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Every classic vehicle owner has a story to tell

This year’s Second Annual Classic Car Show saw a near doubling of the number of vehicles to show up over last year’s event.
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1926 Essex People’s Choice Award went to Cobble Hill resident Ollie Hodges for her Hudson Motor Company 1926 Essex (left). She’s had the vehicle for about eight years

This year’s Second Annual Classic Car Show saw a near doubling of the number of vehicles to show up over last year’s event.

In all, 61 vehicles were parked throughout the day outside the Lake Cowichan A&W Restaurant, Sunday, August 28.

The vehicles were judged against one another in three categories, including best car, best truck, and people’s choice.

Organized by the A&W in conjunction with the local Royal Bank, the resounding success of this year’s event has ensured that it will continue next year, at about the same time.

This year’s event managed to raise about $800 for Cowichan Lake Community Services.

The following are write-ups on the three winning vehicles, as well as a number of other interesting rides.

1969 Chevy Nova

Rick Bergstrom (left), formerly of Lake Cowichan and currently of Duncan, poses with his 1969 Chevy Nova; a vehicle declared Best Car during Sunday’s Classic Car Show.

He’s had the car for only one year.

“I took it upon myself last year to re-do everything.”

“It’s brand new everything,” he said, of the well-restored car that has benefited from elbow grease and many hours of hard work.

1931 Ford Hot Rod

Duncan resident Dennis Schneider (above, second from left) has quite the catch, with his all-original 1931 Ford Hot Rod.

The vehicle was re-built in 1957 by John Walker in Victoria, who later sold it, ending up in Schneider’s hands.

Walker actually vistited Schneider this summer to look at the car.

“I bought it in pieces,” Schneider said.  “We re-did the car to basically what it was.”

1936 Ford Pickup

Declared Best Truck was Salt Spring Island resident Stanley Wiseman’s 1936 modified Ford Pickup (left).

He’d purchased the vehicle about three years ago.

“It was in pretty rough shape,” he said.

He’s since changed out the motor, the transmission, and a number of other things, to get it running smoothly once again.

1936 Dodge

Whereas many classic car owners try their best to keep their vehicle as original as possible, Nanaimo car owner Floyd Werning (right) doesn’t worry about it.

He’s rodded a 1936 Dodge four-door car.

“I love the ‘30s,” he said. “It’s the bucket head lights.”

The vehicle was purchased mainly as-is, though he’s done a great deal of interior work to spruce it up a bit.

When parked, the car appears too low to the ground to be operational. But, with the flick of a switch, air pumps can get to work, lifting the car to a more appropriate height.

“It can go fast, and it can stop fast,” he said, of his rodded car. “I can pass everyone on the highway.”

In addition to the air pumps, the vehicle is also equipped with a CD player.

Aside from the suicide doors and other classic aspects of the vehicle, it’s quite similar in appearance to a modern PT Cruiser.

1957 Chevy Sedan Delivery

It took him quite a few years and fluke chance, but Duncan resident Joe Ball (left) finally owns his opponent’s vehicle.

“I used to race against this car,” he said, of his racing days at Mill Bay, at the racetrack that closed in 1974.

Not this same type of car, but this exact car. Ball was able to recognize the car by its broken rear driver-side window.

An odd thing for a classic car owner, Ball has opted to keep the window broken.

“It’s how I recognized it to start with,” he said, adding that he’d found a picture of it in a Vancouver newspaper classified advertisement in 1980.

But, in the years since he raced against it, the vehicle had fallen into disrepair.

“It didn’t even have a proper seat in it,” he said.

The vehicle now has a 1955 Pontiac trim and a 1957 Buick grill.

Now that it runs nicely, he’s been taking it out to as many shows has he’s been able to.

2008 Russian Motor Bike

Salt Spring Island resident David Pierce (below) brought an odd piece to the Classic Car Show, by bringing in a 2008 Russian Motor Bike.

The decommissioned army bike is equipped with a gun and various army paraphernalia,. The bike proved itself to be quite the head turner.

Although a motorcycle, it operates more like a car, and requires both hands to turn the handles.

1961 Chevrolet Belair

Youbou resident Charlie Meanley (above) has quite the ride, with his 1961 Chevrolet Belair.

“I had one like this in 1961, so I bought it again and spent 22 years making it good,” he said.

“It was $700, and that included the tow truck to take it to my place!”

The proud classic car owner now takes it to car shows, going as far as California.