HOT RODS IN SPOTLIGHT
I’ve only been home for a couple of weeks from my annual pilgrimage to Monterey Car Week, but I’m itching for another road trip. Fortunately, there are a number of great shows this weekend, including events in Lillooet and Kamloops.
One of the older brothers of a friend from elementary school, Wayne Cook, is helping put on the Lillooet event, which includes a poker run, a car show and drag racing. Sounds like the perfect way to end the 2018 car season. And since I’ll be (sort of ) in the neighbourhood, a drive up to Kamloops for the Smith GM car show sounds like a plan.
That said, it’s very tempting to stay close to home on Sunday, as there are some very cool events across Metro Vancouver, including the Model A swap meet, the Jolly Mac car show and the Acrophobiacs Car-B-Q in South Surrey.
Last Saturday, I checked out the Ocean Park Ford show, and while not displaying the 800 or so cars at the Langley Good Times Cruise-in, it featured some top quality cars that you do not see often. I loved seeing the big number of fairly traditional Highboy Hot Rods.
One rod came in fairly late and it was driven and built by a young, emerging talent who is making a name for himself in the local hotrodding business.
Tobin Fitzl brought his Model A that he bought as a well-restored antique vehicle then replicated what high schoolers were doing in the 1950s — he hot-rodded it.
Too much stuff to list but he got rid of the four-banger and put in a flathead V8, threw away the fenders and distressed the paint. The result is one very cool hot rod.
And the best thing is, kids, you can do the same. Start looking in the funny papers, find a sweet old gem and make your own hot rod.
True, you might get rusty at Call of Duty, but when did a video game ever take you on a proper road trip? See the world — in a hot rod.
SHOWS FRIDAY-SUNDAY
What: Route 99 Poker Run/Car Show/Drag Races
Where: Lillooet
When: Friday Poker run: 6 p.m. at Old Mill Plaza, 155 Main Street; Saturday Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lillooet Rec Centre, 930 Main St. Registration 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., $10 per vehicle; Sunday: Racing at Lillooet Airport 9 a.m. $5 admission
Info: 250-256-1655 or 250-2561947 or horsinaround@telus.net Website: route99.ca
SATURDAY
What: Columbia Valley Classics’ Autumn Show & Shine
Where: Springs Golf Course, Radium
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cruise to Invermere to follow. Admission: Free
Registration: Friday 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday 7 a.m. $25 and open to all vehicles.
Info: 250-342-1257, 250-3429817 or bernieraven@gmail.com Website: radiumcarshow.com What: Vancouver Classic Car Toy Run
Where: Meet at 2916 Springer St. Port Moody park & ride lot. When: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Admission: Cash, gift card or new unwrapped toy to benefit the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau.
Registration: Open to all classic cars.
Info: 604-970-9048, 604-6126200 or cmckee@sutton.com Website: lmcb.ca What: Fourth annual Rib Fest Car Show
Where: Courtney
When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission: By donation with proceeds to local community and international Rotary projects. Registration: $15 per vehicle Info: 250-218-1301, 250-702-7411, chargertoy@hotmail.com or jamie@comoxvalleyribfest.ca Website: comoxvalleyribfest.ca
SUNDAY
What: Jolly Mac’s Pub Show & Shine
Where: Jolly Mac’s Pub, 14817 108th Ave., Surrey
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission: Free
Registration: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. $10 and open to classic cars, muscle cars, trucks, low riders and imports.
Info: 604-584-4262, 604-3295374, ssilas@shaw.ca or jollymac@shaw.ca
Website: jollymacs.com What: Acrophobiacs Car-B-Q Where: Hazelmere Campground, 18843 8th Ave., Surrey
When: Noon to 4 p.m. Admission: Free
Registration: Noon. Free and open to all vehicles.
Info: 604-778-3455 or acromom9@gmail.com What: Model A Ford Swap Meet Where: 19759 28th Ave., Langley When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Info: info@pacificmodelaclub.com or 4dModelA@gmail.com Websites: lionsgatemodelaclub.com or pacificmodelaclub.com What: Christmas Toy Run in Support of the Salvation Army
Where: University of Victoria parking lot No. 8
Admission: New unwrapped toy or cash donation.
Time: 9:30 a.m. Cruise starts at 10 a.m. Registration: Open to all vehicles Info: 250-886-2571 or thevima@gmail.com
Website: classiccartoyrunvictoria.weebly.com What: Smith Chevrolet Show & Shine
Where: Smith Chevrolet, 950 Notre Dame Dr., Kamloops When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission: Free
Registration: Begins at 7:30 a.m. Minimum $20 donation with all proceeds going to Kamloops Hospice.
Info: 250-372-2551 or show&shine@smithgm.com Website:smithgm.com
COMPETITION FRIDAY
What: Drag racing
Where: Mission Raceway Park Drag Racing
Info: 1-877-826-6315 Website: missionraceway.com
SATURDAY
What: Tiger Towing Championship Night
Where: Western Speedway, 2207 Millstream Rd., Victoria
Info: 250-474-2151 or denise@ westernspeedway.net
Website: westernspeedway.net What: Oval racing
Where: Saratoga Speedway Info: 1-250-337-5024 or race@ saratogaspeedway.bc.ca Website: saratogaracing.ca What: Oval racing
Where: Merritt Speedway Info: 250-936-9296 Website: merrittspeedway.ca What: Oval racing
Where: Penticton Speedway
Info: 250-460-0121 or pentictonspeedway17@gmail.com Website: pentictonspeedway.com
SATURDAY-SUNDAY
What: Sand Drags/Truck Pulls at the Luxton Fall Fair
Where: Luxton Fair Grounds, Langford
When: Races start at noon. Admission: $10/day or $15 Saturday/Sunday ticket; kids 14 and under free with an adult.
Registration: Friday night and Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. $60 per truck.
Info: 250-882-4044, 250-5900691, Bigjob57@icloud.com or info@luxtonfair.ca
Website: luxtonfair.ca What: SCCBC/CACC Race 5 Where: Mission Raceway Park Road Course, Mission
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: $15, $45 a carload up to four people, kids under 12 free and free parking.
Info: 778-891-5773
Website: sccbc.net To have your event listed, contact Cam at camhutchins@shaw.ca