FATHER, SON BOND OVER BMW 318IS
1991 model is a throwback for Les Barsony, a vintage by his son, Mason
Les Barsony, 52, is a business owner from Oakville. He is the proud owner of a 1991 BMW 318is, which he shares with his 18year-old son, Mason.
When did Les first buy his car?
Les’s passion for all things automotive hasn’t wavered since he was a boy, stuffing his pockets every day with Hot Wheels cars.
“I’ve given the bug to my son,” he says, adding they were in the market 18 months ago for a unique vehicle to share when they settled upon their BMW. “It kind of reminds me of a time when I was 30. Back then, I couldn’t afford a BMW,” says Les. “Mason doesn’t like new cars. He likes vintage, and to him ’91 is vintage!”
What does he love about it?
Les says he appreciates the “honesty of a car” that doesn’t rely on a bunch of hightech gadgets to make it pretty and attractive.
“It’s more the merits of the car; it handles well, it’s five speed,” he says, adding his son loves the fact it’s a stick-shift. Of course, it’s also the perfect vehicle for Mason to develop his mechanical skills. “When I was a kid, I had to fix it, I didn’t have the money to go somewhere. It’s the same kind of approach with my son,” says Les.
Where do they drive the car?
During the two weeks every month Les is in South Carolina running his company, Wesco Trailers, Mason gets full custody of the BMW, driving within the Toronto area and to his part-time job. When his dad returns to Oakville, however, they have to “arm wrestle” to see who gets to drive it.
How has the car changed Les’s life?
Les says the shared appreciation for the BMW has really strengthened the bond with his teenage son, giving them an opportunity to spend quality time discussing the vehicle or keeping it in tip-top shape.
If the car starts doing something funny, Les says they’ll spend a Saturday morning working on it side-by-side. “It’s really drawn us together,” he says.