11, in observance of Remembrance Day.
Veteran racers are impressed with the motorized memorial.
“It sort of just lets people know we’re all thinking about them,” says racer Paul Blenkhorn
Ainsworth will debut his race truck at the track in Enfield on Saturday. While finishing in first place would be nice, he says his goal isn’t just to reach the podium.
“I want people to realize there is a tribute to these people,” he says. “If one family member sees that their son or their daughter, their husband or their wife or brother or sister is on this truck, then they appreciate it and acknowledge the fact that they’re there.”
With files from CTV Atlantic's Sarah Plowman
