CHROME DREAMS
Classics dominate weekend shows
We’re just a couple of weeks into the show season, and already there’s an anomaly; two-thirds of the non-competition events this weekend are being hosted by the Vintage Car Club of Canada.
The Central Fraser Chapter, host of this weekend’s Otter Co-op show, recently sent my wife and I a very lovely flower arrangement after my Dad passed away. Join a club, it absolutely benefits your love of the auto hobby.
I’ll be at the Otter Co-op with my old Chevy pickup. For any of you in Vancouver it is a beautiful drive in the country to get out to the show. The VCCC Otter Co-op show is highlighting electric cars. I’m not entirely sold on the EV concept, but there is no denying they have awesome torque.
I caught up with Shane Traquair and Gord Gray at last weekend’s BC Custom Car Show. The show was great and so many of the cars I had never seen before and many were fresh builds. Shane and Gord had recently shown their cars at the Grand Nation Roadster show in Southern California. Both cars were trailered as it was January, but it was not the first time for Shane’s car at the show ... his Dad had built the Mod Rod 1915 T Roadster Pickup and had shown it at the “GNRS” back in the early Seventies.
Shane recently found the car and restored it to its former glory with his Dad. The paint may be more modern materials but the car looks amazing. The roof is the original roof from back in the day and was made by Slim Easton.
Gord’s 32 Ford was just finished and was photographed for a New Zealand magazine by my friend Ken Sanders after being built and painted, also by friends, Bill and Neil Lemon of B&N Hot Rods and many others.
I also spent quite a bit time talking with Roger Goldhammer, three-time World Champion custom bike builder. The photos on his website and poster show a rather severe looking dude in racing leathers and sunglasses. In fact, he is a super cool guy and very passionate gearhead who loves cars and builds custom bikes because he can fit lots in his garage.
The Belle of the Ball was a 1960 Cadillac customized by the Dave Kindig of Velocity TV’s “Bitchin Rides.” A beautiful car and when Jerry Logan from Oregon took the feature award for it he thanked everyone and said he loves Canada. He went on to say he loved how everyone at the show was full of smiles. Something, he added, he does not see back much in his native homeland right now.
And finally a big shout out to Ken Bayko’s Blue 32 Ford Hot Rod Pick-up. Kenny always has his grandson with him. So be like Kenny and take a kid to a car show this weekend.