WEEKEND HOLDS CLASSICS IN THE OKANAGAN, STOCK CARS AT TRACKS

Glorious spring weather is here on the West Coast, which means it time for a road trip.

And what better way to hit the highway than in a classic car? There will be plenty on the road between here and the Okanagan this weekend as the Vintage Car Club of Canada holds its May Tour. Although open to club members only, the public is welcome at a meet-and-greet tonight at Kelowna’s Parkinson Recreation Centre.

Last Saturday I went to the A&W in Newton for their first car show of the season and on Mother’s Day I checked out Tom the Tire Guys annual show, and as usual the turnout was stellar. The arctic-like temperature was pretty unusual, and there were lots of shivering carnuts wandering around until the sun came out to warm things up.

One of the more interesting cars there was a pale green 1960 Frontenac. This little car was a stop-gap marketing ploy for Canadian Mercury dealers to counter the Ford Falcon until their own Comet came onto the marketplace. Despite being sold at Mercury dealerships, they were badged as “Ford Frontenacs,” and were very similar to Falcons. Pete Robichaud has owned the car for six years and also has a few of the round-nosed little Falcons and Comets.

Another car that caught my eye was a 1967 Fairlane 500 with a bench seat and column shifter. And the big 390 motor. Owner Brian Carter has had the car for over a decade and bought it off a fellow who dragged it out of a field in Richmond. Sold new at Fogg Motors in New Westminster, it has undergone a complete restoration and the transplant of a full aluminum 480 cu. in. engine. Lighter engine — better fuel economy? Lets go with that.

Ron Mackenzie drove his newly acquired 1949 Canadian-made Mercury Monarch to the show. He is looking for a new hood ornament as the one that came with the car snapped off last Sat- urday and needs replacing. Lets dig around in the Monarch parts section of our garages — or back fields — and help him out.

More races than car shows this weekend, so grab a kid and some earplugs and have some fun this weekend.

Found in a field a dozen years ago, Brian Carter’s ’67 Fairlane is now fully restored — complete with a non-stock 480 cu. in. aluminum V-8 under the hood.