Summer is nearly here, and you know what that means: standing around in fields talking about cars!
Ooh, I can’t get enough of this sort of thing – chatting about the vagaries of TVR with a Tasmin owner; geeking out over rare parts with VW owners; helping Alfa Romeo drivers with a push or two.
With the annual All-British Field Meet already in the bag, the summer car show scene is officially here. Over the course of the next few months, there’ll be all sorts of stuff to see and do, including some pretty unique shows that are a bit more involved than just gazing at your reflection in the chrome. Here’s a few you shouldn’t miss.
Father’s Day comes with two biggies on the North Shore, so you’ll have to find a way to be two places at once. First is the annual German and Italian car show down at Waterfront Park, a mix of Bimmers and Alfas and Ferraris and Mercedes. The French car clubs also show up in force, so you’ve got a pretty good chance of being able to see a classic Bugatti, and are guaranteed to see at least a half-dozen Citroën 2CVs.
Across town in Dundarave, the local Porsche owner’s club will be holding their annual charity show and drive. Held to fund research for MS, this show is very well attended, and also includes the chance for Porsche fans to buy a ticket to ride. If you’ve always wanted to go for a spin in an air-cooled classic, you can find out how to get a chance at the website pca-cwr.org/eventsactivities/dundarave. It’d make for a nice father’s day gift.
If you’re a hot-rod fan, hop on the ferry to Victoria for the weekend of July 23 and 24. It’s Deuce Days, an event that only comes along every few years, but one that’s all the more spectacular for it. Billed as the largest gathering of ‘32 Fords in the world, Deuce Days culminates in a simply amazing show, with hundreds of cars ringing the entire inner harbour of Victoria, and even parked out in front of the Parliament buildings. All sorts of other hot rods show up too, so if you’re a fan of American Iron, this is where you want to be.
European classics aren’t the only cars getting a bit of respect these days. After a brief hiatus, I’m pleased to report that the Japanese classic car show is back on this year. Always a fun mix, and heavily attended by local Datsun fans, you almost always see a few oddball machines here. The survival rate for Japanese classics on the West Coast is the envy of everyone back East, so there are cars here you might not see anywhere else. Dates and location to be posted in an upcoming Braking News.
Leaving the classics aside for a moment, the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association’s Electrafest is set to be even bigger this year than the last. Not just a car show, VEVA’s mission statement revolves around spreading the electric gospel – they’re enthusiastic about EVs, and they want you to give one a try. To that end, they’re offering test drives of all sorts of electric machines, from Nissan Leafs to Teslas to electric bicycles and scooters. As an added bonus, there are all types of home-built electrical specials for the engineering crowd to pore over, and VEVA’s incredible 1912 Detroit Electric (still working perfectly after all these years) will be on display. Find them at Concord Pacific Presentation Centre downtown, June 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the Great Canadian Volkswagen Weekend is one of the biggest events on the calendar. VW culture is extremely active on the West Coast, and this well-attended event has a real family feel to it. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an air-cooled purist, nomadic Westfalia fan, or tuner kid with a slammed GTI – there’s something for everyone here. Check it out the weekend of August 19-21.
Closer to home, the Edgemont Village Show and Shine is a widely varied event that turns picturesque Edgemont into a walkable paradise. There are all kinds of fun machines to see here: there’s a red Forward Control Jeep that’s a bit of a rarity. While dates don’t seem to be set yet, this one’s usually in August. Keep your eyes on the event calendar.
Last, but not least, are the informal get-togethers of Cars and Coffee in North Vancouver or over on Spanish Banks, both held early on Saturdays. The latter is a perfect excuse to drive over the Lion’s Gate before traffic gets going – it’s a Porsche-heavy affair put on by Wessach, and happens every second Saturday of the month through to October. The former is sometimes located in the Canadian Tire on Main Street – cars are usually out there early. Watch their Facebook page for upcoming dates.
Even if your daily is a minivan, it’s worth getting out there and checking one of the local shows out. You might just need some sunshine to tide you over when the fall rains come.
Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and automotive enthusiast. If you have a suggestion for a column, or are interested in having your car club featured, please contact him at [email protected]. Follow Brendan on Twitter: @brendan_mcaleer.
