CLASSICS STEAL THE SHOW THIS WEEKEND
Joining a group will help absolutely ignite your passion for all things automobiles
e’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 send 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 and 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 B.C. Custom Car Show. The show was great and so many of the cars I had never seen before and many were fresh builds. Traquair and Gray had recently shown their cars at the Grand National Roadster Show in southern California. Both cars were trailered as it was January, but it was not the first time for Traquair’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 1970s.
Traquair 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 from back in the day and was made by Slim Easton.
Gray’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 of 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.
The Belle of the Ball was a 1960 Cadillac customized by 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 much back in his homeland right now.
And finally a big shout out to Ken Bayko’s Blue 32 Ford Hot Rod Pickup. He always has his grandson with him. So be like Kenny and take a kid to a car show this weekend.
Shows April 29
What: Cruise for Your Cause Where: Cars gather at the B.C. Kidney Foundation, 4940 Canada Way, Burnaby
When: 9 a.m. Cruise departs at 9:30 a.m. Admission: Free for participants with a donation to your choice of charity Info: Travis at 604-616-9373; info@cruiseforyourcause.org Website: cruiseforyourcause.org
What: 27th annual South Okanagan & Okanagan Swap Meet
Where: Oliver Arena, 665 McKinney Rd., Oliver When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: $3; Children under 12 free
Info: 250-498-4297, doman36@ telus.net, rgaray@direct.ca Website: southokanagan.vccc.com April 30 What: Fifth annual Otter Co-Op Country Car Where: Otter Co-op, 248th at Fraser Highway, Aldergrove When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: Free Registration: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. $10 and open to all Info: John 604-996-5646, jbjackman@shaw.ca, info@fraservalley.vccc.com Website: vccc.com
Competition April 29
What: Mel Powers Classic Where: Agassiz Speedway, 5045 Cemetery Rd., Agassiz When: Gates open 4:30 p.m.; Time trials 5:30 p.m.; Racing 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Info: 604-792-FAST (3278) Website: agassizspeedway.com April 29 and 30 What: CACC/SCCBC race No. 2 Where: Mission Raceway Park Road Course, Mission When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: $10; $25 carload up to four people; Kids under 12 free; free parking Info: 778-891-5773 or brentvm@shaw.ca Website: sccbc.net To have your event listed, contact Cam at camhutchins@shaw.ca