CARNUT CORNER
BRITISH CAR FANS LIFT THE BONNETS ON SOME BEAUTS
Victoria Day weekend is celebrated by Vancouver car fans very fittingly: the All-British Field Meet at VanDusen Botanical Gardens put on by Patrick Stewart.
This year’s show was exceptional with lots of the big Healeys, and a huge number of MGAs celebrating that marque’s 60th anniversary.
I wasn’t there as early as usual but still got great driving shots of at least 34 of the MGAs, and about 350 out of the rumoured 600 vehicles there.
One standout was the Grizzly Torque, a 1957 Land Rover with the 107-inch Pilcher (ambulance) Body. It was picked up new at the factory by renowned artist Robert Bateman and school chum Bristol Foster for their 1957-58 world tour. Bateman painted each area they visited on the truck’s sides. Once the Grizzly Torque is restored in Merritt, Bateman will recreate the murals.
Another car of interest was one of the last 100 1967 BJ8 Austin Healeys built, restored to replicate one of the “Factory Works” Sebring race cars. On this car, the ducts — originally arranged to cool the driver — are upgraded to direct cool air to the triple Weber carbs.
To help the driver keep his cool, a special scoop was fabricated for the top of the fender, directing air to the driver’s feet. The spare tire is kept inside the cockpit held in place by a leather strap. Other parts of the car were lightened where possible; aluminum fenders, trunk, lightened flywheel, starter and hardtop.
Although the sound of the big Healeys is one of the greatest engine sounds in the world, this Weberequipped car sounds better.
Simon Oliver’s 1960 Triumph TR3A usually has its hardtop removed by this time of the year but he thought it would be cool to be the only TR3 with a hardtop at the show. No trailer queen, he’s owned it since 1980 and put 90,000 miles on her.
The 1956 MGA Fiberfab Jamaican was a body kit sold in the late 1960s for MGA, Austin Healey and Triumph TR3 or TR4. At the show was a 1956 MGA — rebodied in the late ’60s and now restored with a GM V6 and T5 transmission. A special treat were the three MG cars decorated with the names of all the countries they had been driven to en route to the show. One MGA, one MGB and a MGB GT are on a road trip from the bottom of South America to Alaska.
This weekend has lots of fun stuff, too — from drag racing in Mission to the 46th annual Coastal Swapmeet near the Abbotsford Airport.
The latter is Western Canada’s largest indoor/outdoor automotive and collectibles swap meet with lots of cars for sale in the car corral. Take the time to look over the cars or look for another suitable project or finished car — and take a kid with you.
Shows
May 22-23
What: 46th annual Coastal Automotive Swap Meet
Where: Tradex, 1190 Cornell St., Abbotsford
When: Friday, 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: $6 per day; children under 16 free. Parking $6
Registration: $45 per stall first come first served, payable by certified cheques or cash
Info: 604-540-6141 or info@ coastalswapmeet.com
Website: coastalswapmeet.com
May 23
What: Richmond CUPE 394 Car
Show
Where: Richmond Public Works Yard, 5599 Lynas Lane, Richmond When: Starts at 9 a.m. Admission: Free
Registration: Free and starts at 8:30 a.m. Open to all makes and models.
Info: 604-244-1287 or rboyce@richmond.ca
Website: richmond.ca/services/rdws/water/community/Open. htm?PageMode=HTML
What: Okanagan Classic Thunderbird Club’s VTCI International Convention and 23rd Annual Show‘n’Shine
Where: City Park, Downtown Kelowna When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission: Free
Registration: $20 and open to T-Birds only
Info: 250-766-1503 or kencarr@shaw.ca
Website: vintagethunderbirdclub.net
Facebook: 2015 VTCI International Convention
May 24
What: The Whip Restaurant and Gallery East Van Vintage Bike and Car Show
Where: The Whip Gallery Restaurant, 209 East 6th Ave., Vancouver When: Noon to 4 p.m. Admission: Free
Registration: Starts at 10 a.m. Minimum donation $10 for cars $5 for motorcycles. All proceeds will go to ride to conquer cancer.
Info: 604 874 4687, morris@thewhiprestaurant.com or Erv@ thewhiprestaurant.com
Website: thewhiprestaurant.com
Facebook: The-Whip-Gallery-Restaurant
What: GVMA’s 34th Annual Spring Show
Where: Cascades Casino Resort, 20393 Fraser Highway, Langley When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission: Free
Registration: 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. $20 and open to all Mustangs and Ford powered vehicles
Info: 604-858-6763 or gvma@telus.net Website: gvma.org
Facebook: Greater Vancouver Mustang Association
What: 5th Annual Maple Ridge Secondary School Show‘n’Shine
Where: 21911 – 122nd Ave., Maple Ridge When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: Free
Registration: Starts at 9 a.m. $10 donation. All proceeds to MRSS 26th Dry Grad Evening
Info: 604-817-8447, 604-463-4175, clascarr@shaw.ca or trevor_ randle@sd42.ca
What: Lakers Car Club Spring 21st Annual Spring Round-up Show ‘n’ Shine
Where: 3rd Ave., Downtown Williams Lake When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: Free
Registration: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. $10 and open to all vehicles
Info: 250-267-6772, 250-392-2155 or noslowsled@yahoo.ca Website: lakerscarclub.ca
Facebook: Lakers Car
Club
Competition
May 22
What: Friday Night Mopac Auto Supply Drag Racing
Where: Mission Raceway Park, 32670 Dyke Rd., Mission
When: Gates open at 4:30 p.m.; Racing starts at 5:30 p.m. and ends at about 11 p.m. (weather permitting)
Admission: $5; Children 12 and under free with an adult
Info: 604-826-6315 or missionraceway@telus.net
Website: missionraceway.com
May 22-23
What: Drag Racing
Where: Mission Raceway Park 32670 Dyke Rd Mission,
When: Friday, Test & Tune; Saturday, gates open 8 a.m.; racing at 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. (weather permitting)
Admission: $10; Children 12 and free with an adult
Info: 604-826-6315 or missionraceway@telus.net
Website:
missionraceway.com
May 23
What: Oval Racing
Where: Agassiz Speedway, 5045 Cemetery Rd., Agassiz
When: Gate opens at 4:30 p.m.; Time trials at 5:30 p.m.; Racing 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Admission: Adult (19-59) $12; Youth (13-18)& Senior (60+) $10; Child (7-12)$ 5’ Child (6 and under) Free
Info: 604-796-9383 or tbaldwin@telus.net
Website: agassizspeedway.com
Facebook: Agassiz
Speedway
May 23-24
What: Jim Oshvalda Memorial Race (drags)
Where: Sechelt Airport, top of Field Road, Sechlet
When: Saturday, Test and Tune 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, gates open 7 a.m.; racing at 9 a.m.
Admission: $10; Children under 12 free when accompanied by an adult
Info: 604.230.5067 or cnaustin@telus.net
Website: deeprooted.ca/scdra1