BC’s Car Show and Festival Season Heats up!
The new season of British Columbia’s auto shows is already well underway, as anyone who attended last weekend’s All British Field Meet can attest. Hundreds made the trip to Vancouver’s VanDusen gardens to get a good look at the over 600 classic British cars on display, before they made the scenic drive up the Sea-to-Sky highway to be shown at the Whistler Olympic village.
The middle of May is when things really heat up, with this coming weekend’s BC Historic Motor Races (BCHMR) happening at Mission Raceway Park kicking off the local racing season. The original late entry fee of $50 has just been dropped, so if you have an old racer, it’s not too late!
This will be the 26th running of the Historic Motor Races, which has grown to become the largest vintage race event in Western Canada, with more than 100 vintage and historic racing cars drawing thousands of spectators each year. According to Event Chairman Tom Johnston, “nowhere else in British Columbia can road racing fans get as up close and personal with these wonderful machines and their drivers.” It is a great opportunity for anyone interested in automotive careers to see some rare vehicles in their natural habitat – the race track!
The annual gathering is always a popular draw for local classic car enthusiasts, who will display their impressive automobiles in a special area with on-track parades Saturday and Sunday. Festivities will also include several automotive and artwork booths, food concessions, and activities for the whole family. A big fan favourite is “Hot Lapz 4 Kidz” – a chance to ride by donation in supercars driven by a pro driver around the 1.5 mile track. Special this year is a celebration of the 60th anniversary of “America’s Sports Car”, the Chevrolet Corvette, plus extra races for single-seaters, including Formula Ford and Formula Vee. Here are some BCHMR highlights from 2011!
Besides the BCHMR, there are plenty of events on the horizon for anyone crazy about cars. Collector car shows, cruises and Jericho Beach’s monthly Coffee & Cars meet-up exist to bring the community together while admiring some amazing machines. Father’s Day features Italian cars and Porsches in Vancouver shows to excite those in car sales training.
If last weekend’s British Field Meet is any indication, we will see some surprises like Craig Wallace’s rare 1963 Aston Martin DB5 (like the one pictured above with Sean Connery), a car that was featured in 11 Bond movies. Those interested in becoming an auto mechanic will be happy to know that he built his beautiful vehicle from parts!
Which car shows are you most excited about this year?
