DRIVERZ AUTO ON A ROLL
Repossessed cars for sale
Lamborghini Calgary celebrated its grand opening in high style in early July. Just across the street, Driverz Auto opened with less fanfare, but just as much enthusiasm.
There won’t be a grand opening event at Driverz Auto, a pre- owned automotive dealership just off Heritage Drive in the city’s southeast. As noted, Driverz Auto is across Heritage Drive from Lamborghini Calgary, and the facility faces the Calgary Farmer’s Market.
“This location used to be a marine supply company,” said general manager Cailean Wood. “Because we’re close to the farmer’s market, and the Deerfoot Meadows shopping area is just down the hill, the drive- by traffic is phenomenal. As many as 50,000 people pass by on a daily basis.”
Driverz Auto is part of the Wood Automotive Group. The premise behind the dealership was to give a local bailiff company an outlet to sell its repossessed vehicles.
“They were looking for a way to sell their vehicles directly to the public, as opposed to sending ( them) off to auction,” Wood said.
Wood is following in the footsteps of his father, Gerry, in the local automotive industry. The Wood Automotive Group includes three Ford facilities, a Chrysler outlet and a Honda store.
Cailean Wood graduated from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia with a degree in business administration. When he got back to Calgary, he worked in real estate for four years before an opportunity to work with the Wood Group presented itself.
“I grew up in the car business,” he said. “And I always worked for the dealership. I started out pulling weeds, shovelling the lot and moving cars. When I graduated, I wanted to look into real estate, but came back to the Wood Group, and managed our collision centre for five years.”
Driverz Auto includes a renovated indoor showroom that can accommodate 25 vehicles, and there’s a staffed detail bay as well.
“That’s an advantage as we move into the fall and winter months, to be able to showcase used cars inside,” Wood said. “And with the detail bay, all cars are kept clean and ready to go.”
There’s also a large fenced outdoor lot with room for up to 75 more vehicles. A diversity of product is offered. Cars come from the bailiff outfit, and Driverz has access to all pre- owned vehicles from across the Wood Aug. 15: The 26th annual Northern Mopars Club show and shine will be held at Capitol Hill Community Centre, 14th St. and 20th Ave. N. W. All Chrysler and AMC products are welcome. Registration is from 9 a. m. to noon, $ 20 judged, $ 10 non- comp. Show runs until 4 p. m., when awards are handed out. Special guest is Troy Simonsen of Chrysler product development and drag racing fame. No charge for spectators, but donations to Veteran’s Food Bank accepted. Call Larry Gammon at 403- 243- 4703 or email him at llgammon@ telusplanet. net. Automotive Group.
“There’s a wide range available, including high- end import stuff and everything in between,” Wood said.
The facility will also offer some classic cars. There’s even a 1971 Mach I 429 Mustang in the showroom.
By all accounts, the late Richard ( Dick) George Le May of Calgary was a talented machinist with a penchant for anything mechanical.
His dad, George Le May, was involved with the Alberta Auto Racing Association in the late 1940s and early 1950s, and son Dick must have been impressed.
Born in 1948, Dick built and raced sprint cars and motorcycles. He tinkered with airplanes and boats.
Dick Le May also restored vintage vehicles, and in the mid1970s, even built a car from the ground up. Powered by a Jaguar V12 engine, he called the car the LEMAY, and it featured wirespoke wheels and an open cockpit.
The LEMAY and one of the family’s race cars ( it’s unclear if it was built by Dick or George). It will be auctioned off on July 25 as part of the Michener Allen car auction ( www. maauctions. com). Both vehicles are in “barn find” condition.