Hot rodders and mall close in on peace deal
A public apology and the rescinding of traffic tickets would go a long way to welcoming back a Saturday night tradition in Saanich.
Those are some of the conditions needed to mend fences between a group of car enthusiasts and a property owner, said the president of the Century Toppers car club.
In a letter sent to Victoria car clubs and supporters, who have turned the Saturday night “Cruise In” at Royal Oak shopping centre into a de facto classic car and hot rod show, Bill Campbell said he met with Hansbraun Investments, the property owner. Campbell believes there is a chance for resolution and that the Saturday night gatherings could start again.
“I’m pleased to report that the meeting went well. We heard all of their comments before offering our own. While I’d rather not discuss details of the discussions until I see the draft letter from Hansbraun, it’s fair to say that everything looks very positive,” Campbell wrote.
In his letter, Campbell said his group, which includes representatives of the Torque Masters, the Rogues and Century Toppers car clubs, suggested Hansbraun offer an apology, provide traffic control at the weekly event and rescind the parking tickets issued two weeks ago.
“Although we don’t yet have formal agreement or details, these suggestions did not meet with any opposition at this point,” Campbell wrote on behalf of the clubs, who have been gathering for more than 10 years near Francelli’s Coffee on Saturday evenings in groups that range from 20 to as many as 200.
The spat between the car owners and the property manager was fuelled by $32 parking tickets issued by Robbins Parking two weeks ago on behalf of Hansbraun.
In all Robbins handed out eight tickets. Three were later rescinded by Hansbraun after car owners spoke with the property manger. Hansbraun decided to issue tickets after there were merchant complaints and concerns over pedestrian safety in a clogged parking lot.
The decision was met with anger from the car community, threats of a boycot of merchants at the mall and plenty of vitriol on social media pages.
Hansbraun president Victoria Shannon said the rhetoric was considerably more cordial during Thursday’s meeting with the car clubs.
“It was a brainstorming session to see how we could best make this work. We expect to put out a general letter next week to the media, car clubs and tenants about our plans moving forward,” she said, noting Hansbraun will have some of its own guidelines and rules. “The feeling we got [Thursday] is there is a real interest in continuing [at Royal Oak shopping centre] so that letter will show how we will do that.”
When the spat became public, the City of Langford stepped up to offer an alternate venue on Goldstream Avenue.
Last Saturday, a number of Royal Oak regulars took Langford up on the offer and it’s expected that could continue.
However, Shannon said she is confident the Royal Oak “Cruise In” will be back.
“For the most part, people are interested in making that happen, [but] there will be a percentage of people who won’t come back and who we can’t make happy,” she said.
“That’s just how life is.”